Sprouted Masoor Pilaf and Restaurant Style Punjabi Dal Fry

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.

                                              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


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 sauted 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.

 

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

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

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.

 
Serve the dal hot with the pilaf (if one wants, can put a spoon of tadka  again on it, I did not do that).

Sending the pilaf to Priya’s Let’s Sprout event.
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.