Surati Dal

Surati Dal

Surati Dal

Veg

The sweeter, richer Surati toor dal — Surati dal is cooked with a more generous quantity of jaggery than the standard Gujarati dal, a splash of coconut milk or grated coconut added during cooking, and the tempering includes dried red chilli, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and asafoetida in ghee. The result is a dal that is notably sweeter and more body-rich than any other regional Indian dal; the coconut addition softens the dal's natural astringency and the jaggery adds depth rather than just sweetness. Poured over steamed rice with ghee as the foundation of the Surati lunch thali; the dal's sweetness is the flavour axis around which the rest of the meal is balanced.

Cuisines

Gujarati Surati

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Total: 45 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Toor Dal 1/2 cup Toor Dal
water 2 cups Water
ghee or oil 1 tablespoon Ghee or oil
Mustard Seed 1/2 teaspoon Mustard Seed
Cumin 1/2 teaspoon Cumin , seeds
asafoetida 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida
turmeric powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
red chili powder 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
coriander powder 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
jaggery 1 tablespoon Jaggery
Tamarind 1 tablespoon Tamarind , pulp
salt 1 teaspoon Salt
Cilantro 1 tablespoon Cilantro , chopped

Instructions

  1. 1 Rinse the toor dal under running water until the water runs clear.
  2. 2 In a pressure cooker, add the rinsed dal and 2 cups of water. Cook for 3-4 whistles or until the dal is soft.
  3. 3 Once the pressure releases, mash the dal slightly with a spoon or whisk.
  4. 4 In a pan, heat ghee or oil over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
  5. 5 Add cumin seeds and asafoetida, and sauté for a few seconds.
  6. 6 Add the chopped tomato and green chili, and cook until the tomato softens.
  7. 7 Stir in turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Cook for another minute.
  8. 8 Add the cooked dal to the pan and mix well.
  9. 9 Add jaggery, tamarind pulp, and salt. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  10. 10 Adjust the consistency of the dal by adding more water if needed.
  11. 11 Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving.

Tips

For a richer flavor, you can add a pinch of garam masala at the end of cooking.