Indian Yellow Split Pea Dal Recipes

EASY CURRIED YELLOW DAL (YELLOW SPLIT PEAS)

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and salt. Saute until soft, about five minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add remaining spices and stir. Saute for about 1 minute, cooking spices. If spices start to stick to pan, add some water - 1/4 cup should do. Add peas and stir to coat with butter, onion, and spice mixture. Add broth, 1/2 cup water and bring to boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer.
• Simmer for 40-50 minutes or until peas are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. (Check peas periodically - you may need to add more water during cooking if peas are absorbing the liquid too quickly). Garnish with chopped cilantro/coriander leaves before serving.
• Options: Serve with hot basmati or brown rice for a filling one-dish meal. Or, double the broth/water to make a curried pea soup. To turn this into a spicy curry, add some finely chopped jalapeno, serrano, or chile pepper at the same time as the garlic.
• Update 1/6/2010: Some people have reported issues with the peas taking longer to soften. I have never had an issue but try cooking the onions without salt and waiting until the last 10 minutes or so of cooking time to add the salt. I have heard salt interfers with lentils softening perhaps it is the same for split peas. Curry powder - I usually use a mild Indian yellow variety, the all-purpose kind found in most US supermarkets. But I have also made this with a hot Madras and it was also delicious (but spicy!).

YELLOW SPLIT PEA DAL

Steps:

• Place split peas in a saucepan with 5 cups of water.
• Cover and bring to boil.
• Lower heat and simmer very slowly, partially covered until soft (2-2/12 hours) Melt butter in large skillet.
• Add crushed garlic, cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, and cinnamon.
• Cook, stirring, over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Add cooked peas and stir until everything is well mixed.
• Keep stirring and cooking as you gradually add an additional 1/2 cup water.
• You want a creamy consistency but not soup.
• Add salt, black and red peppers.
• Cook and stir another 5 minutes over low heat.
• Serve hot.

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.

INDIAN YELLOW SPLIT PEA DAL

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large pot, combine the uncooked yellow split peas and the water or vegetable broth. Bring to a slow simmer.
• Add the turmeric , cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and cover.
• Cook for at least 20 minutes, covered, until the yellow split peas are fully cooked, stirring occasionally. If you prefer a smoother texture, continue to cook the dal for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to allow the yellow split peas to break up even more.
• Once the split peas are almost done, in a separate large skillet or frying pan, heat the onion, cumin, and clove in the margarine. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the onion is soft.
• Add the spiced onion mixture to the split peas, and allow to simmer for at least 5 more minutes.
• Add a dash of pepper and more salt, if desired, and serve hot with rice or alone in a soup bowl. Enjoy!

YELLOW SPLIT PEA DHAL

Steps:

• Rince split pea until water runs clear.
• Boil 1 litre of water, add cinnamon stick, turmeric, chilli pieces and 2 slices of ginger. Simmer for 30-45 minutes (check packaging of split pea for recommended cooking lengths.)
• Heat oil in frying pan and add cumin seed. Fry for 30 seconds and add onion, chilli (add aditional chilli here if required), ginger. Fry until onion is soft. Add garlic, coriander, garam masala and salt and fry for further two minutes. Add tomato plus 100ml water and allow to cook for 20-30 minutes.
• Add spice mix to split pea and stir though. Squeeze in lemon juice and serve topped with coriander leaf.
• Eat as a main with roti or as a side.