Urad Dal Split Curry

Introduction

Delve into the rich flavours of Indian cuisine with this Urad Dal Split Curry recipe. Ideal for culinary novices, this comforting dish is rated a complexity level of 2, making it a wonderful introduction to the traditional tastes of India.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup split urad dal
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon ghee or vegetable oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 green chili, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions:

1. Rinse the urad dal in a colander under running water until the water runs clear.
2. Drain the dal and add it to a pressure cooker with 2 cups of water.
3. Close the pressure cooker and cook on high heat for 10 minutes, or until the dal is soft and mushy.
4. While the dal is cooking, heat the ghee or oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
5. Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
6. Add the garlic, ginger, and green chili (if using) and cook for 30 seconds more, until fragrant.
7. Stir in the turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and cayenne pepper (if using).
8. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant.
9. Stir in the cooked dal and salt to taste.
10. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes more, until the flavours have melded.
11. Stir in the chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or roti.

Tips:

• For a creamier curry, mash some of the dal with a spoon before serving.
• If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can cook the dal in a saucepan over medium-low heat for about 45 minutes, or until it is soft and mushy.
• You can adjust the heat level of the curry by adding more or less cayenne pepper.
• Serve the curry with a dollop of yogurt or chutney, if desired.