Courgette and Split Channa Dal

Jackie Kearney

An easy and healthy recipe, that’s a great winter warmer. This dish is only gently spiced, and has more of a fragrant cumin hit than chilli. Serve with a soft flat bread such as chapati or roti, or steamed basmati rice. I like a dollop of hot pickle on the side with mine too.

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Ingredients

2 cups of split channa dal (soak in cold water for one hour prior)
3 courgettes, chopped 1″ pieces
1 tsp turmeric
2 tsp black cumin seeds
couple of pinches of asafoetida
2 fresh or dried large red chillies, finely chopped
2 onions finely chopped
3 tsp of sambhar masala powder (use garam masala as alternative)
2 large tomatoes, chopped
handful of fresh coriander
pomace oil
3 pts water

Preparation

Soak the split channa dal for one hour prior to making this dish. Check out Jackie's website, The Hungry Gecko for more tantalising vegan street food recipe ideas!

Method

Put half of the prepped onion into a heavy bottomed pan with a little oil. Saute until softened, then add courgettes, turmeric, salt and drained channa. Cover with water and bring to boil. Simmer for 1-2 hours until channa is soft (but not mushy and falling apart). Add more water as dal cooks to maintain a soup like consistency.

In a small pan, add oil with cumin and asafoetida. Fry until seeds splutter, then add fresh or dried chillies, diced onions, tomatoes and sambhar masala powder, and cook until onions and tomatoes and completely soft, and oil has separated.