Channa Dal (Bengal Gram) is nutritious and has a sweet, nutty flavor and is easily digested. Its a popular lentil in India and generally used in dal dishes and to prepare savories. Channa dal is roasted and powdered into chickpea flour (besan), another widely used ingredient in nearly every regional Indian cuisine. Besan is the basic ingredient in preparing bajjis,a popular snack in India. Ingredients: 1 bunch of fresh methi (fenugreek) leaves, picked, washed chopped 1 small cup senaga pappu (channa dal, split bengal gram) 1 tsp coriander pwd 1/2 tsp red chilli pwd 2 cups water 1/3 tsp turmeric pwd (pasupu, haldi) 1 tbsp oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 4 garlic flakes finely chopped pinch of asafoetida (hing) 1 green chilli finely chopped 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped salt Wash the channa dal and add two cups of water, salt, coriander pwd and turmeric pwd pressure cook till one whistle. The dal should be soft and not mushy. Heat oil in a skillet. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter and now add the garlic and hing and fry for few seconds. Now add tomatoes and green chillies and fry till oil separates. Add the chilli pwd and mix well. Add chopped methi and the cooked dal and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes covered. The consistency of the dal is semi dry. Serve hot with roti or rice.
