Delicious spicy masala dhal.

• Servings: 4
• Preparation time: 10 minutes
• Cooking time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup masoor dal (small orange, a.k.a. "red" lentils)
• 3 cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 large garlic clove
• 3-4 small shallots
• 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes or finely chopped fresh chilli
• 1/2 cup well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking

Bring lentils and three cups of water to a boil with turmeric in a heavy saucepan. Gently simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until falling apart, about 20 minutes.

When the lentils are cooked, heat the ghee (or oil) in a small frying pan over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Then cook the shallots, garlic, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and chilli until mustard seeds begin to pop and/or turn gray and cumin seeds brown.

Stir spice mixture into lentils with coconut milk, cilantro, lemon juice, and salt and bring to a simmer.

Tags

• dhal
• spicy
• indian