Malka Dal (Pink Lentils)[मलका दाल]

This is a simple recipe for making malka daal, also known as the pink lentils.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Malka Dal
• One medium onion
• Five dried red chillies
• Five garlic cloves

• One inch long piece of fresh Ginger
• Spices: 2 Teaspoon cumin seeds(crush in a mortar), coriander(1 Teaspoon), red chili powder(1 Teaspoon), Salt(to taste, about three teaspoon), turmeric(1 Teaspoon).
• Tomatoes(optional, I skipped them because I didn't have any).
• Water: About 5.5 cups, can be varied as well depending on consistency required.

 Steps:

• Heat mustard oil(Four tablespoons) in a wok/karahi.
• Add crushed cumin seeds, when they are sizzling toss garlic and dried red chilis.
• Stir for thirty seconds or so, then add onion. Saute until the onions are brown.
• Add the lentils and saute for another few minutes. Add the rest of the spices sequentially and mix the ingredients.

• Add three cups of water. Cover and cook for approximately 30 minutes. Add the additional 2.5 cups of water during the cooking process.

You can also add tomatoes, I use them when they are in season during the summer. The pictures below show the outcome when cooked with tomatoes.