Yellow Dal (Lentil) Curry Recipe

• 2 cups of masoor dal/lentils
• two pods of garlic, peeled and diced
• one onion, peeled and cut
• 1/2 tbsp of mustard seeds
• 3 tbsp of vegetable oil
• 1/2 tbsp of fennel
• 1/2 tsp of turmeric (haldi) powder
• salt
• 2 tbsp of coconut milk (can be substituted with cow milk) -- not a must
• 5 dried red chillies, broken into pieces -- not a must
• ten curry leaves -- not a must
• salt

1. Wash the dhal well, place it in a pot, add three cups of water and let it boil. When it is 75 percent cooked (this is when the red/pink lentils turn into yellow and it is almost soft), add the garlic. If all water has been absorbed, add more.
2. Once the lentils are soft, but not mushy, remove from pan.
3. Take another pan, and heat the oil. When it is fully hot, add the mustard seeds.
4. The mustard seeds should pop. then add fennel.
5. Add onions.
6. Add curry leaves (you will start feeling the aroma). Stir
7. Add red chillies and stir. Chillies should become crispy but not burnt.
8. Add turmeric powder and stir.
9. Shut the flames and add the mixture to the dal in the second pot. With a big ladle, add some of the dal in the pot to the pan. Enjoy the sizzling. Add that mixture to the dal.
10. Boil the dal in low flame; add coconut milk and salt to taste.
11. Enjoy.