Recipe: Daal Chawal (Lentil and Rice) Siddy Style

Daal, seen here served with boiled rice... the way I like eating it best!

Since most of the recipes I share have more to do with what I love eating, or am craving than the challenge of cooking itself (which comes into play regardless given my lack of cooking skills) I decided today to take on a very basic Pakistani 'Daal' Recipe. While there are a gzbillion Daal Recipes online, unfortunately they just assume that one would know how to make something as simple as Daal. Well what do you know, there are people out there who are 32 and are attempting making it for the first time in their lives... So, after extensive searches and being disappointed with phrases such as 'add as much water as needed' I decided that I had gained enough knowledge to venture making Daal with my very own recipe, and this is how you do it:



Ingredients:
Maash Daal (Yellow Lentils) 1 Cup
Water 3-4 Cups
Oil 3 Tablespoons
Cumin Seeds 2 Teaspoons
Bay Leaves 2-3
Turmeric Powder 2 Teaspoons
Salt 1.5 Teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder 1 Teaspoon
Dried whole Red Chilies 2
Fresh Green Chilies 2
Black Pepper 0.5 Teaspoon

Recipe:
- Take the Daal and soak it in water for 30 mins
- Once done, drain the water out and dry roast the Daal for 3-4 minutes stirring regularly so it doesn't stick to the bottom
- Now add 3 Cups of Water to the pan and let the Daal boil in the water till its soft
- Take another Deep Pan and heat the oil in it
- Once hot add the Bay Leaves, Cumin Seeds, Turmeric Powder, Black Pepper, Dried Whole Red Chilies and Green Chilies to it frying them for about a minute.
- Add a few tablespoons of water to the mix if the oil is hot to prevent the Spices from burning
- Now take the pot of Daal (along with whatever water remains, should be about a cup by the time the Daal is done cooking) and pour it over the oil and the Spices and stir so that the two are well mixed
- Continue cooking on a light flame for about 5 minutes before take it off the stove.
- Serve with boiled rice (my favorite), Roti (Pakistani bread) or just have it with a spoon.