CNN iReport

When I am working late and don't have much time to prepare dinner, I will usually make lentil bean soup - also called 'dal' in South East Asia. This dish is perfect and quite easy to prepare. I also like to add pico de gayo as a top garnish. Try this as a soup appetizer this coming Thanksgiving Holiday! Very delicious and healthy!

Dal (aka lentil beans) with Rice

Ingredients

1. Basmati Rice: 1½ Cup

2. Split skinless Masoor dal (red lentil): ½ Cup

3. Water: 6 Cups

4. Vegetable Oil: ¼ Cup

5. Onion Thinly sliced: ¾ cup

6. Serrano Chopped: 2

7. Salt: 1 teaspoon

8. Cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon

9. Whole Black Cardamoms: 3

10. Chili power: 1 teaspoon       

11. Black peppercorn: 7

12.  Boiling water: 3 Cups

13. Crushed Garlic: 1 teaspoon

12. Cilantro leaves: 3 tablespoons (garnish)

Method

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a sauce pan.

2. Add onions, garlic, salt, and Serrano cook till onions start to become translucent.

3. Add Cumin seeds, sauté about 2 minutes till cumin starts to get brown.

4. Add the Masoor dal (red lentil). Sauté about 4 minutes.

5. Add water 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat. Cook covered till lentils are tender (20 to 30 minutes approximately).

Boiled Rice:

1 ½ cup of Basmati rice (thoroughly washed)

4 cups of water

½ teaspoon of butter

1. Add water to sauce pan and bring to a boil.

2. Add the rice and cook until the rice is bubbly (7 minutes).

3. Drain the water and add ½ teaspoon of butter to rice

4. Cover tightly and steam on very low heat for 5 minutes

Garnishing for the Dal (aka lentil soup)

1. Place lentil soup as desired in a bowl.

2. Add rice as desired and garnish with chopped cilantro.

3.  Add pico de gayo as desired.

Enjoy!