Hariyali Dal

Green green all around, trees..grass..plants...all filled with the summer spirit!!! so why not a preparation with green ingredients! An ode to this green summer with a healthy recipe which everyone should definitely try!

Here is a dal curry preparation made of green moong dal which is renowned for being rich in proteins.  This dal is healthy yet extremely yummy accompanied with rice or roti.

Green moong beans are widely used all over Asia, particularly in India, China, and far East. Its health benefits classify this class of lentils as the best ingredient for diet recipes. Sprouted green moong beans are eaten raw by many as a form of snack accompanied by a bit of chaat masala, onions, cucumbers and tomatoes.  I vaguely recall being taught in school how to make a form of chowmein (noodles) by adding a handful of these sprouted moong beans to the mixture of noodles and sauces. I personally did not like the taste of raw sprouts but in the form of a chowmein I sure did love them!

This particular dal curry is what I used to make a lot during my stay in UK when I had to cook something for myself and my roomie without labouring away the hours in the kitchen.  It was a pleasant and homely feel we got while digging into this dal, being so far away from home in a cold and rainy land.  If you add a dollop of butter to it, you’ll get extra heat to survive snowy days and minus degree temperature nights.  If there is left over dal it tastes as good or even better the next day! Can’t find and roti or rice around? Have this dal with bread, yes bread! Sounds weird probably but this dal sure does taste good even with plain old bread!! So if you don’t have green moong dal at home, make sure you buy some next time you go grocery shopping. Make a batch of this dal and enjoy this powerhouse of nutrition and goodness :) 

Ingredients:

• Whole Green Moong dal : 1 cup (You can use sprouted Moong dal too)
• Onions : 1 chopped finely
• Tomato : 1 chopped 
• Green chilies : 4...or you can also use red chilli powder (2 tsps)
• Garam Masala : 1 ½ tsp  
• Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
• Ginger and Garlic paste : 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves : 3 to 4 
• Oil : 1 tbsp
• Cumin seeds : 1/2 tsp
• Salt as per taste
• Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method Of preparation :

1. Soak the whole moong dal for over night or if you are in hurry soak it in hot water for one hour at least (otherwise if you have no time at all to soak, want to make it immediately just pressure cook it for 4 whistle and use it).
2. Then pressure cook the soaked moong dal with ½ cup water for three whistles.
3. Heat oil in a pan with cumin seeds and curry leaves fry them in low flame for a minute.
4. Add Onion and green chilies fry them till it becomes golden brown . (If you add red chilli powder the dal will have a darker brownish colour but still taste as good as ever.)
5. And add the ginger garlic paste and fry them till the raw smells goes.
6. Now add the chopped tomatoes in to it with little turmeric powder and salt.
7. Mix it well till the oil separates from the mix and add in the cooked and mashed moong dal with 1 cup of water.
8. And close the lid let it boil for 5 minutes in high flame till you get the desired consistency you want. Also add in a 1 ½ tsp of garam masala and salt as per taste (I always add 1 tbsp, taste, and keep adding according to how much more I want) and mix well.
9. After that remove from heat and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot! Warm or cool dal just doesn't taste good.