At times, when I am typing my posts, I really wonder if anybody reads blogs these days. Unless and until you know the ways of getting the blog into public eye, usually it feels like a very hidden and protected section in the world wide web. The WWW is also a deep pit, so in between all the floating blogs, everybody is fighting for the same space and similar audience. It really makes me wonder why I am still blogging. The readership doesn’t improve and nobody seems to be interested in commenting too, and that includes bloggers! When I had started blogging, the blogging community used to comment on my posts and there are times when I had so many comments to respond back to, but now it is quite countable. I don’t know if it is a point to feel low on, but definitely blogging is not what it used to be when I started, that’s for sure…
As much as I would love to include lentils in my diet, I don’t have a supportive crowd at home eating it, so I keep my cooking very limited. Still once in a while, I need a good lentil curry to have my food with. Panchmel Dal is said to have originated from Rajasthan and uses five different lentils in it, and hence it’s name. The beauty of this dish is that it is normally cooked with no onion and no garlic, so the chopping part is quite reduced. The masala added to the cooked lentil is so flavorful that you wouldn’t miss the onion or garlic. The curry is apt to have with some plain steamed rice or some rotis… Off to the recipe…
Panchmel Dal/ Panchratna Dal ~ Mixed Lentil Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp masoor orange dal
- 2 tbsp chana chickpea dal
- 2 tbsp urad dal
- 2 tbsp tuwar pigeon peas dal
- 2 tbsp moong dal
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp hing
- 1 red chilli
- 2 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 inch ginger grated
- 2 green chillies minced
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder divided
- 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 large tomato or 2 medium tomatos chopped
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- Salt to taste
- Coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the dals with 3 cups of water, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and a little salt in a pressure cooker for 5-6 whistles. Switch off and allow the pressure to go by itself.
- In a saucepan, heat ghee. Splutter the cumin seeds.
- Add the red chilli, bay leaf, cloves and hing and saute briefly.
- Add the ginger and chilli and cook till raw smell is gone.
- Add the remaining 1/4 tsp turmeric and red chilli powder and saute for a minute.
- Add the tomatoes, give it a good stir. Add salt and cook till tomatoes are pulpy.
- Add in the cooked dal, add more water if necessary. Cook on simmer for five minutes.
- Sprinkle in the garam masala and cook for a further five minutes.
- Switch off and serve warm with a sprinkling of coriander leaves.
Love all things legumes! This looks like a perfectly comforting and delicious stew.
Thank you so much Angie…
Even I was thinking about the same.. think the blogger world has changed in all these years… change is inevitable I think…and coming to the recipe.. I would love to have dal everyday.. and this looks yumm💕
Yeah, that’s so true…. everything seems to have changed a lot… Thank you so much Niloufer…
It’s holiday time in western countries so my internet kind of slows too. I guess we could switch to Youtube? (HAH!)
That dal looks delicious!
Haha… YouTube definitely is taking all the attention… people just want to see and have no patience to read… 🙂 Thanks a lot Bibi…
My latest Favourite in Dal.
Thanks Tum!
Salaam..Only recently I discovered that there is an amazing world of blogs and equally amazing blog authors out here. (I ain’t tht tech savvy and stumbled upon some wonderful blogs mostly while googling for some help related to cooking or working mom tips..Hehe) i comment rarely on blogs but your blog is one of the few I follow regularly and await for next post eagerly.. your recipes have helped me a lot ..In fact I have a mini book with mostly your recipes jotted down for quick reference ☺.. also I admire your will power and persistent effort to balance work family hobby.. ma sha Allah.. I am sure there are many others who don’t comment like me.. so continue blogging and keep inspiring.. jazakillah khair☺.. take care
Waiyyaki JazakAllah Khair… I am so happy to have stumbled upon you too! 🙂
I too feel the same,Blog world has changed. You are doing an awesome job,keep up the good work.
Comforting healthy dal,nice recipe.
Thank you so much Suja…
You are simply awesome! This dal is simple but so delicious that it was quickly polished it off. I subscribe to your blog, that way I don’t miss out on a single post.
I had written earlier appreciating your Yellow Rice recipe, which is a huge favourite with all of us. I want to thank you for introducing me to other bloggers and chefs via your posts too.
I should write more often, I definitely cook from your recipes a lot. Best wishes always,
Thank you so much Arundhati for your overwhelming comment… It is feedback from all of you that makes me go on with my blogging journey. The feeling that what I am doing is helping you out… Please keep commenting, would love to hear from you… 🙂