Chana Dal, Indian Chick Pea Curry

Serves 2

Chana Dal means chick peas, and is popular throughout the whole of the Indian subcontinent, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Wherever you go in India you are guaranteed to find Chana Dal on the menu.  India is a country with a large vegetarian population and chana dal is a staple for so many of them, it is nutritious, full of protein and tastes delicious and the spices combine so many flavours that work beautifully together, turmeric, cumin, coriander.

Chana dal served with rice makes for a delicious main meal, or you could serve it as a side dish, as a side this recipe is enough for four. If you love spicy food, enjoy an occasional Indian takeaway and feel a bit adventurous when it comes to food, this is a wonderfully simple curry to make, that taste fabulous.

Ingredients

• 200g chana dal, split chick peas
• 1600ml water
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp sugar
• ¼ tsp cumin powder
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp tamarind pulp, remove seeds
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• ¼ tsp black mustard seeds
• 1 chopped garlic clove

Method

1. Soak the chana dal in 950ml of water for 2 to 3 hours then wash and drain.
2. Boil the rest of the water and the salt in a pan.
3. Add the chana dal, cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes.
4. Stir the dal when cooked.
5. Add cayenne, turmeric, coriander, sugar, tamarind pulp and cumin.
6. Stir well and simmer.
7. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan and add the mustard seeds and chopped garlic to it.
8. When the oil gets hot, add the oil mixture to the simmering pot of dal. Cook for a few minutes then serve with rice.