Daal Tarka Special

Daal Tarka is a popular Indian dish that can be found in many restaurants in the USA. The name "Daal Tarka" comes from two words - "Daal" meaning lentils or pulses, and "Tarka" meaning tempering or seasoning. Therefore, Daal Tarka is essentially a dish made with lentils that are tempered with various spices and herbs.

Here's a general way to make Daal Tarka:

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Wash and soak the lentils in water for at least 30 minutes.

2. Drain the water and transfer the lentils to a pressure cooker or a heavy-bottomed pan. Add 4 cups of water and cook until the lentils are soft and mushy. This may take around 20-30 minutes in a pressure cooker or 40-50 minutes in a pan.

3. In a separate pan, heat vegetable oil or ghee. Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds and let them splutter.

4. Add chopped onion and fry until it becomes golden brown.

5. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped green chilies. Sauté for a minute until the raw smell of garlic goes away.

6. Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and red chili powder (if using). Mix well and cook for a minute.

7. Carefully pour this tempering over the cooked lentils. Mix well.

8. Add salt to taste.

9. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

10. Serve Daal Tarka hot with steamed rice or Indian flatbread like roti or naan.

Note: You can adjust the spices as per your taste. Some people like to add garam masala or tomatoes to the dish. You can also garnish it with a dollop of butter or cream.