Bengali style Masoor Dal (Red Lentils Dal)

Dinner was a simple affair yesterday. An easy bengali style masoor dal (red lentils dal) I recently learnt to make from a friend, the timeless dish - Potato fry, Masala Rotis and Buttermilk. Dinners like these are any day more fulfilling and soul satisfying that a meal at a restaurant. Except maybe desserts .. 

Anyway I've been crushing on this dal so much and you will too if you get to know how easy and delicious it is. I am making it almost every alternate day, its that simple! All you need are some pantry staples and one magic ingredient - Paanch Phoran, which is a mix of 5 spices used extensively in the eastern parts of India. I got this from my friend, so I am not sure it is available in all the general stores. It is definitely available online though. While I will someday try to make the spice blend myself at home, for now I have a stock of it that will last a few months.  

So here it goes, bengali style masoor dal!  

Ingredients  

half cup masoor dal (red lentils) washed 

1 large onion chopped 

2 tomatoes chopped 

half teaspoon turmeric 

2 Green chillies - full length and edges removed 

Salt to taste 

1 teaspoon ghee 

1 teaspoon paanch phoran spice blend 

In a pressure cooker, add the dal, 1.5 cups water, chopped onion, chopped tomatoes, turmeric and half a spoon salt. Pressure cook it for 3-4 whistles. Once done, in a deep bottomed pan, heat the ghee till hot. Temper the he paanch phoran in it. Once the seeds start to pop, add the dal and mix well. Lower the flame and close the lid on the pan. Let the dal simmer for 4-5 min. You could add water at this stage if the dal is too thick. In between the simmering after about 3 min, add the green chillies and stir. let is simmer for 2 more min.  

Serve the dal hot with Rice or roti.