When Winters warm up in Karachi, the love is in the food. But you don’t have to always go the Hot Chocolate or Coffee way. Sometimes, love is in the simple things – not the Nihaari, Paya, or even the Qeemay wala Naan. Love is in crispy hot Tandoori Naan with Daal Fry and a sprinkle of fresh greens to complete the ultimate comfort meal!
And we have the recipe for you!
Dhaaba Style Daal Fry Ingredients:
Vegetable oil: 2-4 Tablespoons (or more if you prefer)
Ginger/Garlic in a paste, or freshly sliced thin: 1-2 tsp
Channay ki Daal: 1 cup (preferably soaked in water overnight)
Moong Daal: 1 cup (soaked in water, one hour)
Tomatoes: 2, chopped.
Onion: 1 large or 2 medium – finely sliced
Saabut Zeera (Whole Cumin): 2 tsp
Zeera (Cumin) powder: 2-3 tsp
Haldi (Turmeric) powder: 1 tsp
Chilli powder/ or kutti wi laal mirach: 1-2 tsp
Dhania (Coriander) powder: 2-3 tsp
Salt: As per taste
For Dhaaba Style Daal Fry Garnish:
Chopped coriander leaves, green chillies, finely sliced red onion, lemon slices.
Garam masala powder (Optional)
Method:
Heat the oil and saute the onions till light brown. Add in the saabut zeera till you get a roasted aroma, then add in chopped tomatoes and all the dry spices. saute well and cover. Cook on low heat till the tomatoes break down – maybe about 5-7 minutes.
Drain the water from the channay ki daal and add it in. Stir well, and add enough water to cover the daal, not too much. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes to an hour or till daal is half done. The lentils will be softer to the touch. Add in the moong daal now (drained) and add salt as per taste. Add some water as requires, not too much. Daal fry does not have a watery consistency, you should be able to feel the texture of the daals.
Cover and cook for another 30 minutes or till both daals are cooked through. (the lentil should have split).
Taste and adjust salt if needed. Add a sprinkle of garam masala powder (optional) and garnish with the greens and sliced red onion. Serve with crispy hot naan and a slice of lemon on the side!
You won’t miss the meat in this one!
5 Cafes that hit the right Coffee Spot!
Asia Omar has given our readers the latest Book Review, The Snow Child, for our June 2015 issue.
“FUCHSIA gives me a chance to rediscover my fascination with the written word.”says Asia. She is mother to 2 boys and lives in Basel, Switzerland.
Asia holds an MBA Degree from the IBA, Karachi University. She has always enjoyed all things connected to reading and writing but has not had a chance to exercize this choice since motherhood took over!
Asia plans to apply her linguistic skills to learning German soon. She loves to read ( we look forward to more book reviews), enjoys gardening (she claims to kill more greens than grow them) and loves to bake.
Would she want to change anything about herself ? “No, not really, but adding a few more inches to my height would always be a bonus! ”
Asia is “proud to be me”. And lives by the motto: “Live and Let Live, and Carpe Diem!”
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