Serves: 4
Total Calories: 103

1 1/4 cups black urad beans (saabut urad dal), sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
5 to 6 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon black cumin seeds
1 tablespoon peeled minced fresh ginger
1 fresh garlic clove (large), minced
1 fresh green chili pepper, such as serrano, minced with seeds
1/8 teaspoon ground asafoetida
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 cup finely chopped tomato
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup finely chopped scallion
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

1. Soak the beans overnight in water to cover by 2 inches. Drain and place them in a large saucepan. Add 5 cups of water, salt, and turmeric, cover the pan, and boil over high heat, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the dal is very soft, each bean bursts open to reveal its while interior, and most of the water has evaporated, about 1 1/2 hours. (Add more water if the dal dries out sooner.)

2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick wok or skillet over medium-high heat and add the cumin seeds they should sizzle upon contact with the hot oil. Quickly add the ginger, garlic, and green chili pepper and cook about 1 minute. Add the asafoetida and coriander and stir a few seconds.

3. Add the tomato and stir until most of the juices evaporate, about 2 minutes. Then add the dal and lemon juice, cover the pan, reduce the heat, and simmer over low heat about 5 minutes to blend the flavors. Transfer to a serving dish, lightly mix in the scallions and cilantro, and serve.

From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 4
Total Calories: 103
Calories from Fat: 33

More Recipes from the 1000 Indian Recipes Cookbook:
* Dried Beans, Lentils, and Peas
Basic South Indian Soupy Split Pigeon Peas
Black Beans in Traditional Curry Sauce
Black Chickpeas with Chickpea Masala
Black Chickpeas with Sizzlilng Ginger and Cumin Seeds
Black Urad Beans in a Slow Cooker
Black-Eyed Peas in Yogurt Curry
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Chickpeas in Traditional Curry Sauce
Chickpeas with Ginger, Garlic, and Chaat Masala
Chickpeas with Spinach and Potato Wedges
Chutney Chickpeas with Tamarind
Classic Kidney Bean Curry with Onions
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Crispy Split Pigeon Pea Cake
Curried Black-Eyed Peas
Dry-Cooked Green Split Peas
Dry-Cooked Red Lentils with Cumin Seeds
Falguni's Gujarati Split Pigeon Peas
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