Serves: 4
Total Calories: 95

1/4 cup black split urad beans (chilkae vaali urad dal), sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
1/4 cup green mung beans (saabut mung dal), sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
1/4 cup green lentils (saabut mesoor dal), sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
1/4 cup , yellow split garbanzo beans, (channa dal), sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons peeled minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/8 teaspoon ground asafoetida
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
4 to 5 cups water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or melted ghee
1 to 3 fresh green chili pepper, such as serrano, split lengthwise, wtih or without seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground paprika

1. Heat the oil in a medium cast-iron or nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat, add the dals and onion, and stir constantly over medium-low heat until fragrant and well roasted, about 5 minutes. Mix in the ginger and garlic, then the coriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, asafoetida, and salt, and stir about 30 seconds.

2. Transfer to a pressure cooker, add 4 cups water. Secure the lid and cook over high heat until the regulator indicates high pressure, then cook 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and allow the pot to depressurize on its own, 12 to 15 minutes. Carefully open the lid and check to see if the dal is very soft and cream if not, add the remaining 1 cup water, cover, bring up to high pressure, and cook under high pressure about 30 seconds. Or cover and boil until soft, about 30 minutes.

3. Uncover and simmer over medium-low heat about 10 minutes, then remove to a serving dish, cover, and keep warm.

4. Heat the oil (or ghee) in a small saucepan and cook the green chili peppers about 30 seconds. Add the cumin seeds they should sizzle upon contact with the hot oil. Remove from the heat, add the paprika, and add the tarka to the cooked dal. Swirl lightly to mix, with parts of it visible as a garnish, 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: 95
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
Canister Chickpeas (or Dried Yellow Peas)
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
Classic No-Onion Kidney Bean Curry
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
Fresh Green Chickpeas with Lentil Nuggets
Garlicky Dried Green Peas Curry
Garlicky Yellow Mung Beans with Zucchini Wheels
Green Lentils with Sautéed Onion
Gujarati Green Mung Beans with Green Masala Paste
Hazram's Soupy Pigeon Peas
Kashmiri Fennel-Flavored Black Urad Beans with Yogurt
Kashmiri Small Red Beans
Madras-Style Pigeon Peas with Vegetables
Mustard-Roasted Adzuki Beans
Parsi Mixed Lentils, Beans, and Vegatables
Pickle-Flavored Chickpeas
Punjabi Black Urad Beans
Punjabi Dry-Cooked Yellow Mung Beans
Punjabi Green Mung Beans with Sizzling Ginger
Punjabi Red Beans with Mango Pickle Masala
Punjabi-Style Split Pigeon Peas
Rajasthani Mixed 5 Beans and Lentils
Red Lentils with Bengali 5-Spices
Roasted Green Lentils with Tomatoes
Roasted Yellow Mung Beans and Potatoes
Sindhi Dry-Cooked Yellow Mung Beans
Small White Beans with Indian Spices
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White Urad Beans with Roasted Fenugreek Leaves
Yellow Mung Beans with Fresh Curry Leaves
Yellow Mung Beans with Sautéed Onion and Ginger
Yellow Split Chickpeas with Spinach
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