CHOLAR (BENGAL GRAM ) DAL

Ingredients:-

Split yellow bengal gram-250 grams
Salt-1-1.5 tsp
Turmeric powder-1tsp
Sugar -4-5 tsp
Ghee(clarified butter)-2-3tsp
Bay leafs-2-3
Whole green chillies-4-5
Whole dry red chillies-2
Whole cumin seeds-1tsp
Whole garam masala spices of green cardamoms, cloves and cinnamons-1tsp
1 Coconut of medium size-half

PROCEDURE

Soak gram in water of twice the grams amount for 4-5 hrs or overnight. Wash and drain out water from gram.In a pressure cooker put the gram. Add salt, turmeric powder, and sugar. Now add water till water level is just 1 inch above gram. Close the cooker.Turn the stove on . After full pressure steam comes out -lower the flame. Let remain in the low flame for five to seven minutes. Turn off the stove.
Meanwhile slice half the coconut. Cut the slices to still smaller pieces of fingertip sizes. In a heavy bottomed deep vessel heat one tsp of ghee and fry the coconut pieces on medium flame for 3-4 minutes. Take them out of the oil and keep aside. With the hand molar grind the garam masala very coarsely. Heat 2 tsp ghee or oil in the same vessel. When oil is hot, add dry red chillies and bay leafs. Lower the heat and after a minute add cumin seeds and garam masala. After a minute shift the boiled gram very slowly in the vessel. Raise the flame and when it just starts boiling add the fried coconuts and whole green chillies and let boil for 5 minutes. Stir to avoid sticking at the bottom. Serve hot or cool. This is best served with puris , chappaties etc. This is easy to prepare as it requires little ingredients and time.

Serves 4-5 persons.

You may also like this dessert that goes well with chholar dahl.
Posted by Keya