Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1.Prepare Chana Dal

   Take 1 cup of chana dal and wash it thoroughly. Soak the dal in water for at least 3-4 hours, or for 1 hour in hot water if you're short on time. After soaking, drain all the water using a sieve.

2. 2.Prepare Vegetables and Aromatics

   Peel and chop 3 medium onions into large, long pieces. Cut 2 medium tomatoes into large, long pieces as well; avoid chopping them too finely. Coarsely crush 2 small pieces of ginger and 3 large garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle. Chop 2 green chilies and keep a few sprigs of curry leaves ready. Also, chop fresh coriander for garnish and halve a lemon for its juice.

3. 3.Sauté Dal and Onions

   Heat 4-5 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Once hot, add 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds and a pinch of asafoetida. After the cumin seeds splutter, add the drained chana dal to the pan. Stir-fry the dal on medium-low flame for 2 minutes. Then, add the chopped onions to the pan. Continue to stir-fry the dal and onions on medium flame for 4-5 minutes until the onions become translucent.

4. 4.Add Ginger-Garlic, Chilies, and Curry Leaves

   Add the coarsely crushed ginger-garlic paste to the pan. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until the raw smell of ginger and garlic disappears. Next, add the chopped green chilies and curry leaves to the mixture and mix well.

5. 5.Season with Spices

   Add salt to taste, a pinch of turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder, and 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri red chili powder (for color). Mix all the spices thoroughly with the dal and onion mixture. Ensure everything is well combined and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.

6. 6.Add Tomatoes and Finish

   Add the large chopped tomatoes to the pan. Stir-fry for only 1-2 minutes; the tomatoes should remain slightly firm and not become mushy. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the stir-fry. Finally, garnish generously with fresh coriander leaves and mix one last time. The Chana Dal with Onion and Tomato Stir-fry is now ready to serve.