Punjabi Black Urad Beans Food

MEDU VADA

Steps:

• Soak the urad dal in the water, either soak them overnight or during the whole day. Do not use more water than is given in the recipe. (prep early in the morning, use in the evening).
• At the end of the soaking time, you should notice that the little beans have noticeably increased in size. There will still be some water left, that's ok.
• Add the urad dal + water + green chili + curry leaves + ginger + salt in the food processor. Process until it's become a fine paste. It will still be a little grainy, not completely, smooth and that's ok. Take care to wipe the sides clean.
• Process for another minute or two. This will aerate the batter and create a lighter and fluffier urad dal!
• Leave the batter while you're pre-heating the oil for frying the vada. During this time the batter will thicken slightly, the urad dal will absorb some more moisture. This will help it keep its shape.
• Pre-heat your oil in a suitable pan (e.g. kadai or cast iron pan) until it's 180C (350F). Gently add spoonfuls of batter into the oil. They'll puff up slightly. Keep the temperature constant and fry until they are a nice golden brown on all sides. You'll probably have to flip them over a few times.
• Place on a paper towel or paper plate to absorb excess oil, then transfer onto a clean plate.
• Enjoy them while they're still warm. We enjoy the with mango or tamarind chutney, some yogurt and/or coriander and mint chutney!

DAL MAKHANI

Steps:

• Drain the soaked black urad dal and Kashmiri rajma beans and transfer to a 6-quart Instant Pot®. Add 4 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on low for 1 hour (see Cook's Note). (Alternatively, use a stovetop pressure cooker over medium-high heat set for 15 minutes.)
• After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release. Once the pressure is released, unlock the lid and add the garlic, ginger, Kashmiri chili powder, garam masala and 1 teaspoon salt. Set the pot to medium sauté and simmer, stirring often so the mixture doesn't scorch on the bottom, until the raw smell is gone, about 5 minutes. (If using a stovetop pressure cooker, saute over medium-high heat.)
• Lightly mash the urad dal mixture with a potato masher, leaving some intact. Add the tomato puree and butter and mix well. Cover with the lid (but do not seal), set the pot to slow-normal (slow cooker) and cook, checking and stirring occasionally to make sure it's not sticking to the bottom and adding a little water if it gets too thick, about 2 hours. It should be the consistency of a pourable lentil soup. (If using a stovetop pressure cooker, stir in 1/2 to 1 cup water along with the tomato puree and simmer over low following the instructions above.)
• Add 6 tablespoons of the heavy cream, set the pot to low sauté and simmer, stirring as needed to keep it from sticking to the bottom, until cooked down slightly and combined, another 10 minutes. Taste and adjust with more salt if needed. (If using a stovetop pressure cooker, simmer over medium heat.)
• Make a cappuccino swirl with the remaining 2 tablespoons cream just before serving. Optionally, you can add another pat of butter on the dal just before serving for some extra love!

PUNJABI SUKHA URAD DAL

Steps:

• Place the lentils into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let soak 4 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan over medium heat; cook the onion, green chile peppers, garlic, and ginger in the hot oil until the onions are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir the lentils into the onion mixture with 1 cup water; season with salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir the tomato, garam masala, and turmeric into the mixture. Cook until the lentils are cooked through, about 10 minutes more. Garnish with the cilantro to serve.

PUNJABI DAL MAKHANI

Steps:

• Soak whole black urad and rajma overnight in 3-4 cups of water.
• Cook the soaked dal and rajma in the same water with salt, red chili powder and half the chopped ginger till dal and rajma are cooked and soft.
• Peel and chop the onion, ginger and garlic finely. Also chop the tomatoes.
• Heat oil and butter in a thick-bottomed pan. Add cumin seeds, when it crackles add chopped onions and fry till golden brown.
• Add chopped ginger, garlic and chopped tomatoes. Sauté till tomatoes are well mashed and fat starts to leave the masala. Add boiled dal and rajma to this.Do not add the liquid at first.Crush(mash) the dals with the back of the ladle while stirring continuously, this gives that creamy texture to the dal .
• Add the liquid and some water if required and simmer on very low heat for fifteen minutes.
• Add fresh cream and garam masala powder let it simmer for another five minutes. Finish off with a couple of pinch of Kasoori methi powdered.
• Serve hot with Naan or Paraatha.
• Tip: Replacing the tomatoes with 4 tablespoons of thick tomato paste will enhance the taste and colour of the dish manifold.

BLACK GRAM BEANS IN CREAM SAUCE (DAL MAKHANI)

Steps:

• Drain dal; rinse; combine dal with the 3 cups water, turmeric and oil in a medium saucepan; heat to boiling, cover and cook until dal are cooked through but not mushy, about 30 minutes- the dal should absorb most of the water.
• Stir in garlic, ginger, cumin, garam masala, salt, red pepper, butter and half-and-half; heat to boiling over medium heat; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
• Serve over cooked rice; garnish with cilantro and ginger.