Akkhaa Masoor
1 cup whole Masoor ( common lentil)
1 tomato cut in 8 pcs
1 onion chopped fine
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
1/2 ” fresh ginger root
6-7 peeled garlic cloves
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp coriander seeds powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp salt / as per taste
Cilantro fine chopped
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Wash the Masoor and put it in a container, add the chopped tomato in it with enough water to cook. Average 2 cups
Pressure cook the masoor lentils for 15 mins/ or boil until soft
Bruise the fennel seeds slightly to release aroma
Grate the ginger root
Garlic to be rough pounded
( if you are using frozen garlic, grate it frozen, on the braiser strip)
Heat the oil in the pan
Add the bruised fennel seeds and black mustard seeds
Quickly add the ginger garlic, followed by chopped onions and stirr
Add turmeric and chilli powder
Leave the onions slightly crunchy
Add the cooked Masoor and add salt
Sprinkle part of the chopped cilantro to add aroma
Cook for 3-5 mins
Serve hot with buttered rice or Parantha
PS: you can also add more water to it and make it soupy, enjoy with a warm buttered dinner roll or a slice of Sour dough
Tag: soups
METHI (Fenugreek) PATALBHAJI
2 cups fenugreek leaves
3 tbsp besan ( black gram flour)
8-10 peeled garlic cloves
4-5 dry red chili peppers
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red chili powder
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
2-3 cups water
1 pinch hing
1 pinch of Love
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Chop or shred the fenugreek leaves. Fresh is always best, but can also use dried
Rough pound the garlic( not paste)
Add water in the fenugreek and bring it to a boil. 
Add besan to this n stir simultaneously. Doesn’t have to be a paste. The lumps if any get cooked and lend a great texture n taste.
Add turmeric and salt, bring it to a boil.
In a small kadhai (wok) or pan heat oil, add mustard seeds, bloom them n add garlic and Hing. Last add whole dry red chili and take it off the heat
Put the chili powder on the surface of the bhaji, do not stir, dump this oil seasoning on top of the chili powder. It will hiss n sizzle and give a great yummy smoky flavor.
Add a pinch of love and stir ❤
Serve hot with rice/ bhakri/ parathas.
PS: you can buy fenugreek ( methi ) seeds in any grocery store and grow it on the window sill or patio with minimal sunlight.
You can also add raw peanuts.