Motor, Phool Kopi Diye Muger Dal

The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook. ~ Julia Child

Come winters and along comes a plethora of green vegetables. It marks the beginning of the season for green peas, fresh cauliflowers, and carrots to name a few of my favorites. This recipe is a part of my comfort food of the season. The aroma of the roasted dal, is not just tempting but overwhelming at the same time.

The dal cooked with cauliflower and green peas is a perfect companion, to steamed rice along with any side dish or Bhaja, of your choice. Find the recipe below.

RECIPE:

Servings: 3 People

Cooking Time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients:

1. 200 grams Cauliflower Florets

2. 50 grams green peas. I used frozen peas for this recipe.

3. 1 Cup Moong Dal

4. 1 inch Ginger

5. Cumin Seeds

6. 6 Green Chilies

7. 2 Cups water for cooking the dal

8. Mustard Oil for cooking

9. Salt

Steps:

Step 1: In a pan, on a medium high flame. Dry roast the moong dal. Keep stirring the dal, until it becomes aromatic. Turn off the flame and move it to a plate to let cool.

Step 2: Parallelly, in a pan, blanch the cauliflower florets, until half cooked. Drain the water using a colander and run it through cold water. Let dry.

Step 3: Now run the roasted dal, with cold water and wash thoroughly. Soak the frozen peas in warm water for 10 minutes, and drain the water.

Step 4: In a pressure pan, add the dal, 4 green chilies, frozen peas, salt, turmeric, 1 tbsp. mustard oil, and water. Pressure cook the dal for 4 whistles on high flame.

Step 5: In a pan, add 2 tbsp. mustard oil. When the oil smokes, add 2 slit green chilies, and 1 tbsp. cumin seeds. Let crackle.

Step 6: Add grated ginger into the oil and fry on high flame, for 1 minute. Add the blanched cauliflower florets and fry on high flame for 2 minutes, with continuous stirrings.

Step 7: When the cauliflowers turn golden brown, add the cooked dal from the pressure cooker to the pan. Mix well.

Step 8: Adjust the salt, as per requirement, and give it a full boil. You can also add a little Luke warm water to adjust the consistency.

Serve hot with steamed rice and any side dish of your choice. I paired it with Aaloo Posto.