Macher Muro Dal
Dal cooked with a roasted fish head — the fish head imparts a rich, oily depth to the lentils, creating a umami-laden preparation unique to Bengali home cooking.
Cuisines
Bengali
Best for
Lunch
Recipe
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 45 min
Total: 60 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
|
1 cup | Moong Dal |
|
1 | Fish Head , preferably Rohu or Katla |
|
2 tablespoons | Mustard oil |
|
1 teaspoon | Turmeric powder |
|
1 teaspoon | Cumin , seeds |
|
1 teaspoon | Ginger , paste |
|
2 pieces | Green Chili , slit |
|
1 teaspoon | Coriander powder |
|
1 teaspoon | Red chili powder |
|
1 cup | Water |
|
— | Salt , to taste |
|
1 tablespoon | Ghee |
|
2 tablespoons | Cilantro , chopped |
Instructions
- 1 Dry roast the moong dal in a pan over medium heat until it turns golden brown, then wash and set aside.
- 2 Heat mustard oil in a pan and fry the fish head until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- 3 In the same pan, add cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
- 4 Add ginger paste and green chilies, sauté for a minute.
- 5 Add turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, and red chili powder, and sauté for another minute.
- 6 Add the roasted moong dal and mix well with the spices.
- 7 Pour in water and add salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- 8 Once boiling, add the fried fish head to the dal.
- 9 Cover and let it simmer on low heat until the dal is fully cooked and the desired consistency is reached.
- 10 Finish with ghee and garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.
Tips
For a richer taste, you can add a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors.