Red Lentil Dal

This dish is something I have periodically made my nanny family. It is a big favorite with Simone, the four year old, believe it or not!



Ingredients for lentil dish:
1 cup onion, chopped (I use 4 T. of minced, dried garlic instead of fresh)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
4 cups water
1 medium russet potato, peeled and cubed
1-1/2 cups red lentils (Masoor Dal)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cardamon, ground
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste


Ingredients for rice dish:
1-1/2 cups white rice, uncooked
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno chili, seeded and chopped (optional)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)


Add all the lentil dish ingredients to a rice cooker. Cook until cooker turns off. (You could also cook on a stovestop until the dal is soft.) Also cook the white rice. Top rice with dal and garnish with tomatoes, chili, and cilantro.

Another option is I will make parathas (Indian flat bread) versus the rice and the parathas can be dipped in the dal.