Name: Dal (Indian Lentil Curry)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 3 - 4 people
Ingredients: 2 tbsp / 30 g ghee (, or 1 tbsp oil + 1 tbsp/15g butter (Note 1)); 2 green cayenne chillies (, deseeded and cut into chunks (optional) (Note 2)); 1 medium onion (, finely chopped (brown or yellow)); 6 garlic cloves (, finely chopped); 1 tbsp ginger (, finely chopped (1.5cm / 3/5")); 8 fresh curry leaves (, or 6 dried (Note 3)); 1 tomato (, chopped); 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1 cup dried chana dal (, yellow split peas or other yellow lentils (Note 4 for other lentils)); 4 cups / 1 litre water; 1/2 tsp turmeric powder; 1/8 tsp garam marsala; 3/4 tsp salt; 1 1/2 tbsp / 20g ghee (, or half each butter + oil (Note 1)); 1 eschalot or 1/4 small onion (, halved lengthways and sliced (Note 5)); 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1/2 tsp black mustard seeds ((optional)); 3 dried chillies (, broken in half, seeds removed (optional)); Fresh coriander/cilantro sprigs ((optional)); Steamed basmati rice