Sindhis prepare a various dals in a variety of ways. We make channa, yellow split moong, chhilte wali dal(green split moong), tuver, masoor and urad dal with a mindboggling number of permutations and combinations of condiments, spices and vegetables that can be added to give flavours. We add jeera, fenugreek seeds, onions, garlic, tomatoes, dill, coriander, ladies’ finger, cluster beans and/or just plain dal with masalas such as jeera (cumin seed) powder, black pepper powder and mango powder with hot ghee poured on top. These dals can vary in consistencies too so that some can be had with rice, others with fulka, and yet others with pakwans (crisp fried flatbreads). I think we can write a book on the number of ways dals that can be prepared in Sindhi cuisine.
Today I am adding a recipe of bassarwari dal – dal with onions (bassar) by my sister-in-law, Diya Davara. She is an excellent cook, a trait she has inherited from her mother. Her simplest of Sindhi meals such as sai bhaji – bhuga chawar, Sindhi curry-rice or koki-chai(tea) are sublime.
Bassarwari dal has the goodness of tuver dal, which has protein, iron, calcium and folic acid, and the benefits of onions, which are loaded with antioxidants, cancer-fighting compounds and antibacterial properties.
Recipe for Bassarwari Dal
Tip from the chef : This dal does not require any souring agent or garnish, as they clash with the onion flavour.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup tuver dal
2 medium-sized onions
2-3 chopped chillies
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste
oil
Method
- Wash the tuver dal well and put it in a pressure cooker.Add water.
- Peel the onions and cut them into quarters. Put them in a small container with a lid and place the container with the dal to boil along with it. Close the cooker and cook the dal till done.
- Whisk the dal, add chopped or slit chillies and the boiled onions.
- Boil the dal for ten minutes.
- Take a little oil in a separate vessel. Heat the oil and add fenugreek seeds and cumin seeds. Add the oil when the seeds turn pink.
- Boil and serve the dal with rice.
Pics and Recipe by Mrs. Diya Davara, Ahmedabad
Check out the recipes for other Sindhi dals:
Sindhi Maakhni Dal – Sindhi Khazana – a simple moong dal to be had with puris or khakhras
Sindhi Dal Pakwan – Sindhi Khazana – a perfect combination of channa dal and pakwan with tamarind chutney, a recipe by Mrs. Renu Kirpalani
Sindhi Thumwari Dal – Sindhi Khazana – a recipe of moong with garlic to be had with rice- a recipe by Mrs. Urvashi Dama, Mumbai
Recipe and Pics by Mrs. Diya Davara, Ahmedabad
Jyoti Mulchandani
Ahmedabad
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