Tarka Dal

Ingredients

• 2 cups channa split lentils or yellow split peas
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons ginger, finely grated
• 10 fresh curry leaves
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup raw cashews, finely ground (cashew meal)
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 45 g ghee
• 1/2 cup pouring cream
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander (as garnish)

Directions

1. 1

   Rinse lentils in a strainer using cold water. Pick-over and discard any bad looking lentils. Then place them in a bowl and cover with cold water to soak for half an hour.Drain in the strainer and set aside.

2. 2

   Heat the oil in a large frypan over a medium heat. Add half the mustard seeds and half the cumin seeds. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes until they start popping.

3. 3

   Add the garlic, ginger, curry leaves and half the onion. Stir until soft- about 8 minutes.

4. 4

   Add the tomato, cashews, turmeric, garam marsala, ground chilli, ground coriander and the vegetable stock. Stir occasionally until thick- roughly 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Add lentils and enough water to cover the lentils (about 1.5 litres). Bring to the boil and then reduce heat to low. Stir occasionally until the lentils are cooked through and tender - about 1/2 hour.

6. 6

   In a seperate pan- heat the ghee and add the remaining spices. Stir for a couple of minutes, until fragrant. Add the remaining onion and stir until the onion is golden.

7. 7

   Combine the onion mix with the lentil mix.

8. 8

   Add the cream bring to the boil.

9. 9

   Season with salt and pepper.

10. 10

    To serve sprinkle chopped coriander over the top.