Tomato Masoor Dal

Masoor dal, i use this dal very rarely in my cooking, but last month when i went to Indian grocery, i picked a packet of these orange colour dal, just to make dishes out of it. Weekend was bit busy here as kids started their school today after two long months summer vacation. Instead of making a non vegetarian dish for our Sunday lunch, i quickly prepared this simple, comforting and delicious dal with tomatoes. This dal can be prepared in a jiffy, yes just put everything together in a pressure cooker, and cook it upto three whistles. Once the steam gets released, just mash the dal, add the sambar powder and temper it. Yes pressure cooking this dal makes the life easier, however if you are making this dal in vessel instead of pressure cooking, better to soak this dal for half an hour in water and proceed. Soaking helps a lot if you are planning to make this dal directly in vessel.Such an easy dal rite, you may also name it as Andhra style pappu.

This tomato masoor dal makes an excellent gravy to enjoy with rice and papads, also makes a delicious side dish to enjoy with dosas, pongal or simply with spongy idlies. Yea we have many options to enjoy this dal with different dishes. Now you need to give a try to this fingerlicking easy breezy dal to enjoy thoroughly with rice or with any South Indian breakfast.This dal is going to CWS- Masoor dal guest hosted by Mireille.

1/2cup Masoor dal
2nos Tomatoes (large & chopped)
3nos Garlic cloves (crushed)
1/2tsp Turmeric powder
1no Onion (chopped)
1tsp Sambar powder or 1/2tsp chilly powder + 1/2tsp coriander powder
1/4tsp Cumin seed powder
1tbsp Lemon juice
Salt
Oil
1/2tsp Mustard seeds
1/2tsp Urad dal
Few curry leaves
Chopped coriander leaves

Take the washed masoor dal, chopped tomatoes, crushed garlic cloves, turmeric powder, chopped onions, salt with a cup of water in a pressure cooker.

Cook it with a lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles.

Once the steam gets released, mash the dash slightly, add water, sambar powder, bring it to boil if needed.

Heat enough oil, add the mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves, let them splutter.

Add now this tempered spices,lemon juice,chopped coriander leaves to the dal, give a stir.

Serve hot with rice,dosas,pongal,idlies etc.