Moong Dal with Dill leaves

Dill is a herb that I have not cooked with at all. It has an earthy, lemony fragrance. I have tasted in dips served at parties. I read online that it could be one herb either you love it or hate it. Recently one of my friends had used dill in vada and it tasted pretty good. So, I thought let me try it with moong dal, as it is one easy dish that you cannot go wrong.

My family loved it and I will be using it again in my cooking.

I have never seen this in Tamil Nadu, however my kannada and marathi neighbors seem to use it a lot!

So, here is the recipe. I used a pressure cooker, but you can cook in a pan as well. It just takes a little more time.

Get Ready:

• 1/2 cup moong dal ( yellow spilt one) wash and soak in water for 20 mins
• 1/2 bunch of Dill leaves, washed, stem separated and chopped
• 1 green chilli slit
• 1 tsp chopped ginger
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 1 medium roma tomato chopped
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1-1/2 tsp salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp sambar powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
• 1/4 tsp sugar ( optional)
• 1 tsp Lemon juice 
• 1-2 cups of water

For tempering:

• 1 tsp oil
• 1 tsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• A pinch of hing

Go:

• In a small pressure cooker/ pan add the oil, ghee.

• Once hot, add the cumin seeds and let them crackle. Add the hing and saute for few secs.
• Add the onion, tomatoes,ginger, green chilli and fry till the onions are transparent.

• Add the chopped dill leaves and fry for a 1-2 mins.

• Add the dal, turmeric powder, 1 cup of water, salt to taste, sambar powder and mix.

• Cover the cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles.
• Once cool, open the pressure cooker. mash the daal with the back of your spoon.
• Check salt and adjust accordingly.
• If dal is too thick,add water to your desired consistency. I added 1 cup more.
• Turn the heat on and let it come to a boil. 
• As it comes to a boil, add the garam masala powder and switch off the flame.
• Squeeze the lemon juice and mix.

Serve with phulkas with a drop of ghee on top and it tastes wonderful and so comforting.

Adding a bit of sugar and lemon juice brings out a great flavor to the simple dal.