Dal (Laurel's Kitchen)

Grrrrrgh!
Course : Curry
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 1
 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups yellow or green split peas
1 teaspoon salt
1 medium Onion
1/2 medium green pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 1/2 teaspoons black mustard seeds
1 medium lemon juiced
 

Preparation:

Boil the yellow split peas in 2 cups water for about 30 minutes--until they are tender but not so long that they lose their shape. They should be rather dry, like mashed potatoes, but keep an eye on them. You may need to add a little more water along the way. Stir in salt. While the peas are cooking chop onion and green pepper. Combine with turmeric and curry powder and set aside. Heat up a heavy pan with a lid. When it is very hot, add mustard seed and cover. The seeds will pop noisily; shake the pan during this process to make sure they don't burn. (Traditionally, you do the seed popping in oil. It works without, but you need to be ready to add the next ingredients quickly.) When the sound quiets down, add the onion mixture and a little water for sauté. Sauté until onion is transparent and golden, and then stir this mixture into the peas along with the lemon juice. Serve with Chapatis (Indian bread) or over basmati rice, or whatever creative way you feel like doing. Makes about 4 cups. NOTE: I realize mustard seed is high fat ingredient, but it adds so much to the flavor, and so little fat over all, I kept it in. The recipe will work without it, though it's not quite the sam