Spicy Dal Fry

(Dhaba Style)

I just freak out on the dhaba food, the rustic flavors are to die for. We usually travel a lot to Hyderabad by car and I always look forward for the long drive and mostly stopping by at a dhaba and enjoying their heavenly food is the best part! This dal fry is one dish that leaves me salivating always! Again its a pretty simple dish and does not take a lot of time to make.

Ingredients

Moong dal(Yellow) 2cups

Onions 1 medium

Tomato 1 medium

Cumin seeds 2tsp

Garlic pods 3 to 4

Turmeric powder 1/2tsp

Chilli powder 1tsp

Coriander powder 1/2 tsp

Aamchur powder 1/2 tsp

Green chillies 3

Salt to taste

Ginger paste 1/2 tsp(Otional)

Butter 1 tsp 

Ghee & Oil 1 tsp each

Method

Wash and soak moong dal for 15 to 20 mins. Drain the water and pressure cook dal for 2 whistles. moong dal cooks quickly, it doesn't take time as the regular dal.

Dry roast cumin seeds for a minute. Coarsely grind cumin and garlic together. 

In a non stick pan, add ghee and oil. Now add the cumin and garlic paste and saute for few minutes. Keep stirring continuously to avoid getting them burnt. Once they change colour add onions, curry leaves, green chillies, ginger paste and fry for few minutes.

Once onions turn in golden colour add tomato and the dry masala powders mentioned under ingredients. Cover with a lid and let it cook for a minute.

Add the cooked dal and mix well with the masala. Add water according to the consistency you want. Cover the lid and cook on simmer for few minutes. 

Add a dollop of butter and you can put tadka with mustard seeds and some hing if you wish. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot with Jeera rice or Roti! 

Note

• You can also mix different dals together. (Chanal dal, Toor dal, Red gram dal)
• You can cook this dal only in ghee to make it more rich.
• If you want it be a bit tangy, you can add 1/2 tsp of aamchur powder