Dal, daal, dhal or dahl is a versatile dish. The bean type, stock choice and amounts of the spices all change the subtle taste of this meal and dal knows many names, depending on how it's made. The flavor also fluctuates with every new person who makes it, so it is a fun experiment for a rainy day. It's also a hearty comfort food.
The recipe given below is designed simply and for a simple palette. It is a base, a foundation for other additions such as vegetables or different types of beans, but it is delicious on its own. Even picky kids and fickle adults love it! Optional ingredients are marked below but should be seen as creative nudge to make the dish personal to the cook and his or her family's tastes.
Indian Lentil Tomato Soup Ingredients
Cook time: 30 minutes
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 whole onion, diced
- 1 cup split red lentils
- 2 lbs chopped tomatoes, drained
- 2.5 cups vegetable or meat stock (subtract .5 cup every time the recipe is doubled)
- 1.25 cups coconut milk (amount is optional, add less for more tomato-y flavor, more for creamier flavor)
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp chili powder (optional)
- 1 tsp saffron (optional)
- small handful mustard seeds (optional)
- 1 large pot
- 1 wooden spoon
- In pot, heat olive oil. Add garlic and onion and cook for 3 minutes until the onion is transcleucent.
- Add all of the spices and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add all of the other ingredients and let the mix simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils cook.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve over rice or with warm roti bread. The Liquid will soak into the beans when left overnight, slowly becoming a delicious lentil stew.
Dal, Vegan Soups and Stews
Soups and stews are probably as old as cooking since they are some of most filling and easiest meals to make and personalize. Though the recipe above is for an Indian-inspired soup, there is very little heat in it and the spice amounts can always be decreased or increased.
Perhaps the best part of this meal is that a large batch can provide a single person with a week's worth of leftovers he or she won't likely tire of. And it can be made in advance for that specific reason. Just go light on the stock for larger amounts as it can overwhelm the sensual and exotic Indian spices.
Jordan Trippeer - I am a senior at the University of Richmond. I have a double major in journalism and biology. I work for the university's independent ...
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