Mung Dal with Yogurt and Garlic

Inspired by Tarla Dalal's Lehsunwali Moong ki Dal which was microwaved.

Ingredients:

1 cup mung dal, washed & soaked in hot water
4 Tbsp. Greek yogurt, or any yogurt on hand
salt to taste
1 Tbsp. oil
½ tsp. black mustard seeds
½ tsp. cumin seeds
7 to 8 curry leaves
2 tsp. garlic paste
1 tsp. ginger paste
2 Tbsp. tomato puree
¼ tsp. turmeric powder
1 tsp. Kashmiri mirch powder
2 tsp. coriander-cumin powder

Garnish:
1 tsp. ghee
2 Tbsp. garlic chives or cilantro, chopped

Directions:

1. Combine dal with hot water and cook until done.
2. Whip yogurt with salt and stir into dal.
3. Heat oil over medium-high heat and temper mustard seeds, cumin seeds   and curry leaves until seeds pop.
4. Add ginger and garlic pastes, tomato puree, turmeric, Kashmiri mirch & coriander-cumin powder.
5. Stir well and cook until oil resurfaces.
6. Pour dal into pan, adjust salt to taste and bring to a boil.
7. Garnish with ghee and chives/cilantro.

Serve with cooked rice or with chapatis.

 

Chickpeas with Russet & Sweet Potatoes

GHOOGNI with sweet potatoes
A variation of Chana Masala

Chana Masala, a North Indian dish, made in the Bengali style includes potatoes and is called Ghoogni. I added sweet potatoes to give it a twist.

Ingredients:
1 (14 oz.) can chickpeas or garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 russet potato, peeled and diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced

Tempering:
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cinnamon stick
4 cardamom pods
4 cloves
3 bay leaves

Gravy:
1 medium onion, chopped, blanched and puréed
1 Tbsp. garlic paste
2 Tbsp. ginger paste
2 Tbsp. tomato purée
2 Tbsp. Greek or plain yogurt
1 tsp. Shan Chana Masala powder

Garnish:
Cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, deseeded and chopped
1/4 tsp. garam masala powder
1 tsp. ghee

Directions:
1. Cook sweet and russet potatoes in boiling, salted water for 15 minutes.
2. Drain potatoes and reserve 1½ cups boiling water or simmer 1½ cups vegetable stock.
3. Whip Gravy ingredients together and set aside.
4. Microwave oil on high for 2 minutes.
5. Add Tempering ingredients and cook on high for another 2 minutes.
6. Add whipped Gravy ingredients, stir and microwave on high for 2 minutes.
7. Add boiling water or hot vegetable stock to gravy and stir.
8. Add potatoes along with chickpeas, stir well and microwave on high for another 2 minutes.
9. Garnish with ghee & garam masala powder, stir and sprinkle cilantro and jalapeno peppers on top before serving.

Goes great with cooked rice or tortillas.