Tuesday 5 May 2009

Sweet Yellow Daal/ Dhal Recipe


Do not let the name of this recipe deceive you into thinking that it is a pudding or sweet sugar filled daal.

The reason that I call this dal recipe my 'sweet' yellow daal is due to my method of cooking. I gently fry a combination of carrot, swede, parsnip and onion - then with a few more added ingredients I pour tiny amounts of water into the pan - this is just to cook the vegetables not to stew them - I only add more tiny drops of water when the vegetables look to be drying out. The result is a delicious dish of naturally sweet vegetables that tastes so intensely sweet that you would think that I had added sugar to the recipe.

I only use a small amount of my mild curry powder and lots of garlic to season and spice this daal recipe. It is a very very mild dish indeed as far a spices are concerned but the flavours are absolutely fantastic.

If you like, fresh or dried chillies can be added this dish for some heat if desired, but you really must try it mild first ....that is unless you are chilli mad!

My dal recipe is fully vegan and gluten free.

This recipe is very healthy for you as lentils, swedes, parsnips, carrots , onions and garlic have multiple vitamins, minerals and fibre that help your body function correctly.

The sweetness of my red lentil daal does not clash with the savoury factor of this dish because it is all so natural with no added sugars or flavourings.

Once you taste this amazing meal you will be making again and again.




Ingredients for Sweet Yellow Dal
1 Cup Red lentils
1 Large Carrot (chopped small)
1 Large Parsnip (chopped small)
1/4 Swede (chopped small)
1 Small onion (diced)
1 Garlic cloves (minced)
dried Coriander leaves (large pinch)
1 large tsp Chef Jeenas Mild curry powder
Tiny pinch Ginger powder
Salt to season
Water
Rice bran oil


See the sweet vegetables in only a tiny amoung of water.




How to cook a Sweet Yellow Daal


Rinse the red lentils thoroughly.

Bring to the boil in lightly salted water and simmer for 25 minutes or until the lentils are cooked.



Use some rice bran oil to gently fry the onions, swede, carrot and parsnip for approximately 10 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently so that the vegetables do not burn.



After about 10 - 15 minutes add the garlic and stir well for a few minutes. Add the curry powder and coriander leaves stir well for a few minutes then add a small amount of water.

Simmer on a low heat and stir very often until the vegetables are cooked to a soft texture.

Do not pour water over the vegetables - just add tiny amounts of water to the vegetables as and when you need it to stop the vegetables drying out and burning.

Do not turn the vegetables into a stew by adding too much water or else it will ruin the dish.



Add salt to season.



When the vegetables are cooked drain the water completely from the cooked red lentils.

Add the red lentils to the cooked vegetables stir well and check if it needs more salt to taste.



You can serve my sweet red lentil daal with rice, bread or even pasta.

We ate ours with buckwheat pasta spirals.


Enjoy.


16 comments:

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Red lentils should taste good with Rice and roti... Definitely a name has nothing to do until we cook and taste them, parsnip, swede and carrots with dhal is absolutely a great combo...

Ann said...

Daal and pasta.. wow sounds new and exciting to me:) fantastic combo Jeena :)Thanks for sharing.

Anita said...

Yum, sounds lovely, I want to try more dhal recipes :)

Gita Jaishankar said...

I did think that it was a sweet recipe on reading the heading :) I love the method of slow-cooking the veggies, it must have a sweet and delicate flavor. I would love to have them with rotis.

Chutneytales said...

Oh my gosh!This is a fantastic dal recipe.I love the combo of veggies you have used..Its not only tasty but healthy too..Its quite interesting that you served it with Pasta

Parita said...

Wow sounds very delicious and healthy..lovely combination of veggies :)

Finla said...

Dal looks really yumm, i see that you served with pasta, i have never done that, i always serve them with rice or chapathies etc....

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That's the kind of daal dish which I love! Really scrumptious looking!

Cheers,

Rosa

Pam said...

Mmm. I've only had Dhal once but really loved it. This recipe makes me think I can make it at home. Thanks!

lissie said...

dhal looks yummy...great idea of serving it with pasta!

Malar Gandhi said...

WOw...so many pictures...very inviting recipe for sure. Love it.

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Looking great and healthy too jeena

hani said...

Hi jeena,
yr recipe looks so good.. Mmmm i must try this.. i love your healthy cooking

Sona - quick picks/pick quicks said...

Jeena....you are soo versatile, my dear..any recipie, be it from which part of the world..you have it..so happy to find even the kerala chicken curry in ur place. coz, i hail from kerala....

La Bella Cooks said...

I love your blog simply for the fact I learn about something new each time. This sounds amazing!

Erica said...

mmm looks so good. Your carrots are a nice vibrant orange and it makes the finished product look just beautiful! Another fabulous recipe.