Dales Eastern Curry Food

DAL (INDIAN LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Soak Lentils: Rinse lentils and leave to soak in plenty of water for 1 hour. Drain in colander.
• Heat ghee/oil in a heavy based saucepan over high heat. Add green chillies and fry for a minute until starting to blister.
• Add onions and fry until softened.
• Lower heat to medium, add garlic, ginger and curry leaves. Cook for 1 minute until garlic starts to turn golden and smells amazing.
• Add tomatoes and cumin, cook until tomatoes start to break down and thicken to a paste - about 2 minutes.
• Add lentils, water, tumeric and salt. Stir, bring to simmer, cover and simmer gently for 1 hour. Stir two or three times during the hour.
• Remove lid and simmer gently for 30 minutes to thicken, stirring every now and then. The dal is ready when it has a consistency like porridge - some lentils should be intact but some have broken down to thicken the sauce.
• Stir through garam masala at the end. Adjust salt if desired.
• Pour over Tadka, if using, and stir through.
• Serve Dal over rice, garnished with a sprig of coriander if desired.

INDIAN DAL

Steps:

• To a large saucepan add the lentils, turmeric and water. Partially cover with a lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the lentils are broken down.
• While the lentils cook. Add the butter over to a separate pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, mustard powder, garam masala and tomato. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes stirring. Add the cooked lentils, salt and cilantro, mix well and remove from heat.. Taste for seasoning, add more salt if needed.
• Serve warm.

EAST INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Brown chicen in a non-stick skillet, using a little vegetable oil or margarine. Remove to paper towels and drain. Discard oil or margarine, retaining any browned bits of the chicken.
• Heat the 2 TB margarine or oil in the same skillet. Add onions and garlic and saute until browned.
• Add bay leaves (crush them between your fingers first), cinnamon and cloves. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients to skillet and stir frequently.
• Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the spicy sauce over it. Cover tightly and cook over medium heat until tender.
• NOTE: I just use a 14.5-oz can of diced tomatoes, or a quart of whole home-canned tomatoes, drained.