Amrita Veda
Nectarean Foods for Mind & Body

Mixed Dal

Preparation Time: 45-60 minutes

Kitchen Equipment: Pressure Cooker

Serves 6-7

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chana dal, yellow split peas
  (Note* all dals available in Health Food Stores or Indian grocery stores)
• 1/2 cup mung dal
• 1/4 cup toovar dal, red gram dal
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 10 curry leaves
• 2 medium potatoes, grated raw
• 1 cup grated raw pumpkin
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 Tbsp. sunflower oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 pinch asafoetida, hing
• 1 green chilli
• 1 heaped tsp. sambhar masala - see basic recipes Masala
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala - see basic recipes Masala
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 heaped tsp. coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. cilantro, fresh coriander leaves, washed and chopped
  

Method:

1. Mix the beans together and wash twice in cold water.
2. Drain well and place in a pressure cooker with fresh water, _ tsp. salt and 5 of the curry leaves. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes, depending on your pressure cooker.
   ( Note: If you do not own a pressure cooker, you can prepare the beans by first washing them, then soaking in water overnight. Rinse, drain and simmer in a large pan with fresh water for about 1 hour.)
3. Shred the potato and pumpkin with a fine grater.
4. Peel and chop the onion. Place in a blender and grind to a liquid paste. Set aside.
5. In a blender, grind the cooked beans with 2 cups water.
6. Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds pop, stir in cumin, asafoetida, chilli and the remaining 5 curry leaves.
7. Add onion paste and cook over low-medium heat until light brown.
8. Add sambhar masala, garam masala, turmeric and coriander powder. Stir well.
9. Add shredded pumpkin, potato and _ cup water. Cover and let simmer over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
10. Mix in the blended beans plus an additional 1 _ cups water.
11. Season with lemon juice and 1 tsp. salt.
12. Simmer the dal for several minutes more.
13. Garnish with chopped cilantro.