Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      cup           dal -- (moong - yellow, or
                        -- masur - pink)
   3 1/2  cups          water
                        to taste salt
                        to taste pepper
     1/4  teaspoon      turmeric
   2      cloves        garlic
   1      1" piece      ginger
   1      small         onion
   2      tablespoons   ghee -- (can be replaced by
                        -- butter), up to 3
   1      teaspoon      cumin seed

Preparation:

Wash the dal and drain it. Boil water and add the dal, salt, pepper, turmeric, finely chopped ginger, and garlic. Cover the pot and simmer for 20 minutes. When done, heat the ghee, add the cumin and fry until golden brown. Add thinly sliced onions. Fry until crisp and brown. You may add paprika and finely chopped tomatoes to the above for color (Pour over the dal and serve).