Friday, November 6, 2009

Bengali's hot favorite : Kalai er dal O Pyaj-Aloo Posto(Split white urad dal and onion-potato with poppy seed)

My today's recipe is  hot favorite among bengalis...you ask any bengali about this...they can die for this awesomely cool comfort food, I mean if you give us a choice of a five course meal and this combo, any bengali will choose this one without any hesitation. ( I am sure?????..... at least me)
Kalai-er dal is a dal made of split (skin removed) white Urad dal. The special about this dal is the use of fennel seed unlike other dal has the usual cumin seed or panch phoron(mixture of five different seeds) as tempering. this dal has two versions, both are awesomely tasty. One is with roasted dal and another without roasting. As urad dal is little slimy or slippery in texture, if you roast the dal before making it, the slimy texture will go away. I love both versions and will give you both recipes, inredients are almost same in both versions, but the process varies a bit...you know what accompanies with this dal...yes, the famous Aloo posto (Potato in poppy seed paste). if you want a leisurely comfort food in a relax weekend lunch, have this combo and you'll love it, I guarantee you................


Now to the recipes....first Aloo posto...it is a dish made with potato and a paste of poppy seed. You can make this dish in many different ways, this time I made this with onion..so it is Pyaj-Aloor posto (Potato N Onion in poppy seed paste)

Ingredients : 
Potato : 2(medium)
Onion : 1 (medium)
Poppy seed : 2 tblsp.(heaped)
Black cumin seed(kalonji/kala jeera) : 1 tsp.
Tomato : 1/2 (chopped)
Green chilli : 2 (more or less accr. to your taste or omit)
Oil : 2 tblsp.
Turmeric powder : 1 tsp.
Red chilli powder : 1 tsp.(optional)
Salt to taste


Method : 
  • Cut potatoes in small cube like pieces. Grind the poppy seed coarsely with green chillies in a coffee grinder. Do not make it too fine.
  • Heat oil in a pan, temper with black cumin seed, when the aroma rises, add onions. Fry for a minute and then add potatoes. Add salt and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add turmeric powder and give it a good stir. 
  • Add chopped tomatoes, red chilli powder mix it well and then add poppy seed paste. Cook on medium heat for few minutes, so that the paste can coat nicely with potatoes. Add enough water to cook the potatoes. Add little salt over it.
  • Cover the lid and wait till all water dries up and potatoes are cooked. After the water dries up, check the seasoning, add if needed and stir fry the whole thing vigorously for 2-3 minutes to make it more dry and fried.
  • Take out from heat and serve hot with any dal and white rice.....................


Now to the dal, first unroasted one, i.e Kacha kalai er dal
Ingredients : 
Split white Urad dal : 1 cup
Dry red chilli : (Break into 2)
Fenugreek seed(methi dana) : 1 tsp.
Fennel seed(mouri) : 2 tblsp.(dry grind into powder)
Ginger : 1"(grated)
Green chilli : 2-3
Oil : 2 tblsp.
Turmeric powder : 2 tsp.
Salt to taste

Method : 
  • Soak urad dal in water for about 1/2 an hour as it takes comparatively more time to cook. Soaking before cooking it, will need less time to cook. Pressure cook the dal until it is soft and done. When done, open the cooker. If water dries up, add 1 cup of water. With a wire masher, mash the dal. Add little salt and turmeric powder and let it cook for 2-3 minutes. Keep it aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan, when it is really hot and smoky, lower the flame, add dry red chillies, green chillies and fenugreek seeds. When seeds slightly change colour(turn brown, not dark brown---do not burn fenugreek seeds, the whole dal will taste bitter), pour the cooked dal over it. 
  • Cook for 2-3 minutes. Finally, when you have your desired consistency(it is not a thick dal, and also not so watery, kind of a smooth consistency) of dal, check the seasoning. Add ginger juice (squeeze the ginger paste and add only the juice) and powdered feneel seed. Cook for 1 minute and take out from heat. Your dal is ready.
Now the recipe of fried one, i.e., Bhaja kalai er dal

Ingredients are same as above, only no fenugreek seed. I dont have the picture of this version, next time I make it, I'll add it for sure.



Method :
  • Dry roast the dal and then wash and soak the dal as above. Then pressure cook it until done.
  • Add 1 cup of water, with a wire whisk, mash the dal and give it a smooth texture. Add little salt and turmeric and cook for 2-3 minutes. Keep it aside.
  • Wet grind fennel seed and ginger to a fine paste(ada-mouri bata). 
  • Heat oil in a pan, when its hot and smoky, add dry red chilli, green chilli and the paste of ginger and fennel seed (ada-mouri bata). Fry the paste for a while in medium flame, when you get the sweet smell of the paste, add the dal. Check the seasoning and cook for 2-3 minutes. Your dal is ready. 
  • Enjoy with Aloo posto and hot white rice............


TRY AND LET EM KNOW IF YOU LIKED IT OR NOT............


19 comments:

Sharmila said...

Kalai er dal mouri guro diye ... sounds wonderful! Ami konodin bengal iway te kalai er dal korini. :-)

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Dhal and posto sounds lovely and definitely will be good for rainy days.

Priya Suresh said...

Indrani, ur new template looks fabulous...Bith dhal and posta looks fantastic and makes me hungry yaar!

Indrani said...

@Sharmila, tumi try kare dekho..you'll fall in love with this dal
@Shanthi, thanks, it is even good in hot sunny summer days, as this dal makes your body cool
@Priya...thanks dear, nice that you liked it, thy the combo and let me know

Unknown said...

nice recipe for dal..looks yumm..

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Indrani
Thanks for sharing the finer aspect of Biuli dal and Posto. Few days back I had posted roasted Biuli dal with same recipe, but I had given mouri , juliens of ginger as sombora and the mouri ada bata added raw. I will try your method of frying the bata.I can get the aroma right now.
The Methi sombora in Kacha kalai dal is new for me, will try soon.
ANd Alu posto with onion, never knew. Actually what I learnt from my mom ( not a great cook by any standard)that all veg dishes are devoid of garlic and onion, what is now called as Jain veg dishes.
Thanks again for sharing

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

Wow I love that Aloo posto... I make mine a little different - but yours looks more tempting....
I have never made ural dal at home either... Lovely dishes.

kitchen queen said...

The aloo posto combo seems nice and the picture is lovely.

Tina said...

Dear...new templates looks beautiful...Its a new recipe to me delicious....

Sharmistha Guha said...

Kolai daal is a favourite! And I love mouri'r aroma....
Mar kolai daal er onekgulo preparation er modhye ekta holo kucho chingri diye....got to aske her! ;)

Malar Gandhi said...

Sounds so yummm, interesting recipe...will give a try soon.

Pari Vasisht said...

Hi Indrani, It seems I have a fascination for exploring blogs with bengali cuisine, the aloo posto is my favorite, never made it with onion, will try ur version.
The dal tempts me even more.
I am gonna visit you surely.
do drop by when time permits.
Tc

workhard said...

Dal is one of my fav.. posto looks real good......

Work from home India

Mythreyi Dilip said...

First time here excellent posto recipe!

Urmi said...

Ufffff jibhe jol eshe gelo dekho..Amar shob theke favourite khabar..Mone hochhe tomar kachhe giye nana rokom khabar khete hobe..Ami usually muger dal er shathe alu posto banai tobe ebare tomar durdanto recipe ta try korbo.

Unknown said...

Ami apnaar dutoi recipe try korlam...darun khete hoyeche...asha kori erokum simple but elegant recipes aro post korben future e.. ei particulat combo take bola jete paare comfort food at it's best....

Indrani said...

Thank you ,shampa..khub bhalo lagche jene je tomar bhalo legeche recipe gulo..tumi amar recipe index theke aro erokom simple recipe peye jabe..I've posted many simple bengali recipes before

Anonymous said...

patol posto, kacha kalai er dal ar alu pyaj posto ato fantastic my sweet little princess sabji r dewani hoye gache amney aro bhalo bhalo recipe diyo

kaveri

Anonymous said...

Thanks for recipe...... I`ll make urad dal first time today...... I love urad dal with posto........


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