Raw Moong Dal Salad

10 Mar

My first taste of kosambari was at a friend’s wedding in Karnataka. One spoonful and I was sold. That soaked moong dal could be eaten uncooked – and that it could be delicious – was a revelation. Since then I’ve been experimenting with salad made of split pulses and an assortment of vegetables. This raw moong dal salad recipe is the basic, fail-safe version I most often turn to.

You Need:

  • Yellow moong dal – 1/2 cup [buy here]
  • Onions – 1
  • Tomatoes – 1/2
  • Green chilies – 1
  • Lime juice – 1 tablespoon
  • Salt to taste

How To Make Raw Moong Dal Salad:

Wash yellow moong dal in several changes of water till the water runs clear. Soak the moong dal in two cups of water for three hours.

Peel and finely chop the onion. Dice tomatoes. Mince or thinly slice the green chilies. De-seed if you like it milder (I let the seeds remain).

Drain and rinse the soaked moong dal. Spread the dal over a kitchen towel to absorb excess moisture.

Mix soaked moong dal with the chopped onion, tomato and green chili. Add salt to taste and a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix well and serve immediately.

My meal below: raw moong dal salad, chapatis and eggplant tomato curry.

Moong Dal Salad

Notes:

Kosambari usually contains grated coconut and is topped with a tadka (tempering in hot oil) of mustard seeds and curry leaves, but I find this lighter no-tempering version better.

You could add more finely chopped vegetables to the soaked moong dal salad: carrots, cabbage, capsicum, etc.

Want to try more raw salads? Check out these recipes:

5 Responses to “Raw Moong Dal Salad”

  1. mustardseed March 10, 2013 at 7:54 AM #

    Love this salad! It is so healthy too!

  2. Prerna April 3, 2013 at 7:16 PM #

    Right then, I know what i am making this weekend! Thanks for sharing. :)

    • S April 7, 2013 at 7:58 AM #

      Hope you liked it :)

  3. cis June 11, 2013 at 3:29 PM #

    The Yellow Mung Dal packet directions say “DO NOT EAT RAW”.

    So which one is it? I am trying to sprout them, but now not too sure…

    • S June 11, 2013 at 10:24 PM #

      Is it that when the packet says ‘RAW’, it excludes ‘soaked for 3 hours or more’? What I would try in your place is a test run with a small quantity.

      Incidentally, raw chana dal salad, with chana dal soaked overnight, tastes great too.

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