Tito dal

Tito dal

Matar dal is very frequently used in the Bengali kitchen, especially when you have to add some vegetable to the dal. Mango, bittergourd, radish, carrots, peas, drumsticks, bottle gourd..you name the vegetable and it can be added to this dal to make a satisfying meal. 

Why it is more appropriate for summers is that it uses no masalas. Just a tempering of panch phoron, a pinch of turmeric and seasoning with salt and sugar and that’s it!!

Using both salt and sugar does not mean that it is supposed to be sweet and salty and bitter as in this recipe. We add just a pinch of sugar to balance the saltiness of the dish.

Ingredients

¾ cup matar dal

2 bittergourd, cut into thick roundels

Salt to taste

½ tsp turmeric

Pinch of sugar

Panch phoron consisiting of a pinch of rai, kalonji, methi, saunf and jeera

Wash and boil the dal in the cooker with a little bit of salt. Heat some ghee. Add the panch phoron. Add the karela and fry for some time. now add this karela to the dal kept in the cooker. Add turmeric, salt and sugar. Switch off the gas after one whistle. Your dal is ready.