Dim Diye Cholar Dal

Ingredients

·         4-5 eggs (anda / dim), hard-boiled and peeled

·         1 cup Bengal gram (chana dal / cholar dal), soaked for 1 hour and drained

·         2 bay leaves

·         3 tbsps mustard oil

·         ½ tsp turmeric powder

·         Salt to taste

·         1 tsp cumin seeds

·         3-4 cloves

·         3-4 green cardamoms

·         ½ tsp asafoetida (hing)

·         1 tbsp finely chopped garlic

·         1 tbsp chopped ginger

·         1-2 green chillies, slit + for garnish

·         1 medium onion, finely chopped

·         1 medium tomato, roughly chopped

·         ½ tsp cumin powder

·         ½ tsp coriander powder

·         1 tsp sugar

·         ½ tsp garam masala powder

Method

1.      Put the drained Bengal gram into a pressure cooker, add 2 cups water, salt, and bay leaves and mix well. Cover and cook till 3-4 whistles are given out.

2.      Heat 2 tbsps mustard oil in a non-stick pan till it smokes. Switch off the heat and let it cool a bit. Heat it again and add turmeric powder, salt and hard boiled eggs and mix well. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Transfer the eggs onto a plate.

3.      Heat remaining oil in the same pan. Add cumin seeds, cloves, green cardamoms, asafoetida, garlic, ginger and green chillies, mix and sauté for 1 minute.

4.      Add onion, mix and sauté till golden brown. Add tomato, mix and saute for 2-3 minutes.

5.      Add ½ cup water, mix, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes.

6.      Open the cooker once the pressure has reduced completely. Add the cooked gram to the pan and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

7.      Add cumin powder, coriander powder, sugar, salt and garam masala powder and mix well. Cook for 1-2 minutes.

8.      Add the sautéed eggs and mix well. Cook for 2-3 dminutes.

9.      Transfer into a serving bowl, garnish with slit green chillies and serve hot.