The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating … Check This Amazing Recipe: Bengal coconut dal

How to Make Bengal coconut dal

Preparation time:

less than 30 mins

Cooking time:

1 to 2 hours

Serves:

Serves 4-6

Dietary:

Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1.2 litres/2 pints water
• 250g/9oz chana dal
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• 1 heaped tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp garam masala
• salt
• 2-3 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp oil
• 5 green cardamom
• 1 tsp cumin
• 5 cloves
• 1 small cinnamon
• ½ tsp brown mustard seeds
• 1-2 dried red chillies
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 3 heaped tbsp flaked or desiccated coconut, flesh chopped into small cubes

Method

1. Heat the water, lentils and turmeric in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for about an hour, or until soft. If necessary, add a bit of extra water.

2. Stir in the coriander, garam masala, salt and sugar, to taste. Cook until the lentils are completely soft and beginning to break up.

3. Heat the oil or butter in a small pan. Fry the cardamom pods, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, mustard seeds, chillies and bay leaves for 30 seconds. (Be careful as the seeds may pop a bit.) Add the coconut and stir until it turns golden-brown.

4. To serve, stir the spice mix into the lentils and divide among four serving plates.