Masoor Dal Soup (Soup of Split Red Lentil)

Another simple but delicious recipe from my mom's kitchen is waiting for you on this page. This time the primary ingredient is Masoor dal (Split Red Lentil). Masoor dal is said to be one of the most protein-rich pulses, and this soup has always been a favorite at our family dinner table.

All you need

1. Masoor Dal (Split Red Lentil): 1 cup
2. Tomatoes: 5 medium
3. Water: 4 cups or more
4. Jeera Powder: 1 and 1/2 tsp
5. Turmeric Powder: 1/2 tsp
6. Ginger: Finely chopped - 2 tsp
7. Bay leaf: 1
8. Onion and garlic paste: 2 tsp
9. Ghee: 1 tsp
10. Salt and Pepper: To taste

Getting it done

1. Chop the tomatoes and wash the dal
2. Place the dal and the tomatoes in a pressure cooker along with water
3. Add salt and turmeric powder
4. Close the pressure cooker, and keep it on high flame
5. After the first whistle, simmer it for 2-3 minutes
6. Let the pressure cooker cool down of its own accord
7. Open the lid and adjust the level of water to how runny you would like it to be. (Tip: This is kind of a soup so it is better if it is a bit runnier than your other regular dals)
8. Add jeera powder and ginger
9. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring it
10. Turn the heat off and keep the cooker aside
11. Heat oil in a pan, and add the bay leaf
12. Add onion-garlic paste
13. Saute the mixture till it turns golden brown
14. Bring the cooker containing the dal back to the flame, and add the onion-garlic-bay leaf mixture from the pan in to the dal
15. Bring it to a boil
16. Taste the amount of salt, and add more if required
17. Add ghee and black pepper powder 
18. Serve hot with rice or just as a soup