Pancharatna Dal/Dal Panchratni

If I am too lazy to work, my go to dish would be dal. Dal and rice would be a nice comforting meal on any given lousy day. First time when I saw a bag of mixed dals at Nilgiris,I was wondering what to do with this. Then I forgot about it. Sometime after that I saw this post by Nags here.
Now I know how to use it. It’s the same old dal recipe just with extra nutrients because of multiple lentil varieties in it. Now I make it a point to buy ½ kg bag of mixed dals every month during grocery shopping. This is a preparation followed by me, to suit my taste (read laziness!).Nothing fancy, but still a warm, fulfilling meal.

Serves 2 

Ingredients:

Moong dal/green gram dal split and skinned-2 tbsp

Toor dal/red gram dal-2 tbsp

Channa dal/Bengal gram dal-2tbsp

Masoor dal/split red lentil-2 tbsp

Split urad dal with skin/black gram dal split-1 tbsp

Or

Mixed dal (in case if u can get the ready mixed dal bag)-1/2 cup

Turmeric powder- ½ tsp

Green chilies-3, slit

Onion-1 medium, roughly chopped

Tomato-1 medium, roughly chopped

Ginger-1 inch piece, finely sliced

Garlic-3 pods, sliced (optional)

Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp, finely chopped

Salt-as needed

To Temper:

Oil- 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds- 1tsp

Cumin seeds- 1 tsp

Asafoetida- 1 big pinch

How it Happened:

1. Wash the lentils and soak them in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes. Then add the lentils along with the soaked water into a pressure cooker.

2. Add turmeric powder, salt, green chilies, tomato, onion, ginger and garlic.mix well. Cover with lid and pressure cook for 1 whistle in medium flame.

3. Then simmer for 5 minutes. Switch off the flame. Wait till the pressure is released.

4. Heat oil in a tadka pan; add all the ingredients given under temper, when they pop add it to the dal.

5. Mix well, garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rotis or rice with a little ghee on top.

Notes:

*Soaking the dal helps in cooking easily.

*If u want it to be spicy add a ½ tsp of sambar powder to the dal before pressure cooking.

*Garlic helps in digestion and also adds a mellow flavor, but you can skip it.