Punjabi Wadiyan

Sun-dried spiced lentil nuggets — a paste of ground urad dal, moong, or mixed lentils seasoned with black pepper, cumin, dried red chilli, and asafoetida shaped into small rounds and sun-dried over several days until rock-hard. Added to curries, mixed vegetables, and dal to lend a concentrated, umami-rich lentil depth; wadiyan curry is a distinct Punjabi preparation where the rehydrated nuggets form the main protein alongside potato. Made in large batches in winter and stored for the year; buying dried wadiyan from specialist makers in the old city markets of Amritsar and Jalandhar is a fixture of Punjabi domestic life.