Moong dal | Simple dal (Jain)

Moong dal is the simple dal and a wholesome food. It is very easy to prepare. Jain cuisine is completely vegetarian which excludes onion, garlic and root vegetables which is similar to shojin-ryori cuisine of Japan. I have done according to Jain cuisine, as per your taste buds you can add onion and ginger.

Ingredients:

• Moong dal - 1/2 cup
• Chopped tomato - 1/4 cup
• Green chilly -2
• Turmeric powder - a pinch
• Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - as per taste
• Cilantro - to garnish

To temper:

• Ghee - 2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Red chilly - 1
• Asafoetida - a pinch
• Curry leaves - 5

Method:

Wash the lentils and pressure cook with 1 cup of water, green chilly, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes. Switch it off and let it cool.

Heat a wok with 2 tsp of ghee, add cumin seeds, red chilly, asafoetida and curry leaves. After the cumin seeds splutters add the tomatoes and cook till it turns mushy.

Add 1/2 cup of water to lentils and mash it. Add the dal to the tomato. Let it boil in simmer for 5 minutes. Add cilantro. Switch it off.

Serve with roti or chapathi or rice.

Note:

• Ghee can be replaced by oil.
• I was out of curry leaves and cilantro. Tastes good with cilantro.