D is for DAL

dal
Originally uploaded by dalbhat.

Here is a nice recipe for one of the staple foods here, Dal (Lentil Soup made from Musoor dal, the orange pulses)

Ingredients:
Musoor dal, grated onion, fresh ginger (also grated), cumin seed, red pepper (dried), bay leaves (2 large); cinnamon stick (break up 3-4 pieces), cumin powder (3 pinches), turmeric (2 pinches or more), tomato (1 med. chopped), salt to taste

Method:
1) Wash dal and cook in pressure cooker (since these are small pulses, just two psssssssts should be enough in pressure cooker)
2) In a separate wok-style pan add hot oil. Now fry cumin seed, bay leaves, cinnamon, and red chilli. Now add grated (or just chopped) onion and ginger and fry until clear. Add turmeric, cumin powder, and salt; then add tomato and cook down. Add a little water if necessary.
3) Now turn the cooked dal in pressure cooker into this mixture and boil up at a hard boil for about 5 minutes.