Drumstick Dal

Steps

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1. 1
   Select thin drumsticks, avoiding the thickest ones. Cut them in half to make peeling easier. Peel gently using a vegetable peeler or small knife, then cut into medium-sized pieces about 4–5 inches long.
   ▶ ≈0:20
2. 2
   Rinse the soaked toor dal and discard the soaking water. Add the dal, cut drumsticks, slit green chilli, turmeric powder, and salt to a pressure cooker. Pour in enough water to cover the dal with about 1 inch of water on top. Cover, bring to a whistle on high flame, then reduce to medium-low and cook for 7–8 minutes (about 2–3 more whistles).
   ▶ ≈2:14
3. 3
   While the dal cooks, roughly cut green chillies and ginger and crush them together in a mortar and pestle into a coarse paste. Dice the tomatoes and set aside.
   ▶ ≈3:03
4. 4
   Once the pressure cooker has naturally depressurised, open the lid and verify that the drumsticks and dal are fully cooked. Transfer the cooked drumsticks to a blender jar with a little water and blend finely into a smooth paste. Strain this mixture back into the dal through a fine sieve; the woody fibrous parts will remain in the sieve while all the nutritious pulp goes into the dal. Whisk everything together well to combine.
   ▶ ≈3:43
5. 5
   Heat ghee in a frying pan on high flame. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, gundu red chillies, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves. Stir quickly for a few seconds. Add the ginger-chilli paste, then the diced tomato and a pinch of salt. Cook on high flame for about 2 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
   ▶ ≈6:58
6. 6
   Reduce heat to low and add turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder, and a splash of hot water. Stir well and let the spice mixture cook for 1 minute. Pour the entire tempering into the dal and mix thoroughly.
   ▶ ≈7:38
7. 7
   Place the dal back on the flame and bring it to a boil. Taste and adjust salt if needed. Add jaggery if using and stir well, cooking for 1–2 minutes until it dissolves completely.
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8. 8
   Finish by squeezing in lemon juice and adding fresh chopped coriander. Give it a final stir, and the comforting, flavourful drumstick dal is ready to serve.
   ▶ ≈8:33