Panchmel Daal-Baati.

Panchmel Daal-Baati.

Panchmel Daal and Baati



Panchmel Daal:

This is a lentil curry comprising of five different pulses. Hence the name “panch” (five) “mel” (meeting) , meaning meeting of five varieties. It is highly nutritious and full of protein. Those of you who are watching your weight can binge on this without guilt…just skip the ghee/ clarified butter.

Ingredients-

1/3 cup split bengal gram/chana dal
1/3 cup toovar/arhar dal
1/3 cup masoor dal
1 tsp urad dal/split black lentils
1 tbsp whole moong/mung dal
3 teaspoons chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder/haldi
1 tsp coriander/dhania powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
3 cloves
2 bay leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
2 green chillies, slit
a pinch asafoetida/hing
2 tsp amchur/dry mango powder
2 tsp tamarind/imli pulp
3 tbsp ghee/clarified butter
salt to taste

Method-

Clean and wash the dals and add 4 cups of water. Pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles or till the dals are cooked.

In a bowl, combine the chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala with 3 tablespoons of water and mix well. Keep aside.

Heat the ghee in a pan and add the cloves, bay leaves, cumin seeds, green chillies and asafoetida. When the cumin seeds crackle, add the prepared masala paste and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the cooked dals, amchur, tamarind pulp and salt and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. Adjust the consistency of the dal before serving and if required, add some water.

Serve piping hot.

Baati:

As the name suggests, baati in Hindi means a bowl, as this part of the dish resembles a bowl. For this you need thick ground wheat flour. If you?re getting freshly ground wheat flour , then you can specifically ask the person to grind it to make laddu bati ka atta.

If thick or mota atta is unavailable, you can go with the regular atta/whole wheat flour, but mix three cups of atta, with 1 cup of suji/semolina to make it thick, as that?s the consistency we need to prepare baati. Traditionally, baati is prepared on earthen ovens, with dried cow dung cakes burned as fuel.

However we will prepare it using the trusted oven/gas stove.



Ingredients-

3 cups ? atta/whole wheat flour
1 cup ? suji/semolina
1 cup ? ghee/clarified butter
lukewarm water
salt

Method-

You need to make soft dough out of the atta and suji mixed with salt, ghee and lukewarm water.

Set aside for half an hour.

Make lemon sized round balls with the dough.

Bake them in an oven on 170 degrees C (approx), till it browns and forms a crisp crust.

Now, if you so desire you can roast it on the gas stove slightly with the aid of tongs, just so that the crust becomes crispier.

Dip in clarified butter/ghee, and serve with panchmel daal and mirchi ka achaar/pickled jalapenos/chillies.

Enjoy!