Thursday, August 12, 2010

Chana Toor Dal - Dhaba Style



Dhabas are famous for their dals which have distinct flavors due to slow cooking on tandoors, use of whole garam masala, and butter tadka on the top. You can simplify the process by cooking in pressure cooker.
If you prefer, you can add pretty much any side dish and raita you like to enhance this already perfect combination.

Ingredients:

Method:

  • Soak chana dal in water for 1 hour.
  • Thoroughly wash the Arhar dal and put both the dals into a pressure cooker. Add 4 cups of water to it. Add soaked chana dal, 1 tbsp of cooking oil and turmeric powder to it. Stir well.
  • Cover the pressure cooker and set on high flame. After the first pressure release, reduce the flame to simmer and cook for two more pressure releases. Turn off the flame and open the pressure cooker when it is cool.
  • Stir the boiled lentils well. Mash the lentils against the side of the pan. If it is too thick, add some warm water and stir until the consistency is right.
  • Heat ghee in a frying pan. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamoms; fry for few seconds. Add onions and fry until light brown. Now add ginger and garlic paste and fry for two minutes till it is pink. Stir in chopped green chilies, tomatoes, red chili powder and salt. Cook till tomatoes become pulpy.
  • Pour this masala over dal. Put it on slow heat and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes. Mix lemon juice and chat masala.
  • Heat 2 tbsp of butter and pour over dal.
  • Garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and ‘chaunk’ (ghee with red chili).
  • Serve with Nan or Tandoori Roti, sabji, raita and onion salad.

Do You Know?

Dhabas are local restaurants that are commonly found in India on highways or near petrol pumps. These usually serve Punjabi food, which is heavily-spiced and fried. Since most Indian truck drivers are of Punjabi descent they prefer Punjabi Food and music.

The food in Dhabas is typically inexpensive and has a 'homemade' feel to it.

Many Indian restaurants in Europe and America have adopted it as a part of the name.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

nidhi maam i tried i really liked it for the first time i could eat dal with roti otherwise it was all dal chawwal........ thankz for such great recipe looking forward for more.. one request could u mention the quantity for how many ppl? i want quantity for two person... in most of the recipe.. thankz
tc
shaheena

Unknown said...

nidhi maam i tried this recipe and found it great never before did i eat daal with roti but this daal i could eat with roti and enjoyed it a lot.. just one request could you mention the quantity required for two persons.. so that i dont have too much leftovers....... thankz for the great recipes
take care bye
shaheena khan

Nidhi Raizada said...

Thanks Shaheena...you should make 1/4 cup chana dal and 1/4 cup Toor dal. I use standard measurement cups in which 1/2 cup is equal to 100 gms.
Nidhi

Unknown said...

This is superb.