Green Dal/ Lentils With Coriander

          Since lentils are the main source of protein in a vegetarian diet, I use it in my cooking, almost every single day, either in the form of sambars, kootus or dals. Some time back, I had jotted down this recipe from a newspaper, a very simple and easy to make dish. Green Dal, the name is because of the green color, it gets  from the coriander used in it, which along with ginger and garlic gives a wonderful flavor to the dal. This dal goes very well with plain rice or even with light pilafs or rotis..

Need To Have

• Tuvar Dal/ split Pigeon Peas - 1/4 cup
• Turmeric Powder - 1/8 teaspoon
• Curry Leaves - 10
• Lemon Juice - from 1/2 a lemon (small one)

To Grind

• Fresh Coriander Leaves - 1/2 cup
• Grated Coconut - 2 tablespoons
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Chopped Ginger - 1/2 tablespoon
• Green Chilly - 1

Method

          Pressure cook the tuvar dal along with the turmeric powder, mash slightly and keep. Grind together all the ingredients given under 'to grind'.

          Heat some oil, add the curry leaves, mix once and add the mashed dal. Mix, then add the ground paste, about 1 to 11/2 cups of water. Mix, bring it to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Finally add the lemon juice, mix and switch off.

Note 
Add more or less green chillies depending on the spice level of the chillies.
You can add some more water and have this dal as a soup.