Coconut Masoor Dal

I wanted not to cook today, especially any meat. I wanted to just eat dal on hot bed of steamed rice...yum yum yum. Simple pleasures of life.
Masoor dal or the red lentils are one of my favorite lentils. My mom did not cook them very often.

Anyway, the dal I made today is super delicious creamy dal with coconut milk. Enjoy with hot steamed rice or your favorite roti

Khopra Masoor Dal (Red lentils in coconut milk)

Coconut Masoor dal

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup masoor dal
2. 2 ripe tomatoes chopped fine
3. 1 medium small onion chopped fine
4. 2 large garlic cloves
5. 1 tablespoon oil
6. 1 cup coconut milk
7. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, urad dal, mustard seeds, hing, salt, chilly powder, coriander powder, turmeric
8. 3 dried red chillies, few curry leave

In a pressure cooker cook the dal with 2 cups water add turmeric for 4-6 whistles. Let the steam escape.

In the mean time heat oil in a pan and add cumin, urad dal, mustard seeds, red chillies and curry leaves and fry till they start to splutter. Add finely chopped garlic and hing and fry for 30 minutes. Add the rest of the powder ingredients and mix well. Add onions and fry till they become brown. Add tomatoes and cook for 5-7 minutes. Open the cooker after the steam has escaped and add it to the pan and mix well. Simmer for 5-7 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add coconut milk and simmer further for 5 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy hot hot :)