Arhar Dal can be easily made with pigeon beans i.e arhar dal and spices. This is one of the most delicious dal recipes that is full of nutrients and proteins.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 4-5 persons

Ingredients:

• 2 cups arhar dal (pigeon beans)
• 1 onion thinly chopped
• 2 tomatoes roughly chopped
• 1/2 tsp shah jeera
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• Few curry leaves
• 1 inch ginger paste
• 2 green chillies chopped
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• A pinch of asafoetida
• 1-1/2 tsp pure ghee
• 3/4 tsp red chilli powder
• 3/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• Fresh cilantro chopped
• Salt to taste

How to make Arhar Dal:

1. Wash the dal in normal running water and soak in 4 cups of water for about 1 hour.
2. Heat up the pressure cooker, add dal with its water, salt and turmeric powder.
3. Close with the lid and cook on high flame.
4. After two to three whistles, slow down the flame and cook for about 4-5 minutes.
5. Leave to relieve out the whole pressure of the cooker.
6. Check dal is cooked or not, you many need to add little bit of water to make it medium thick in consistency.
7. Melt the ghee in a pan and add shah jeera, mustard seeds and curry leaves.
8. Allow to crackle and add chopped onion.
9. Stir the onion until translucent, it will take about few seconds on medium high flame.
10. Now add green chillies, ginger paste and minced garlic.
11. Stir for few more seconds and add roughly chopped tomatoes.
12. Add little bit of salt, as salt is already put in dal.
13. Also add lemon juice, asafoetida and red chilli powder.
14. Mix well and cover the pan, leave to cook on medium high flame until tomatoes gets cooked.
15. After 2-3 minutes, tomatoes will completely mashed into the onions and spices.
16. Pour the tempering over dal and add water as per your desired consistency.
17. Allow the dal to boil on medium high flame for few seconds and in between you can add thinly chopped cilantro.
18. Serve hot with steamed or jeera rice and roti.

Chef Tips:

1. This dal is highly used during fasting, because it can be cooked without adding onion and garlic and still tastes very good.
2. You may sprinkle little bit of chaat masala just before serving.