Keoti Dal : The Feel of Earthy Flavor

 Keoti dal or mix lentil / dal is famous dish from eastern UP. The  earthy taste of this native recipe  is miraculous that's takes to down to memory lane of your childhood where probably you being so fortunate to had bites of grandparent's handmade dal chawal cooked in  the earthen pot or batuli vessel ( not pressure cooked) with splashes of lot of desi ghee pour over dal served with  fried red chilies. 

Here is my endeavor to bring back the authentic flavor of this recipe to the main stream so that next generation will also have the privilege of tasting such a simple & divine recipe.  Nutty flavor of chana dal combine with mellowness of rest of cooked dal , incorporate lots of different flavors together that brings out nostalgic magic indeed.

There are many versions of this recipe varying from region to region , At some places its made with three kinds of lentils while other region made this recipe with two and at some places its even cooked with blend of five lentils and at somewhere its a combination of plain and spilt lentils.

Here , I am presenting , the keoti dal of my side of region i.e the Eastern U.P. , which I use to eat & cook, I am pretty sure every version must have their unique taste & texture . 

This keoti or mix dal is made up with blend of five kinds of different  lentils with mix of some basic herbs and spices .  

1/2 cup toor dal 

1/4 chana dal pre soak because its take longer to cook as compare to other lentils

1/4 cup spilt black urad dal with skin

1/4 cup moong dal

1/4 cup masoor dal

1 inch grated ginger 

3-4 cloves mince garlic 

3-4 green chilies

pinch of asafoetida

2 bayleaf

1 teaspoon of desi ghee

salt to taste

for tadka -

1teaspoon of desi ghee

1/2 spoon of cumin seeds

3-4 chopped garlic 

3-4 dry red chilies

Method :

• Wash all the dal properly, except chana dal needs to wash & soak bit early because it usually take longer time to cook  as compare to other lentils.
• Now place washed lentils into pressure cooker and add water 1 inch above the level of dal or as much consistency you need for your recipe.
• Now add salt , slit green chilis, grated ginger , bayleaf , asafoetida , minced garlic and splash of desi ghee 
• Cover the lid of pressure cooker and turn on the flame, wait for 2-3 whistles then sim the flame for 5 minutes and off the flame. 
• Once the pressure got released open the lid , give a good mix and pour the dal into the dish 
• Heat the tadka pan add desi ghee , when ghee is hot enough add cumin , garlic and whole dry red chilies
• Add this sizzling tadka to your dal and immediately cover the dish , so that all the flavor of tadka get nicely infuse into the dal 
• your simple yet healthy and flavour some dal is ready to serve 
• Its goes very well with rice , Katle Aloo and fried red chilies   
• Try out this recipe ,you will love the simplicity , The Aroma ,flavor and The Earthiness of the dish for sure.