Mung Dall (mug ni dal)

Ingredients for 2-3 servings:

1. Soak  the mung beans for at least 2 hours but if possible longer.  You’ll notice that the dall soaks up the water and the grains look bigger.

2.  Heat the sunflower oil.

3.  Add the mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, garlic  and asafoetida

4.  Once the mustard seeds and cloves stop popping, add the mung dall to the oil.

6.  Add the salt, turmeric, ginger and green chillies and stir.  Add in the sugar or sugar substitute.

7.  Add two and half cups of water to the dall.

8.  Let the dall cook gently until it gets soft.  (should take 10-15 minutes).

9.  Once the dall softens, add the tomatoes and lemon juice and let it cook for 5 minutes.Although we call this a dall, do not stir the dall too much as the dall then becomes like a soup. In fact, the Gujarati’s do not add a lot of water and make their dall fairly dry.  They serve it with Khadhi – which is a heavenly tasting soup made from Yogurt.

 

Note:   If you add lemon juice or tomatoes too early to the dall, the acid in the tomatoes and lemon stops the dall from softening.

10. Transfer the dall to the serving dish and sprinkle some coriander before serving with rice and chapatis.