In methi chhole, the bitter notes of methi (fresh fenugreek) are tamed by the rich nuttiness of chickpeas and the interesting spice blend in the gravy. An offbeat recipe that I warmly recommend for fenugreek lovers.
Dals
A preparation of pulses (dried lentils, peas or beans), dal is a regular accompaniment with Indian meals. Dal recipes of varieties such as toor, chana, moong or masoor.
Dry Spinach Moong Dal
Moong dal and spinach complement each other perfectly. One comes packed with protein, the other boasts of high vitamin-mineral content; one is known for its digestive ease, the other for its roughage. And the colors – the pale yellow of moong playing off the rich green of spinach – are an added invitation to dig into this delicately flavored sautéed spinach moong dal.
Upma with Moong Sprouts
From my mom’s kitchen, a wholesome upma fortified with beans, carrots, sprouted moong and amla. My only contribution has been in clicking pictures and wolfing it down for breakfast.
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Spicy Rajma Parathas
This happens often with me – I make rajma masala ((red kidney beans curry), there is plenty left over after a filling meal and then I don’t feel like doing a repeat for the next meal. What is the best way to finish off the remaining rajma masala? My vote goes to making these super-tasty rajma parathas, packed with the flavors of the rich tomato-garam masala gravy.
Kala Chana (Black Chickpea) with Poppy Seeds and Mint
Surplus coaxes us towards invention as much as scarcity. I hate to throw food items away and equally hate to have them beyond their "best before" dates. So I’m using up my pack of poppy seeds, that’s dangerously close to expiry, in varied ways Ditto for my bunch of fresh mint leaves. I used some in pudina chutney last night when the mint was freshly plucked – the rest went into this kala chana recipe.
How awesome it is when untried combinations of flavors turn out well.
Moong Dal Cheela: Savory Lentil Pancakes
We normally make cheela – a savory pancake popular as breakfast food in India – with besan (gram flour), but my taste buds prefer the more delicate flavors of moong dal cheela. Moong dal has the added edge of being less taxing to the tummy than gram flour.
On to the cheela recipe, with step-by-step pictures…
