Arhar chana daal

Ingredients:
Arhar or toor daal- 1/4 cup,
Chana or gram daal - 1/2 cup,
Tomato-1 and 1/2- chopped,
Onion-1 chopped,
Green chilli- 1 to 2- chopped,
Turmeric pwd-1/4 tsp,
Whole cumin pwd - 1/2 tsp,
Red chilli pwd- 1/2 tsp,
Cumin or jeera seeds- 1/2 tsp,
Bay leaves-1,
Big caradamom-2 ( optional ),
Cloves - 2,
Cinnamon- 1 small stick,
Ghee or oil - 2 tbsp,
Salt to taste,
Water - 1 and 1/2 cup.

Tempering:
Ghee for tempering-1 tbsp,
Asafoetida or hing- a pinch,
Whole red chilli- 1,
Ginger - 1 inch shredded or chopped.

Method:
Wash and soak both the daal for 2 hours or overnight in the fridge.
Add enough water so that the daal is fully soaked in water.

Pour 1 and 1/2 cup of water in the cooker.
As water warms up ,add the strained soaked daal - ( drain out the water from the daal ).
Add turmeric pwd and salt.

Stir and close lid.
Keep the heat high and let it cook and give out 4 to 5 whisles.
Close gas and let the cooker cool.

Open the lid of the cooker and with a laddle just stir once. 

Heat a non stick kadhai and add 2 tbsp of ghee or oil.
As oil heats up add cumin seeds,bay leaves, big caradamom, cinnamon stick and cloves.

Once the spices change colour ,add the chopped onions.

Stir fry on medium high ,till the onions are light pink.

Add the tomatoes.
Stir and put a lid on and then lower the heat.

Let the tomatoes cook for few minutes.

Once the tomatoes are soft,remove the lid and raise the heat to medium.

Add the chopped green chilli,red chilli pwd and cumin pwd.

Stir fry the masala for few minutes.
Add the cooked daal.

Mix with a wooden spoon and then put a lid on.
Adjust seasoning.

As the daal comes to boil ,lower the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Close gas.

Tempering:
Heat 1 tbsp of ghee or oil in a small pan.
Add whole red chilli,hing and chopped or shredded ginger.
Let the ginger turn light brown and then close gas.

Pour this tempering on the hot daal and serve.

Note:
If you do not like ginger you can replace it with chopped garlic for tempering.

Enjoy this simple and delicious daal with hot roti.

 Serves 4 to 5.