I love that alliteration, and I love the group energy and consciousness when we are all making the same effort at the same time. Here is our dinner last night, so delicious, so easy, so healthy and so inexpensive both to our pocketbook and to Mother Nature!
Enjoy a read about Madhur Jaffrey, and her approach to food, among dining out! I share her joy in eating food prepared at home!
Moong Dal (From An Invitation to Indian Cooking by Madhur Jaffrey)
1 1/2 cups moong dal (can use red lentils)
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 slices peeled fresh ginger, 1″ by 1/2″ approximately
1 t chopped cilantro
1 T ground tumeric
1/4 t cayenne pepper (or less)
1 1/2 t salt
1 1/2 T lemon juice
3 T ghee (I used 2 T)
Pinch of Hing (asafeteda- optional)
1 t whole cumin seeds
Rinse the moong dal under running water. Add it to a pot along with 5 cups of water and bring to the boil. When it comes to the boil, let is simmer for a few minutes and remove the foam at the top. Now add the garlic, ginger cilantro, tumeric and cayenne. Lower the heat for a continuous simmer for about 1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally.
Up to this stage the meal can be made in a slow cooker. Although removing the foam is not possible, the dal will cook throughout the day and be ready for you to add the remaining ingredients.
Adjust the seasoning in the dal, now adding the salt and the lemon juice. Have the cooked dal in your serving dish before pouring over the ghee with cumin, described below.
Melt the ghee, when hot enough to sizzle the seeds, add the cumin seeds and the ghee. Turn off the heat, swirl the pan. When the heat calms down pour this over the dal.
Serves 4 for dinner
Finishing Touches to the Meal
Add chopped spinach to the hot dal. It will cook quickly and give some color and added nourishment to the dish. Serve with brown basmati rice, and another vegetable. We enjoyed a delicious salad! Not a traditional Indian combination, but one that kept all of us happy, and satisfied!
Cost (approx numbers)
Dal – $3.00 (plant based proteins are cheaper)
Rice – $1.00
Salad – $4.50
Dressing – $.50