Meena's Taste Mantra

Surati Dal - An aromatic sweet and spicy Lentil based gravy

While I was on a Project at Hazira, Surat...at a business luncheon I tasted a watery lentil based dal that was perfectly balanced in terms of spice, sour and sweet! I fell in love with this dal and on further probing was told this is a Surat Special Dal. I had never before tasted dal that was sweet too!

As ever, while narrating my visit to Amma and Appa I also mentioned about this Dal. Amma had to try this! Appa loved it as he loves his Soups and Dal | Kadhi to be runny and this dal was just that! Also the new flavour profile of a dal with Jaggery sweetness was something different to us and we loved it.

INGREDIENTS

3 tblsp Toor Dal

1 Tomato, finely chopped

2 Green Chilli, finely chopped

1 tsp Haldi | Turmeric Powder

1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder

1 tsp Vellam | Gud | Jaggery, grated

1 Lemon's Juice

To taste Salt

For Tempering

1/2 tsp Rai | Mustard Seeds

1/2 tsp Jeera | Cumin Seeds

A pinch Hing | Asafoetida Powder

1 tsp Homemade Ghee | Clarified Butter

1 Sukhi Lal Mirch | Dry Red Chilli

1 sprig Kadhi Patta | Curry Leaves

For Garnish

1/2 tblsp Fresh Dhania | Coriander Leaves, finely chopped

METHOD

Wash and drain Toor Dal.
Pressure cook Toor Dal and haldi for 4 whistles.
After pressure is released, remove cooked Toor Dal and while it is still hot, gently mash it nicely with the back of ladle. Keep aside.
In a kadhai, add tomato and very little water. Gently mash up the cooked tomato.
Add mashed dal, jaggery, salt, red chilli powder and enough water. Mix well.
Let this come to a boil for 2 minutes. Stir well and switch off gas.
Add lemon juice, mix well and transfer to a serving bowl.
In a small pan, heat ghee and add rai, jeera, hing, curry leaves and dried red chilli.
When rai crackles, pour this on top of Dal.
Garnish Surati Dal with friendly chopped dhania.
Serve hot with Roti | Steamed Rice with any Dry Sabzi.

We thoroughly enjoyed this aromatic surati Dal along with Rajasthani Tikkar.

We have used:

1. Everest Tikhalal Red Chilli Powder

2. LG Hing Powder

3. Tata Salt Lite

About C R Meena

(c) 2014 - 2016, Meena's Taste Mantra is the result of my ardent desire to share my recipes, with all who appreciate and celebrate food. These recipes are as a result of 60 years of cooking experience, influenced by tradition and exposure to various concepts, new recipes/ingredients and a passion for cooking - adapting to healthier alternatives.