Watali Daal – Marathi Recipe

Instructions

• Wash the chana dal 2-3 times with water & soak it for at least 4 hours.
• Drain the water and transfer the soaked dal into a blender jar.
• Do not add any water while blending.
• Add green chilies and blend it into a coarse paste.
• Do not blend the dal into fine paste.
• Heat up oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and let them pop up.
• Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
• Add hing, curry leaves, turmeric powder, red chili powder and mix well.
• Add blended dal and mix well.
• Cover and cook on low to medium heat for about 2-3 minutes.
• Remove the lid and mix the dal again.
• Again cover and cook for about next 2-3 minutes.
• Repeat this process for about 8-10 minutes until dal is nicely cooked.
• Add salt to taste and mix well.
• Add lemon juice and mix well.
• Lemon juice is optional. You can serve dal with a slice of lemon instead of lemon juice.
• Add coriander leaves and mix well.
• Cover and cook on medium heat for just another 2 minutes.
• Turn off the gas and vatali dal is ready.
• Garnish with fresh shredded coconut and coriander leaves while serving.
• If there is more water in the dal and lumps of dal are formed while cooking then cook dal for about 8-10 minutes and break down the lumps of dal with a potato masher.
• The dal will be nice and separated.