Wednesday 14 July 2010

Sprouted Masoor Pilaf and Restaurant Style Punjabi Dal Fry | Step Wise | Gluten Free

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Hi!
There are days when you do not want to cook elaborately but the taste buds demand for tasty food. An option would be to make a one pot meal, another option can be to order out but this time I did not do either of that, I utilized things in my refrigerator and did cook an wholesome  combination. Today I am writing about a very interesting, extremely tasty and a healthy combo.
A few days back when everyone in the family had left for school and office, I finished my morning chores and sat down quietly on my bed. My thoughts took me back to about 20 yrs back when I was still a school going girl and my Mavshi (maternal aunt) and cousins had come to stay with us at my Mom’s place and all of us had gone to see the dam. While returning back it rained heavily and we had fun in rain and then played antakshari while we drove back home.
After reaching home, everyone was tired and the ladies in the house were surely in no mood to cook elaborately. My aunt initiated to cook and introduced us to this simple pilaf using Masoor while my Mom made the raita and fried some crispies.
I was suddenly extremely excited remembering this Pilaf and wanted to try it immediately. Though my aunt had used masoor directly, I thought of sprouting them to make the preparation more healthy. Along with the pilaf I made S’s all time favorite Punjabi Dal Fry or Dal Tadka. Whenever we go to eat out in North Indian restaurants, DH prefers to order this and the last few times the dal was not up to his taste, so I decided to pamper his taste buds.
The dal turned out extremely tasty and everyone was asking for more of it. S’s compliment was the best …he said, this beats any of these Punjabi restaurant preparation!!! So, if you are in a mood to try restaurant style, err sorry better than that dal fry, do try this, I will vouch for the taste! Pilaf is very light to eat and has no heavy flavors. We just loved it for it’s simplicity.

P1030394                                              Sprouted Masoor

Ingredients for  Sprouted Masoor Pilaf
2-1/2 katori basmati rice
4 handfuls of Masoor sprouts
3 medium onions sliced
3-4 green chilies
a tsp shahjeera
mixed spices-
3-4 bay leaves
5-6 cloves
2 inch pieces cinnamon
4-5 green cardamom
3-4 black cardamom
salt to taste
oil for cooking

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Method to make Pilaf
1. Heat oil in the pan and add the shahjeera, once it crackles, tip in the  mixed spices and let them crackle.
2. Add the green chilies, followed by sliced onions ( I used 2 onions here, 1 onion was fried to garnish later).
3. Add the sprouts and mix properly. Also add in the salt as per taste.
4. Wash and  soak the rice for 15 mins. Drain the water in a separate utensil and add this rice to the sauteed onions and mix lightly for about 2-3 mins.
5. Add the drained water and more water for cooking ( 2 parts water is taken for 1 part rice). Once the water comes to a boil, simmer the flame, cover the pan  partially with a lid so that the steam can escape and the froth will not rise up.
6. Check it once or twice in between, ensure that the grains are not broken while stirring. Cook till done.

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Finally  remove the pilaf  in a serving bowl and garnish with fried onions and serve.

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Ingredients for Punjabi Dal Fry/ Dal tadka
2 small handfuls chana dal/ Bengal gram dal
3 small handfuls Tuvar dal/ split pigeon pea
5-6 garlic pods
an inch piece of ginger
1 tsp cumin
a mix of oil and clarified butter for cooking
1-1/2 tbsp coriander pwd
1/2 tsp cumin pwd
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp red chili pwd (adjust as per your taste)
1 tbsp kasoori methi
2 chopped onions
3 medium tomatoes chopped
salt to taste

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Method
1. Heat oil and ghee mix and add the cumin. Once the cumin crackles, add crushed ginger garlic followed by kasoori methi.
2. Add chopped onion and saute till they are brown in colour (do not burn).
3. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and add the salt. Cook till they are mushy, now add the turmeric,  red chili, coriander and cumin pwd, saute for a min.
4. Wash  and  soak the two lentils together for half an hour and then pressure cook it along with some turmeric and few drops of oil. When the  pressure drops,  add this dal to the onion-tomato mix.
5. Mix the dal properly with the mix and add a little water (about a cup) and bring it to a boil.
6. Sprinkle the garam masala and give final stir before serving.
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Serve the dal hot with the pilaf (if one wants, can put a spoon of tadka  again on it, I did not do that).
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Sending this to ‘Only’ Cooking with Grains happening this month at Shruti’s place.


and the dal fry to  Sunita and Priya Mitharwal’s Think spice-Think Fenugreek event.

Tips
The dal should not be overcooked and grains should be visible. One can add a glass of cold water to the cooked dal so that the grains do not become mushy.
The Shahjeera adds an amazing flavour to the pilaf, so do not avoid that.
A dash of lime juice to the dal tastes really good.
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40 comments:

chef and her kitchen said...

Never sprouted masoor dear..sounds nice..Even I love dal tadka and recently had it in a dhaba and I was bowled by the taste of it..I never knew to add chana dal and toor dal to dal tadka..I make it with moong dal...watever the combination looks yummy

Shama Nagarajan said...

delicious dal and pilaf..cute pictures

Satya said...

wow ,its so delicious complete nutritious meal for dinner ...i love panjabi dal n adding kasuri meethi is wonderful combo n this pilaf is totally new for me ...it looks awesome ...thanks for sharing these two superb dishes with us

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Wow I love this combination and dhal tadka is my fav.. this both is truely making me drool like anything.. awesome combo...yummy!!! Pictures are great pari.

Pari Vasisht said...

Hi Prathy, in restaurants the dal tadka is made either with tuvar dal or a mix,try this if u can, it's finger lickingly good and sprouted masoor are so good, I am surely gonna try many more recipes with it.
Thanks Shama
Satya, Kasoori methi is a must in dal fry, adds in a lovely flavor, but one needs to add it consciously else the dal can taste bitter.
Thanks Pavithra, I am truly overwhelmed that u liked the pics.

Priya Suresh said...

Both dishes looks utterly delicious and irresistible, thick dal fry makes me hungry..

Angie's Recipes said...

Love pilaf and dal dishes...they look so delicious, esp. the dal!

notyet100 said...

hi there,ya u r right,i am in singapore,..combo looks yummy,...hows the weather there heard its raining quiet heavily there,..

SS blogs here said...

Dal and pulav is such a basic combination, yet it can be made to taste so good! Your pics have come out so nice, especially the closeups!

PJ said...

you have got me drooling over these recipes and writeups and to think i am just having my morning first cup of coffee! both look so delicious, Pari! I have got to try your masoor pilaf (though sprouting masoor can be a bit of challenge here; i might use them whole as your mavashi did)

Swathi said...

Sprouted masoor dal pilaf is healthy dish along with protein loaded dal thaddka wonderful Pari.

Suji said...

Wow..delicious pilaf Pari..Drooling over the pictures..

Love
Kairali sisters

Sandhya Hariharan said...

I m loving it ! Sply the dal.. simple yet rich!

Rach said...

I love them both, Yummy!

Latha said...

Pilaf and Dal look incredibly yummy!

Nitha said...

thats a wonderful rice with delicious dal..

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

mouthwatering n delicious.....yummo...so healthy n nutritious

kitchen queen said...

lovely and tempting combo would love to grab the whole thing and have it.

TREAT AND TRICK said...

Great combo and looks so delicious, great pic too...

Unknown said...

Never heard of sprouting masoor dal. Looks so healthy and hearty.

Krishnaveni said...

such a healthy and delicious rice, great

Unknown said...

Pari, beautiful pics and what a drool-worthy recipe. I love the combo :)

Coincidence that Priya posted this event just today, please do send it this to her. http://priyaeasyntastyrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/07/announcing-lets-sprout-new-event.html

RV said...

Even my Muasis cook a lot for me. This rice and dhal looks so authentic an healthy.. YUMMM....

Kiran said...

Delicious Masoor Sprouts rice and daal tadka.Love the combo.

suma said...

Am a sucker for dal fry, thanks for the recipe, the pilaf sounds simple and tasty, perfect with the dal.

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

sprouted massordal,never heard abt that,but sounds very healthy.
the dal is a great combo for the pilaf.the fried onions on the top looks yum

Unknown said...

sprouted masoor rice is such a good idea..will try it next time..

Jayashree said...

I love the earthy taste of masoor dal. Haven't tried sprouting them before.

Prema said...

Both sounds gud dear! love the combo:)

aipi said...

Sprouts pulao is something I never tried.. your looks awesome with the daal.. bookmarked it ! lovely clicks too..

Sushma Mallya said...

Sprouts pilaf sounds really interesting,and lovely combo with this delicious dal,loved that you added kasuri methi in it...very flavourful ...

jayasree said...

I made a one-pot meal with cracked wheat and sprouted masoor.

Your combo is indeed droolworthy. Dal tadka is making me feel hungry now.

PranisKitchen said...

pari both the dish looks so delicious.. the pilaf is my favorite.. very healthy one dear.. very well explined and lovley pics..

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Pari
Very nice dish indeed ..No matter how I try to make a Punjabi style Tarka , it never tasted like the Dhaba ones.
Thank you very much for visiting my blog and y0our nice comments..Nowadays cant on all the blogs even if I read all. This is mainly because of lack of time.
My compu is always on..but rarely sit on it ..so thats why you dont see me on line.
Have a nice week ahead
ushnishda

Suhaina said...

Thanks Pari.. I will surely try it. looks very yummy.. sprouted means very nutritious.. I have book marked ur wonderful recipe. Will surely try ur combo...

akanksha said...

tried the dal loved i now looking fwd to try the rice also :)

chaitrali pathak said...

ANOTHER SUPERB AND LOVELY ENTRY FROM U DEAR.....LOOKS VERY HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS....THANKX

Anonymous said...

Looks delicious,specially dal fry. Howevr, can you share how in the restaurants the dals have amild smoky flavour. I just love that !!!!!!

lattanzilara said...

Love this site really good info

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Unknown said...

Looking so amazing easy and best recipe...
Crispy and Crunchy

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