Split Green Moong Dal

Green split moong Dal is also known as chilka Moong dal or Split green moong beans or green grams. These Green Moong lentils have been split but not skinned and have light yellow color inside. 

Green moong have a natural and mild aroma and little bland in taste. Some people do not like the taste of moong dal but with the addition of onion, tomato, ginger garlic and cumin seed tadka you can makes this simple dal into a tasty flavorful dish.

Directions for cooking Dal: 

1. In a pressure cooker add dal and wash, changing water several times until the water appears clear and then soak dal in 4 cups of water for 30 minutes or longer.
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2.  Once Dal is soaked drain all the water out and wash.

3. Add 4 cups of water, Turmeric powder, salt and 1 teaspoon of oil and mix.
When Dal is boiling it create lot of foam and the foam comes out from the
pressure cooker to prevent that is a good idea to add little oil.

4. Close the lid of the pressure cooker, place the weight on the lid and cook on
​    medium high heat.  ​​5. In about 8 to 10 minutes pressure cooker will start steaming turn the heat down
and cook for 3 minutes. Turn the stove off and wait until steam goes down.
Different brand of cooker require different time to cook.6.  While  Dal is cooking prepare the Onion and Cumin seed Tadka and keep them
aside. (see below for tadka direction)7. Open the pressure cooker, turn the stove on to medium heat.

 8. With a cooking spoon mix dal well so there are no lumps, if the dal is thick
then add more water if it is too watery then cook little longer.

9.  Add Onion and Tomato Tadka and mix and cook. If the dal looks thick then
add some water and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until Dal and Onion Masala
​     blend well.

10. Add Cumin seed Tadka and mix and cook for a minute or until you have the
​    desired consistency. Turn the stove off. ​11. When ready to serve, transfer Dal in to a serving bowl and garnish it with
coriander leaves and pour Hot Chili Tadka over Dal. (see below for chili
tadka)

Tips:

1.   If you wish you can skip onion tadka or any other  tadka and alter Dal to your
taste.

2. Use pressure cooker for cooking dal otherwise it takes too long to cook dal.

Directions for cumin seed tadka: (tadka)

1.  In a small pan (tadka pan) add 1 tablespoon oil, cumin seeds and asafetida and fry them for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat or until cumin seeds become brown.

Directions for hot chili tadka: (Hot oil) (tadka)

1. In a small pan (tadka pan) heat 2 tablespoons ghee or melted butter add crushed red chilies or red chili powder and fry them on very low heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until the red chilies fried, turn the heat off.

Direction for onion, tomato tadka: (tadka)

1. Heat small frying pan, add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, chopped onions and
minced garlic, and sauté them on medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until
onions become light brown, while frequently stirring them.

2. Add chopped tomatoes, grated ginger and chopped green chilies and cook, while they are cooking with the spatula try to mash the tomatoes so that they become soft quickly, in about  5 to 6 minutes tomatoes will become soft and
blend with onions. Turn the stove off.