Hot chana dal with potatoes (was How Day Seven went)

[Guest guest]

Sparrow R Jones wrote:

> On 4/18/08, Serene <serene-lists wrote:

> > Chana Dal Spread

>

> I make something almost exactly like this but with dill instead of

> parsley, about 7 cloves of garlic and I can't get dal here so I use

> yellow split peas. It's tasty, but the more I read about dal

> (including its unbelievable glycemic index of 8!) the more I want to

> try it. So I've located some mail-order sources and will be getting

> some. I'm very excited to try it and wanted to tell you that your

> post was the inspiration that finally moved me to do something to get

> some.

 

Awesome. Here's that recipe from Madhur Jaffrey. I'm posting it as

written, but the way to cut the oil out is to toast the spices in a dry,

heavy pan, then add the onions with a little water for the next step. I

really like it with the tamarind paste, so I haven't tried it with lemon

juice.

 

Hot chana dal with potatoes

(from An Invitation to Indian Cooking; typos are mine)

 

3 oz chana dal, cleaned and washed

1 tsp salt

4 tbs vegetable oil

1/4 tsp black mustard seeds

1/4 tsp whole cumin seeds

10 fenugreek seeds

2 fresh green chilies (as an alternative, use 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper)

1 medium-sized onion, peeled and chopped

a piece of fresh ginger, about 3/4 inch square, peeled and grated

4 new potatoes, boiled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes

1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

2 tbs lemon juice, or 3 tbs tamarind paste

 

Put the dal to boil with 1 1/4 pints of water and 1/2 tsp of the salt.

Cover, lower heat, and simmer gently for 1 hour. Drain and set aside.

 

In a 10-inch frying pan, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. When

hot, put in the mustard, cumin, and fenugreek seeds. In a few seconds,

as soon as the cumin and fenugreek seeds darken and the mustard seeds

begin to pop, add the green chilies. Turn them over once (this will take

another second), then put in the chopped onion and grated ginger. Stir

and fry the onions for 4 to 5 minutes. Now put in all the remaining

ingredients, i.s., the boiled dal and diced potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt,

the pepper, cayenne if you are using it, and lemon juice or tamarind

pasted. Mix well and cook over medium flame for 5 minutes, stirring

frequently but gently.

[Guest guest]

After more than half a century of being a small town girl, I moved to the big city and discovered who I really am. Almost everything I could want is a walk or bike-ride from my home. I just found an Indian grocery store around a corner I rarely take. Serene, I am going to take your recipe and go shopping!!

Smiles,

Janet

 

 

-

Serene

Saturday, April 19, 2008 8:52 AM

Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

Sparrow R Jones wrote:> On 4/18/08, Serene <serene-lists (AT) serenepages (DOT) org> wrote:> > Chana Dal Spread>> I make something almost exactly like this but with dill instead of> parsley, about 7 cloves of garlic and I can't get dal here so I use> yellow split peas. It's tasty, but the more I read about dal> (including its unbelievable glycemic index of 8!) the more I want to> try it. So I've located some mail-order sources and will be getting> some. I'm very excited to try it and wanted to tell you that your> post was the inspiration that finally moved me to do something to get> some.Awesome. Here's that recipe from Madhur Jaffrey. I'm posting it as written, but the way to cut the oil out is to toast the spices in a dry, heavy pan, then add the onions with a little water for the next step. I really like it with the tamarind paste, so I haven't tried it with lemon juice.Hot chana dal with potatoes(from An Invitation to Indian Cooking; typos are mine)3 oz chana dal, cleaned and washed1 tsp salt4 tbs vegetable oil1/4 tsp black mustard seeds1/4 tsp whole cumin seeds10 fenugreek seeds2 fresh green chilies (as an alternative, use 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper)1 medium-sized onion, peeled and choppeda piece of fresh ginger, about 3/4 inch square, peeled and grated4 new potatoes, boiled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper2 tbs lemon juice, or 3 tbs tamarind pastePut the dal to boil with 1 1/4 pints of water and 1/2 tsp of the salt. Cover, lower heat, and simmer gently for 1 hour. Drain and set aside.In a 10-inch frying pan, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. When hot, put in the mustard, cumin, and fenugreek seeds. In a few seconds, as soon as the cumin and fenugreek seeds darken and the mustard seeds begin to pop, add the green chilies. Turn them over once (this will take another second), then put in the chopped onion and grated ginger. Stir and fry the onions for 4 to 5 minutes. Now put in all the remaining ingredients, i.s., the boiled dal and diced potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the pepper, cayenne if you are using it, and lemon juice or tamarind pasted. Mix well and cook over medium flame for 5 minutes, stirring frequently but gently.

[Guest guest]

Janet Coe Hammond wrote:

> After more than half a century of being a small town girl, I moved to

> the big city and discovered who I really am.

 

Substitute " suburban " for " small town " and that's exactly what happened

to me. :-) I love city living, and I never would have guessed it. I

love being able to walk to anything I might need, and to take a BART

train to anything else. I love having real *neighborhood* -- even the

homeless people ask James where I am when he's out walking alone. I

love the sheer aliveness of the place.

 

> Almost everything I

> could want is a walk or bike-ride from my home. I just found an

> Indian grocery store around a corner I rarely take. Serene, I am

> going to take your recipe and go shopping!! Smiles, Janet

 

 

Save me some. :-)

 

Serene

[Guest guest]

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe wrote:

>

> After more than half a century of being a small town girl, I moved

> to the big city and discovered who I really am.

 

I'm the opposite; I moved out here to the " middle of nowhere " from

Chicago and found I could finally unclench my teeth and fists! LOL

 

I don't mind mail-ordering my clothes, books, movies, music and the

more unusual sorts of food. It's worth it to me because when I lived

in Chicago I couldn't have mail-ordered this clean air and the

mountain hiking path two hundred yards from my door (complete with

mountain lions right now, or so the warning signs at the trail head

say, though I haven't seen any big kitties when I've been out

walking.)

 

I see wild bunnies (they're probably attracting the mountain lions.

LOL!) when I walk the quarter mile to pick up my " exotic " purchases

from the mail and I wouldn't trade that to go back to the crime and

expense of living in Chicago. (My apologies to any Chicagoans who love

their city. It does have much to recommend it, I agree.)

 

We don't have an Indian grocery store here because there are, maybe

five Indians in town and they're all foreign exchange students. It is

neat to go over to campus and watch them playing Cricket, though. Now

Mexican food is another story. I think I can buy something like 20

different kinds of hot peppers in my grocery store!

 

Sparrow

[Guest guest]

I am in Phoenix, Sparrow - where do your mountain lions live??

 

 

-

Sparrow R Jones

Saturday, April 19, 2008 12:59 PM

Re: Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote:>> After more than half a century of being a small town girl, I moved> to the big city and discovered who I really am.I'm the opposite; I moved out here to the "middle of nowhere" fromChicago and found I could finally unclench my teeth and fists! LOLI don't mind mail-ordering my clothes, books, movies, music and themore unusual sorts of food. It's worth it to me because when I livedin Chicago I couldn't have mail-ordered this clean air and themountain hiking path two hundred yards from my door (complete withmountain lions right now, or so the warning signs at the trail headsay, though I haven't seen any big kitties when I've been outwalking.)I see wild bunnies (they're probably attracting the mountain lions.LOL!) when I walk the quarter mile to pick up my "exotic" purchasesfrom the mail and I wouldn't trade that to go back to the crime andexpense of living in Chicago. (My apologies to any Chicagoans who lovetheir city. It does have much to recommend it, I agree.)We don't have an Indian grocery store here because there are, maybefive Indians in town and they're all foreign exchange students. It isneat to go over to campus and watch them playing Cricket, though. NowMexican food is another story. I think I can buy something like 20different kinds of hot peppers in my grocery store!Sparrow

[Guest guest]

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe wrote:

>

> I am in Phoenix, Sparrow - where do your mountain lions live??

 

Eastern Idaho.

 

I've heard Phoenix has a lot to recommend it.

 

Sparrow

[Guest guest]

Phoenix totally took me by surprise, but I do like it. I am actually in chandler. No M. lions, but coyotes pick up after the litterbugs

 

 

-

Sparrow R Jones

Saturday, April 19, 2008 1:09 PM

Re: Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote:>> I am in Phoenix, Sparrow - where do your mountain lions live??Eastern Idaho.I've heard Phoenix has a lot to recommend it.Sparrow

[Guest guest]

On 4/19/08, Serene <serene-lists wrote:

>

> You're like Carin. James and I *have* to be in the city, but she hates

> it here. She really wants to be out in the middle of nowhere. She stays

> here to be near James, but I know she'd rather be up in the redwoods in

> her family's cabin, trying to keep the opossums and racoons from coming

> in the cat door. :-)

 

I feel for her! This town is growing and I'm already looking to figure

out which direction it's least likely to spread toward so I can move

that-a-way. :-)

 

Sparrow

[Guest guest]

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe wrote:

>

> Phoenix totally took me by surprise, but I do like it. I am actually

> in chandler. No M. lions, but coyotes pick up after the litterbugs

 

Coyotes are cute! They're the reason my husband says I can't have pet

pirds (ducks, swans, chickens, guinea hens, whatever. I think they're

nifty) but that's okay because the coyotes are still cute. More easily

spooked than the bunnies, though!

 

Sparrow

[Guest guest]

On 4/19/08, Kim <timkim wrote:

>

> Hey, Bigfoot's been sighted around here in the bottoms!

 

I can do you one better. :-) The university I live near had a Bigfoot

Conference last summer! (It's the research topic of one of our anatomy

professors. I'm told he (the professor) was even mentioned in one of

David Letterman's monologues.)

 

Sparrow

[Guest guest]

I'm a bonified army-brat whose been living the rural life in northeast Texas for over 20 years now - in the same house! hehehehee I mail order a lot of my stuff but love it because I can shop for some neat things on the computer and it's like opening gifts everytime the packages arrive. I wouldn't trade this wonderful life for anything. Even our road that has potholes large enough to fish out of is a pleasure when I compare it to the congestion of Dallas when I have the occasion to drive there.

 

{Kim breaks into song...} "Green (wooded) acres is the place for me, fa-arm livin' is the life ...."

 

Hey, Bigfoot's been sighted around here in the bottoms! Wonder if he's a vegan like Harry was in the movie? ;D

 

Kim

 

-

Sparrow R Jones

Saturday, April 19, 2008 1:59 PM

Re: Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote:>> After more than half a century of being a small town girl, I moved> to the big city and discovered who I really am.I'm the opposite; I moved out here to the "middle of nowhere" fromChicago and found I could finally unclench my teeth and fists! LOLI don't mind mail-ordering my clothes, books, movies, music and themore unusual sorts of food. It's worth it to me because when I livedin Chicago I couldn't have mail-ordered this clean air and themountain hiking path two hundred yards from my door (complete withmountain lions right now, or so the warning signs at the trail headsay, though I haven't seen any big kitties when I've been outwalking.)I see wild bunnies (they're probably attracting the mountain lions.LOL!) when I walk the quarter mile to pick up my "exotic" purchasesfrom the mail and I wouldn't trade that to go back to the crime andexpense of living in Chicago. (My apologies to any Chicagoans who lovetheir city. It does have much to recommend it, I agree.)We don't have an Indian grocery store here because there are, maybefive Indians in town and they're all foreign exchange students. It isneat to go over to campus and watch them playing Cricket, though. NowMexican food is another story. I think I can buy something like 20different kinds of hot peppers in my grocery store!Sparrow

[Guest guest]

We have a chorus of coyotes sing to us every night. It makes all my dogs howl. So funny.

 

Kim

 

-

Sparrow R Jones

Saturday, April 19, 2008 2:14 PM

Re: Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

On 4/19/08, Janet Coe Hammond <janetcoe (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote:>> Phoenix totally took me by surprise, but I do like it. I am actually> in chandler. No M. lions, but coyotes pick up after the litterbugsCoyotes are cute! They're the reason my husband says I can't have petpirds (ducks, swans, chickens, guinea hens, whatever. I think they'renifty) but that's okay because the coyotes are still cute. More easilyspooked than the bunnies, though!Sparrow

[Guest guest]

On 4/19/08, Kim <timkim wrote:

>

> Hmmm! We have one each year in Jefferson, TX - about an

> 80+ mile jaunt for me. Hubby and I may go this year.

 

Sounds like fun!

(You'll probably see our professor there.)

 

We're getting soooo off topic, but it's hard to resist.

Cryptoanthropology/cryptozoology is so much fun!

I'll try to rein myself in and go back to the topic now, though. :-)

 

Sparrow

[Guest guest]

----- > Substitute " suburban " for " small town " and that's exactly what

happened

> to me. :-) I love city living, and I never would have guessed it. I

> love being able to walk to anything I might need, and to take a BART

> train to anything else.

 

Bart? Bart?

Hi Serene! You must be a neighbor!

I found this too, to some extent. Grew up in a somewhat isolated housing

development 4 miles from school and the store. Now we live in a small

downtown apartment building , close to grocery, farmers market, library,

work and book and thrift stores.

Waving from the Northend of the SF bay, in Novato!

lc carol

[Guest guest]

Hmmm! We have one each year in Jefferson, TX - about an 80+ mile jaunt for me. Hubby and I may go this year.

 

 

-

Sparrow R Jones

Saturday, April 19, 2008 3:39 PM

Re: Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

On 4/19/08, Kim <timkim (AT) hpnc (DOT) com> wrote:>> Hey, Bigfoot's been sighted around here in the bottoms!I can do you one better. :-) The university I live near had a BigfootConference last summer! (It's the research topic of one of our anatomyprofessors. I'm told he (the professor) was even mentioned in one ofDavid Letterman's monologues.)Sparrow

[Guest guest]

siderea wrote:

> ----- > Substitute " suburban " for " small town " and that's exactly

> what happened

> > to me. :-) I love city living, and I never would have guessed it.

> > I love being able to walk to anything I might need, and to take a

> > BART train to anything else.

>

> Bart? Bart? Hi Serene! You must be a neighbor!

 

North Oakland -- not exactly in your backyard, but near enough to think

we might meet one day. :-)

 

> I found this too, to

> some extent. Grew up in a somewhat isolated housing development 4

> miles from school and the store. Now we live in a small downtown

> apartment building , close to grocery, farmers market, library, work

> and book and thrift stores. Waving from the Northend of the SF bay,

> in Novato!

 

It's pretty up there, too. James and Carin grew up in Sonoma County, so

we get up that way from time to time. Her dad lives in a cabin a mile

from Guerneville.

 

ObFatFreeVegan: Was out and about with James and Carin today, and the

hot-dog place actually had TWO choices of vegan dogs -- the Yves soy

one, and one made of gluten. The gluten one was really similar in

texture and only slightly different in spicing from the Italian sausages

we've all been making lately. Yum.

 

Serene

[Guest guest]

You could e-mail each other at your personal addresses. That what I do so I do not get off topic .Janie

 

 

----

 

 

Sparrow R Jones

4/19/2008 7:14:13 PM

 

Re: Hot chana dal with potatoes (was Re: How Day Seven went)

 

 

On 4/19/08, Kim <timkim (AT) hpnc (DOT) com> wrote:>> Hmmm! We have one each year in Jefferson, TX - about an> 80+ mile jaunt for me. Hubby and I may go this year.Sounds like fun!(You'll probably see our professor there.)We're getting soooo off topic, but it's hard to resist.Cryptoanthropology/cryptozoology is so much fun!I'll try to rein myself in and go back to the topic now, though. :-)Sparrow