Cabbage pappu

This is my first attempt at making cabbage pappu. Of course, we use cabbage for kootu but never used it for dal/pappu. Also, when I searched the web for this recipe there were very few sites that had the recipe for cabbage pappu. So, here is my version with inputs from a close friend. It turned out delicious!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup chopped cabbage
1 cup channa dal

1 tsp jeera
4 or 5 pods of garlic
1 medium onion chopped
A few curry leaves
3 or 4 red chillies broken
1 tsp mustard
A pinch of turmeric powder

Method
1. Pressure cook the dal, cabbage, jeera and 3 pods of garlic with a pinch of turmeric powder.

Cabbage and dal ready to be cooked

2. Fry the mustard, finely chopped garlic (2 or 3 pods), curry leaves and red chillies.

3. Next add the onions and sauté until soft.

4. Slightly mash the dal-cabbage mixture with the back of a spoon and add to the onion mixture.

5. Serve hot with rice.

Cabbage pappu served with rice

Dal and White Rice - the anytime comfort food

Whatever may be the comfort food for the rest of the world, for people from India dal and rice is what is comfort food and takes you down memory lane. Have it for lunch or dinner, dal and white rice is what I call the ultimate comfort food. Here goes the recipe for dal.

Ingredients1 cup thuvar dal
1 medium size onion
1 medium size tomato
1 tsp garlic paste
3-4 red chillies depending on taste
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp jeera
A few curry leaves
1/2 tsp of asafoetida
Salt to taste
Oil for seasoning
Corainder for garnish

Method1. Pressure cook the dal. Use 2 cups of water for 1 cup of dal.
2. Pour oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add the jeera, red chillies and curry leaves.
3. Next add the onions and fry till they become transparent.
4. Add the garlic paste.
5. Add the tomatoes, cover and cook till it becomes soft and well blended with the onion and garlic.
6. Mash the cooked dal with the back of the spoon and add to the onion-tomato mix.
7. Add salt to taste and mix well.
8. You can alter the consistency of the dal by adding a little water.
9. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander.

Serving size - 1 cup
Number of servings 4 to 6

Dal Makhani

An interesting twist to the boring old dal recipe. This mouth watering recipe is easy to make and pleases your guests too.

Ingredients

1/2 cup black urad dal

2 tbps red kidney beans (rajma)

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp garam masala powder

1/2 cup fresh cream or half and half

1 tsp red chilli powder

3 tbps butter

2 tomatoes chopped finely

1 onion chopped

1 tbps oil

Salt to taste

Method

1. Soak the black urad dal and rajma overnight in water.

2. Peel and chop the onion.

3. Wash and chop the tomatoes.

4. Pressure cook the soaked dal and rajma in three cups of water with salt and red chilli powder till soft.

5. Heat the oil and butter in a pan and add the cumin seeds. When it crackles, add the chopped onions and fry till translucent.

6. Add ginger garlic paste and chopped tomatoes. Sauté the tomatoes till they become soft. Fry the mixture till the oil leaves the masala.

7. Add the boiled dal and rajma along with salt.

8. Add garam masala powder and simmer on low heat for about 5-10 minutes till everything is well incorporated.

9. Add the fresh cream and simmer for another 3-4 minutes.

Serve hot with roti or naan.

Serving size - 1/2 cup

Number of servings 6-7