Palak Dal ( Spinach Dal)

Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 1 cup
Spinach -  1 and 1/2 cup (chopped)Tamarind - 1 small lemon size
Green chillies - 2 or 3 ( as per taste)
Salt - as per taste
Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp

For tempering:
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Dried Red chillies - 1 (broken into pieces)
Garlic - 2 cloves (optional)
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 8 to 10

Procedure:

1. Pressure cook the dal with enough quantity of water along with green chillies and spinach. (or) In a pan take dal and water. When the dal is just about the verge of being done add spinach. Then add green chillies and continue cooking for another 10 min.
2. After the dal is cooked put that on the stove and add salt, chilli powder, turmeric and tamarind and continue to cook for about 5 to 7 min.
3. Mean while in a small pan take oil for tempering. Once the oil is hot enough add mustard seeds, once they start to splutter add dried red chillies, garlic (optional) and asafoetida. Fry till the garlic turns little brown. Add the curry leaves.
4. Add this tempering to the dal. Serve with rice or roti.


Hint: If you want to add garlic, take 5 to 6 pcs of garlic fry in little amount of oil and add to the dal after the tempering.

Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:

Tomatoes - 3 ( diced)
Green chillies - 4 (cut length wise)
Dried Red chillies - 5 ( broken or as per taste)
Salt - as per taste
Turmeric powder - 1tsp
Mustard seeds - 1tbsp
Urad dal - 1tbsp
Chana dal - 1tbsp
Asafoetida. 1/2 tsp
Garlic - 5 to 6 cloves (optional)
Oil - 3 tbsp
Tamarind - 1 small lemon size
Cilantro - 1/2 cup

Procedure:

1. In a pan take 1 tbsp of oil. Once it is hot add mustard seeds. Once they start to splutter add urad dal and chana dal . Fry till they become crunchy.
2. Add the garlic cloves (optional) and fry till they turn little brown. Now green chillies and red chillies and fry for 2 min. Add asafoetida. Take it into a bowl and let it cool.
3. In another pan take rest of the oil. Add the tomatoes along with salt and turmeric. Cover and cook for about 10 min.
4. First grind the tempering  along with tamarind. Now add the cooked tomatoes mixture and grind it again along with cilantro.
5. Transfer to a bowl and Serve with rice, idli or even dosa.

Capsicum Curry

Ingredients:

Green Capsicum - 2 ( cut into cubes)
Onion - 1 ( diced)
Tomato - 1 (cubed)
Oil - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp ( or as per taste)
Salt - as per taste
Cilantro - for garnishing

Procedure:

1. In a pan, take oil. Once it is hot add the mustard seeds. Once they start to splutter add the onion and fry them till they become translucent.
2. Add the capsicum and fry till the capsicum is just cooked enough.
3. Add the tomatoes and cover the pan with lid. Continue to cook till the tomatoes become tender.
4. Add salt, chilli powder and turmeric powder. Mix well and continue for another 3 to 4 min.
5. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Hint: To spice it up, you can add 1 tsp of garam masala and 1 tsp of coriander powder. It goes well with roti.