Many years back, I learnt to do this simple and delicious Mixed dal from a TV cookery show. It’s very mild in flavour and very aromatic. Different spices are used to create a very beautiful balance in flavour. The highlight of this dish is that it’s simple, cooked with basic ingredients, very healthy, delicious and the harmony of all the spices used 🙂

Ingredients

Tuvar dal ( pigeon peas) – 1/4th cup
Chana dal ( bengal gram/ kadala paruppu) – 1/4th cup
Moong dal ( green gram/ pasi paruppu) – 1/4th cup
Turmeric powder – 1/4th tsp
Garlic – 3-4 cloves
Ginger – 1/2 inch
Green chilies – 2-3
Onion – 1
Ghee – 1 tsp
Oil – 2 tsps
Cumin seeds( jeera) – 1/2 tsp
Red chillies – 3-4
Cardamom ( elaichi/ ellakka) – 2
Cloves ( dalchini/ krambu) – 2
Crushed pepper- 1/2 tsp
Hing ( asafoetida/ perungayam) – 2 pinches
Grated jaggery – 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Chopped coriander leaves – 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method

Wash and soak all the three dals together for 30-45 mins.

Wash and chop green chilies and ginger.
Peel, wash, crush and chop garlic.

Peel, wash and chop the onion finely.

Drain the dals completely. Add 3 cups of fresh water, turmeric powder, chopped green chillies, ginger and garlic. Pressure cook it for 3 whistles.

Heat oil and ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds. When it starts spluttering, add red chillies, cardamom, cloves, crushed pepper and hing.

Sauté for few seconds and then add the finely chopped onions. Sauté till the onions turn pink.

Add the tempering to the cooked dal. Add salt to taste and grated jaggery. Mix well and check for the seasonings.

Let the dal simmer on a medium flame for few mins. Take off the gas, add the lemon juice and mix well,

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with roti/ rice:)