Sobji Dal

PeekNCook’s Sobji Dal is its Bengali mung-dal recipe with mixed vegetables. This selection uses carrot, beans, cauliflower and peas, with the offered fried-coconut topping.

A drop of oil heats in a pressure cooker before the dal is roasted. The dal is washed under cold water, then pressure-cooked with fresh water and left for the pressure to release.

Oil heats in a pan. Supplied chopped coconut is fried and kept aside, followed by the cut vegetables. Bay leaf, cumin seeds and whole red chilli are added to the remaining oil, then ginger, hing and turmeric.

The fried vegetables and chopped tomato join the pan, followed by the cooked dal and additional water. The mixture boils, then cooks covered on a reduced heat.

After the lid is opened, salt and sugar are adjusted, and garam masala and ghee are sprinkled in. The pan is covered again and left to stand before the coconut topping is added. Steamed rice, fried eggplant and papad are the selected served accompaniments.