Simple Dal

Ingredients

• 1 cup split lentils or dal, picked and rinsed
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped (or shallots as sub)
• 1 tablespoon mustard oil or ghee
• 1/4 teaspoon black onion seeds (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala (add at end of cooking)
• sliced serrano chili (garnish)
• chopped fresh cilantro (garnish)

Directions

1. 1

   Pick through the lentils, and rinse until water runs clear; drain.

2. 2

   It doesn't matter what kind of lentils you use but brown lentils or french lentils are better used elsewhere. Things like channa dal are not the type of lentils I would use (I don't think of them as lentils)(channa dal needs to be soaked overnight).

3. 3

   Heat the oil or ghee in a saucepan and cook onions until they are as soft as you like.

4. 4

   Stir in remaining ingredients except the last 3, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Check the consistency and water level- if you want it thicker or the dal is not done, cook longer, but make sure there is water in the dal.

6. 6

   You can always cook the water out, although the lentils tend to lose shape, but then again, I prefer that.

7. 7

   Stir in garam masala.

8. 8

   Serve in a bowl, garnished with chopped cilantro and sliced serrano chillies if desired.