Cholar Dal, Bengali Style Chana Dal ( Lentils )

          Though Bengali cuisine is more famous for non-vegetarian dishes, especially fish, there are still many vegetarian dishes that we can try, and I really liked the few dishes that I had a chance to taste at a restaurant here. Today's dish is one of them, Cholar Dal, it's chana dal cooked in Bengali style, this dal has a slight sweet taste from the raisins and sugar added, it's not very spicy and has a nice flavor from the ghee and coconut pieces and goes really well with luchis..

Need To Have

• Chana Dal/Bengal Gram - 1/2 cup
• Red Chilly Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Coriander Cumin Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Ginger - 1", grated
• Sliced Coconut Pieces - 11/2 tablespoon
• Golden Raisins - 1 tablespoon
• Sugar - 1/2 teaspoon
• Bay Leaf - 1 small
• Clove - 1
• Cardamom - 1
• Dried Red Chilly - 1
• Garam Masala - 1/2 teaspoon

Method

          Pressure cook the chana dal with some turmeric powder till done. Add the chilly powder, coriander-cumin powder, grated ginger, salt, sugar, mix and cook for 5 minutes.

          Meanwhile, heat some ghee, toast the raisins and coconut pieces separatley, remove and keep. Once the dal has cooked for 5 minutes, add the raisins and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

         Heat some more ghee, add the bay leaf, clove, cardamom, once it starts sizzling, add the garam masala , mix and add it to the dal and serve.

Note
The dal can be cooked in a regular pot too, soak it for 30 minutes or more to speedup the cooking.