Urad Dal Chicken Food

DAL MAKHANI RECIPE (INSTANT POT & STOVETOP)

Steps:

• Add urad dal and rajma to a large pot and rinse them well a few times. Drain the water and soak them in 3 to 4 cups of water for 7 to 8 hours. To reduce the soaking time, you may soak them in boiling hot water for 4 to 5 hours.
• Later drain the water and rinse them well.
• Pour 4 cups fresh water and pressure cook for 10 whistles on a medium heat. You can also cook in a pot until soft and tender adding more water whenever needed. If cooking in instant pot, pressure cook on high pressure for 20 mins.
• Both urad dal and rajma must cook to very soft. When mashed with a spoon the dal and rajma must be soft and get mashed well easily. If not then pour another half cup hot water and continue to cook for another 3 to 4 whistles on a medium heat.
• Heat a heavy bottom pot with butter & ghee. If using whole spices, add them and saute for half a minute. Then add onions and fry until they turn golden.
• Stir in ginger garlic paste and saute for 1 minute until the raw smell goes away.
• Then transfer tomato puree and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until thick.
• Add salt, chilli powder & garam masala. Saute well until the masala smells good and turns thick.
• Mash the cooked urad dal slightly and pour it along with the stock. Pour another 1 cup hot boiling water & mix.
• Cook on a low flame until the dal thickens stirring often in between to prevent burning the bottom. After 60 mins, the dal thickens.
• Add another ½ to 1 cup hot boiling water and continue to cook until thick. This takes another 30 mins. Totally cook for about 90 mins from the time you added the cooked dal to the pot.
• Then add kasuri methi and pour cream. Stir and cook again for 6 to 8 mins until it becomes thick and creamy.
• Taste and add more salt if needed. Add butter and mix well.
• Place a small piece of foil or a tall steel cup on the dal makhani. Hold 1 to 2 inch piece of natural wood charcoal with a tong and burn it on direct fire until red hot. Then place it on the foil kept over dal or in the steel cup.
• Quickly pour ¼ tsp ghee on the hot coal. Immediately cover the pot and allow to smoke for 3 to 4 mins. For stronger flavor, add another ¼ tsp ghee on the coal and repeat the smoking.
• Garnish dal makhani with butter or cream & serve with naan.
• Press SAUTE button on the Instant pot. Add ghee and butter to the steel insert.
• Once the butter melts, add onions and saute until transparent. Add ginger garlic paste and saute for 30 seconds.
• Pour the tomato puree, red chilli powder & garam masala. Saute for 3 to 5 mins.
• Drain the water from the lentils and add them. Pour 3 cups water and deglaze the pot by scrubbing the bottom with a wooden spatula.
• Press CANCEL button. Secure the Instant pot with the lid. Position the steam release handle to sealing.
• Press PRESSURE COOK button and set the timer to 30 mins.
• When the IP finishes it will beep. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
• Open the lid. You will see the dal being runny at this stage. Add salt & slightly mash the urad dal, not rajma.
• Press SAUTE button. Adjust the setting to LOW by pressing the saute button twice.
• Cook further stirring often until thick. When most of the moisture evaporates, dal turns thicker. Optional - I prefer to add 1 more cup of hot water in 2 batches, ½ cup each time. Cook further until really creamy and thick.
• Then add cream and kasuri methi. Continue to cook until creamy.
• Stir in the butter and garnish dal makhani with cream.

URAD DAL

Steps:

• Combine black lentils and red kidney beans in a pot. Cover with water; let soak, 8 hours to overnight.
• Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder to the beans. Boil until soft but not pasty, about 30 minutes.
• Heat butter and oil in a separate pot. Add cumin, cloves, and bay leaves; cook until sputtering, about 1 minute. Add onion, green chili, and remaining salt and ginger; fry until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomato and garlic; cook until tomato is soft, about 5 minutes. Add coriander, turmeric, and remaining chili powder; fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add beans and lemon juice to the spice mixture; mix gently. Add garam masala. Simmer dal over low heat for 15 minutes. Add cream and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.

URAD DHAL

Steps:

• Wash the dhal in at least three changes of cold water until the water runs clear. Put the rinsed dhal in a large bowl with plenty of cold water, cover and leave to soak at room temperature for 12-24 hrs.
• Drain and rinse the dhal, then tip into a large saucepan. Cover with 2 litres of cold water and bring to the boil, skimming any foam from the top. Turn down the heat, half-cover and gently simmer for 2½-3 hrs. If the water level starts to drop below the top of the dhal, add a splash more boiling water. Once cooked, the dhal should be completely soft and start breaking down into the liquid. If the liquid is still thin, simmer for an extra few mins and mash the dhal lightly to help thicken.
• Heat the oil in a small frying pan. Add the garlic and ginger and fry gently for 1-2 mins to soften but not brown. Add the ground coriander, chilli powder, turmeric and tomato purée with a large splash of water. Cook for 1-2 mins, then scrape into the pan of dhal and gently heat through.
• Add extra water if needed to make the dhal looser and creamy. Sprinkle over the garam masala and remove from the heat. Serve in bowls with rice topped with a swirl of coconut yogurt, a scattering of coriander and some lime wedges on the side for squeezing over.

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!

ALOO MASALA (SPICED POTATOES)

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to boil over high. Once the water boils, add the potatoes. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes, then drain in a colander.
• In a heavy pot, heat the oil over medium. Add the urad dal, cumin and mustard seeds, and fry until cumin seeds are browned and dal is crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the cashews, chile and ginger, and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the onion, salt and turmeric, and lower the heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent and tender but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Tip the cooked potatoes, half the cilantro and 1/4 cup water into the pot, and stir well to coat. As you stir, let some of the potato get mashed. If the mixture seems dry, add a splash more of water. Cook over low, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are heated through, about 5 minutes, then season to taste with salt. Scrape into a serving dish; top with a generous squeeze of lemon and the remaining cilantro.

URAD DAL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy-based pot, add the chopped onions and fry the onions until golden brown.
• Add salt, turmeric powder and red chili powder and fry spices for 2-3 minutes by adding a little water at a time (to prevent from burning).
• Add the chicken and continuously stir until all of the water evaporates.
• Add in the urad lentils.(not the water, the lentils only). Add 2 glasses of warm fresh water to the lentils and mix. Cover pot on low heat and let the chicken cook.
• When the meat has tenderized and the lentils have softened, add the ginger paste and garam masala powder and mix.
• Garnish with coriander/cilantro leaves and green peppers and serve with lemon.