Bengali Red Dal Curry
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jonathan Kandell)
Date: 3 Aug 93 21:48:48 GMT
Key spice: Panch Phanon Mix, also known as Five Spice (do not substitute
Chinese Five Spice!)
Equal proportions of whole cumin, fenugreek, anise, mustard, "Indian
black onion" seeds (kalunji). You will need to go to an Indian Store to
get the last ingredient. It is not related to the onion.
1 1/2 C red lentils
3 1/2 C water
6 serrano chilies (or 3 jalepeno?), either whole or sliced in
quarters
1/4 t turmeric, or more to taste
1 1/2 t salt
4 T ghee, butter or vegetable oil
1 C minced onions
1 C chopped tomatoes
1 T grated fresh ginger
2 T ghee or vegetable oil
1 T panch phanon mix
4 dried small red chilies
1-3 cloves garlic
There are three basic steps to this recipe: cooking the lentils in
water, making a tomato/onion/ginger mush, and making a spiced oil.
1. Rinse lentils well, add water, serrano chilies, turmeric and salt.
Bring carefully to boil and cook over low to medium heat, partially
covered, for 25 minutes. Cover and cook another 10 minutes. Adjust
salt.
2. While lentils are cooking, cook onions in a frying pan in the oil
until they are golden brown (approximately 10 minutes), stirring
constantly. Add tomatoes and ginger and continue cooking until the
tomatoes decompose into a delicious and fragrant mush (approximately 8
minutes.) Stir constantly so that tomato mixture doesn't stick. Turn
heat to low if necessary.
3. Scrape out this mush into the lentils and stir it in. Let lentils
sit while you make the spiced oil.
4. Do a quick rinse of the frying pan, without soap, and dry
thoroughly. Add the remaining 2T oil and heat over medium high heat.
When oil is hot add panch phanon mix and heat until the seeds begin to
pop, about 15 seconds. Add red chilies and fry for another 15 seconds,
until they turn a little darker. Turn off heat and add the crushed
garlic and let sizzle for about 30 seconds. Stir this mixture into the
lentil/tomato mixture and serve with rice. Adjust salt.
---------------
Using ghee changes the taste compared with oil. I prefer it for step 4.
It tastes good either way though.
.
"Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't."
*Angelique*
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