Akkha Masoor Dal: Health And Taste Served With Hot Tadka
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Akkha Masoor Dal recipe is a perfect healthy dish that pairs well with any rice or flour recipes, whether plain rice, jeera rice, pulao, naan, paratha, chapatis, etc. It is the simple and easy version of dal makhani which tastes exactly similar to it. If  bored with normal regular dal daily, this recipe is a definite try to give the taste buds a relishing kick. This dal recipe is surely a hit and will leave everyone to remember the last dal dish they might have had at any dhaba and restaurant. This is finger-licking good to be served with a plate of hot steamed rice. 

Why Masoor Dal Is Essential To Be Included In Diet

Masoor Dal, like all the pulses has numerous health benefits making it essential to be added to the diet. It helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels making it good for the heart. It contains dietary fibres and protein helping to keep the blood pressure normal and also assures the heart to be free from any disease providing a good source of folate. It is beneficial for diabetics to have masoor because it has a low glycemic index. It has Vitamin E and lutein which are good for the eyes. It also helps improve digestion because of the prebiotic carbohydrates present in it and the laxative property helps to prevent constipation. As these pulses are a good source of iron, it helps the pregnant ladies providing that extra energy required for their babies. All the above mentioned benefits make this dal a super hero of every kitchen.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup soaked akkha masoor (soaked for 4-5 hours)
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 big cardamom
  • 1 star anise
  • 3 cloves
  • 3 black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4-5 dried red chillies
  • 1 small stick of cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp white sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1 big chopped onion
  • 1 pinch of asafoetida
  • 1 chopped tomato
  • 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1.5 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
  • 1 fistful of coriander leaves
  • 2 green chilli
  • Salt as per taste
  • Water as per required

Method:

  • Roast all the spices (cumin seeds, coriander seeds, nutmeg, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper,1 bay leaf, red chillies) for 2 minutes in a pan. Turn off the flame and add sesame and poppy seeds and roast on the hot pan for about a minute
  • Now grind all the spices in a mixture grinder and keep it aside
  • Pressure cook the akkha masoor dal till 2 whistles
  • Heat oil in pan and add onions and cook it till it changes its colour to golden brown
  • Add ginger-garlic paste and a pinch of asafoetida (hing) and cook till the raw garlic smell vanishes
  • Now add salt and tomatoes and cook till turned mushy
  • Now add kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala powder and the grinded spices; mix well and cook till the spices start releasing oil on the sides of the pan
  • Now add coriander leaves, mix well 
  • Finally add the pressure cooked akkha masoor and mix it with the spices
  • Add water as per the consistency and two green chillies sliced into four pieces
  • Cover the pan with lid and cook for about five minutes
  • After five minutes, the dal is ready to be served

This power pack dal with both taste and health will leave everyone drooling over it. This recipe is perfect for the kids as they consider dal to be boring.