Crispy Split Pigeon Pea Cake Recipes

TOOR DAL (SPLIT YELLOW PIGEON PEAS)

Steps:

• Prepare the dal: Soak the pigeon peas in a large bowl of warm water for about 1 hour. (They will have swelled a little.) Thoroughly rinse the soaked pigeon peas with fresh water, then tip the drained pigeon peas into a pot.
• Add tomatoes, turmeric, salt and 5 cups water, and bring to a boil over high. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Use an immersion blender to purée some of the dal, leaving some intact and getting some very smooth, or whisk vigorously to break up some of the soft dal. Stir in the peanuts and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the dal is very tender, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt. If the dal has become too thick for your liking, stir in a splash of water.
• Prepare the tempering: In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the ghee. When hot, carefully add all of the tempering ingredients (the mustard seeds will sputter!) and swirl the pan until you can smell all the toasted spices, about 30 seconds. Pour everything over the hot dal.

CRISPY SPLIT PIGEON PEA CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Soak the dal in the water about 1hour or longer. Transfer the dal and water to a small, nonstick saucepan, add the salt and turmeric, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and simmer until all water is absorbed.2. Reduce the heat further and drizzle 2 tablespoons oil into the dal along the circumference of the pan. Cover and allow the dal to develop a thin crust at the bottom (do not stir), 30 to 40 minutes. With a rubber spatula lightly dislodge the edges, then invert the cake onto a serving platter.3. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small nonstick saucepan. Add the red chili peppers and mustard seeds they should splutter upon contact with the hot oil, so cover the pan and reduce the heat until the spluttering subsides. Add the asafoetida and curry leaves, stir a few seconds, then pour everything over the dal as a garnish. Serve.VARIATION: For added flavor, mix finely chopped ginger, garlic, or cilantro into the dal in Step 1, while it cooks.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.