Ingredients :

Whole black gram (sabut urad) ½ cup

Red kidney beans (rajma) 2 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Red chilli powder 1 teaspoon

Ginger, grated or chopped 2 inch piece

Butter 3 tablespoons

Oil 1 tablespoon

Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon

Garlic, chopped 6 cloves

Onion, chopped 1 large

Green chillies, slit 2

Tomatoes, chopped 3 medium

Garam masala powder 1 tsp

METHOD :

1. Pick, wash and soak sabut urad and rajma overnight in three cups of water. Drain.

2. Pressure cook sabut urad and rajma in three cups of water with salt and half the red chilli powder (you can add half the ginger too if you wish) for three whistles. Open the lid and see if the rajma is totally soft. If not cook on low heat till the rajma becomes totally soft.

3. Heat butter and oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds. When they begin to change colour, add ginger, garlic and onion and sauté till golden.

4. Add slit green chillies, tomatoes and sauté on high heat.

5. Add the remaining red chilli powder and sauté till the tomatoes are reduced to a pulp.

6. Add the cooked dal and rajma along with the cooking liquour. Add some water if the mixture is too thick. Add garam masala powder and adjust salt.

7. Simmer on low heat till the dals are totally soft and well blended.

8. Serve hot.

Chef’s tip: This dal tastes just as good (even better!) the following day after reheating properly.