Methi Dal Recipe (Methi Toovar Dal)

Ingredients

• 1 cup finely chopped fenugreek leaves (methi) leaves
• 1 cup toovar (arhar) dal, washed and drained
• 1/2 tsp haldi powder (turmeric powder)
• 2 tsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tsp finely chopped ginger (adrak)
• 2 tsp finely chopped garlic (lehsun)
• 1 slit green chilli
• 1 whole dry Kashmiri red chilli, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup finely chopped tomato
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• a pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• salt (namak) to taste

Steps

1. To mak methi toovar dal, combine the toovar dal, turmeric powder and 1½ cups of water in pressure cooker, mix well and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
2. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid.
3. Mix the dal well with a spoon. Keep aside.
4. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan and add the cumin seeds.
5. When the seeds crackle, add the garlic, ginger, green chilli and red chillies and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute.
6. Add the onions and sauté on a medium flame for 2 minutes.
7. Add the tomatoes, asafoetida, chilli powder, garam masala and 2 tbsp of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
8. Add the fenugreek leaves, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
9. Add the cooked dal, salt and 2 cups of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
10. Serve the methi toovar dal hot.