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Anju’s Cooking School – Day 2

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Katina

We’re back again at Anju’s Cooking School in New Delhi!

Anju is our teacher chef extraordinaire, while Pranav, Ravi and Ravi’s father are the taste testers and inspectors.  So far, we have passed the test!

The Cooking School Team!
The Cooking School Team!

Today on the menu is Dahl and Bharta – these are two fast and easy recipes that are very flavourful.

Yellow Dahl 

Dahl is a staple meal for most Indian families and is usually eaten with chapati or roti. There are different varieties of lentils that can be used.  Select ones according to your own tastes.

Mixed lentils.
Mixed lentils.

For this recipe we used yellow and white lentils.

 Ingredients

Yellow and white lentils

3 parts water to 1 part lentils

Spices – Cumin, Turmeric, Chilli Powder, Garam Masala and salt

1. Wash and rinse the lentils.

Washed lentils.
Washed lentils.

2. Add lentils and water to a pressure cooker.

Add lentils and water to pressure cooker.
Add lentils and water to pressure cooker.

3. Add turmeric, cumin and whole chilli peppers to lentil mixture according to desired spiciness. Cook until ready.

Main spices for Indian cooking: Chilli Powder, Cumin, Turmeric and Salt
Lentil, Water, Spices and Chilli Peppers.

4. Temper more spices (cumin, coriander and mustard seeds) in oil or ghee to enhance the flavours.

Temper Spices in ghee.
Add more cumin
Add coriander seeds.

5. Add the chilli powder and garam masala directly to the dahl as they will burn too quickly if tempered.

Chilli Powder and Garam masala directly to the dahl.
Chilli Powder and Garam masala directly to the dahl.

6. Add the tempered spices and mix everything together. Let it simmer on low to thicken.

Mix the tempered spices into the dahl.
Mix the tempered spices into the dahl.

7. Serve hot.

Screen Shot 2015-02-14 at 11.10.21 AM

Remember to scoop up the dahl with fresh and hot chapatis!

I was really pleased with how easy this dish was to make and how tasty it was to eat.  Ravi’s father commented that I did a great job on it.  In fact, he even had a second helping which is a great compliment!

 

Bharta

Ingredients

Eggplants

Onions

Tomato puree

Oil or ghee

Spices – garam masala, chilli peppers, salt, black pepper

1. Roast the eggplants until the skin is blackened.  Peel off the skins.

Roast the eggplants until the skins are blackened.
Roast the eggplants until the skins are blackened.

2. Lightly sauté the onions in oil.

Saute the onions.
Saute the onions.

3. Add pureed tomatoes and reduce.

Add pureed tomatoes and reduce.
Add pureed tomatoes and reduce.

4. Chop up the eggplant and mix together with the tomato and onion mixture.

Chop up the eggplants.
Add to the tomato and onion mixture.

5. Add garam masala and other spices according to taste. Mix everything together.

Add spices according to taste.
Add spices according to taste.

Scoop up this yummy dish with fresh chapatis!

Be ready for tomorrow’s post on Oliver’s delicious butter chicken!

About the Author

For the past twenty plus years, Katina has been focused on the effective integration of technology to support and amplify student learning. As the Canadian Education Strategist for Dell Technologies, Katina has been able to fulfill her passions by creating programs to support underserved students at both K12 and Post Secondary. Outside of work, Katina enjoys spending time with family, dancing, the Arts, sports, travel and is always up for adventure!

Comments

8 responses to “Anju’s Cooking School – Day 2”

  1. Tiffany Bray Avatar
    Tiffany Bray

    Yummo!! In Nepal we lived on Dahl Baht twice a day and while not as spicy. could be hotter with added pickle and curried veggies 🙂 Could survive as vegetarians ……..for a while anyway !

    1. Katina Avatar
      Katina

      Hi Tiff,
      We totally agree – we are enjoying the dahl and love experiencing the veg and non veg food. Oliver is totally ramping up his spice to Indian levels – we are amazed that he’s not breathing fire on us!

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  2. Oma Avatar
    Oma

    Hi, dearest Family, today is Family day here in Ontario and it was fitting to see the smiling faces of you all and your host family first thing this morning. Opa and I read all your postings and have our big Atlas on the table to follow your travels across India. We also enjoyed both cooking posts, especially since the dishes have simple ingredients and look delicious and colourful. I’d just love to try out different breads (first cooking class) Anju and her family sound like wonderful people and it would be so nice to meet the family that made our family feel so welcome. To you all warm greetings and lots of XOXO’s

    1. Katina Avatar
      Katina

      Happy Family Day to you too Oma!

      We hope you enjoyed a great holiday with Opa! Our host family are a great group of people who we have been blessed to meet. We are having such a great time and it’s because of all the wonderful people we have met.

      Take care,
      Kat:)

  3. Iniyal Avatar
    Iniyal

    I was so inspired by the first post in the various breads. I am inspired again. Anju, love the curries!

    1. Katina Avatar
      Katina

      Hi Iniyal,

      Okay – when we return – let’s set up a cooking night and we’ll share recipes and yummy dishes! I’m sure Anju will give us even more recipes to try!!

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  4. Baba, Avatar
    Baba,

    Hi Kat,
    All I can say is WOW!!! I love the step by step procedures!!! Just the sound of the ingredients makes me want to be the first at the table! Thanks for sharing and I love the photo of all of you! Special thanks to Anju and Ravi for making our family feel so welcome! Love, Baba

    1. Katina Avatar
      Katina

      Hi Baba,
      The recipes are easy and very flavourful – you’ll just have to adjust the spice levels!

      ANd yes – a very special thanks to our wonderful hosts who have made our stay so fantastic!

      Cheers,
      Kat:)