Sri Lankan style Dal

Ingredients

1 cup dal (orange lentils)

1/4 onion

2 garlic cloves

5 curry leaves

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp chili flakes (optional)

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp coconut powder (to dissolve in 1/2 cup hot water)

Topping (optional):

1 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 onion

a little bit of chili powder

Instructions

1. Wash the dal nicely and put it in a bowl with water for 5 minutes.

2. In a pot, add 1 1/2 cup of water, the dal, chop and add the onion, garlic, turmeric, chili flakes, salt, 3 curry leaves and boil for 7 minutes.

3. Dissolve the coconut powder in half a cup of hot water and add it to the pot with the dal and boil for 5 more minutes.

For the topping (optional)

In a small pan, heat 4 spoons of olive oil. Once hot, add the mustard seeds. When you hear the mustard seeds start crackling, add the onion, 2 curry leaves and saute them until the onions have lightly browned. Then remove from the fire and add the chili powder. Now you can add it as topping in your dal.

Enjoy!