Dal kofta curry (steamed toor balls)

8 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1cupToor dal (toor dal is also known as toovar dal)
1(1/2-inch) piece ginger
4Green chilies
2Cloves garlic
1smallOnion
1Handful cillantro leaves (optional)
4cupsButtermilk or yoghurt
4Green chilies; finely chopped
1(1-inch) piece ginger; grated or finely chopped
1teaspoonGround coriander
1teaspoonCumin
1teaspoonChanna dal (roasted if desired)
¼teaspoonFenugreek
½teaspoonTurmeric
¼cup(approx) desiccated unsweetened coconut; ground if desired
2tablespoonsOil
½teaspoonBlack mustard seeds
3Curry leaves; more or less

Directions

KOFKA BALLS

FOR CURRY

FOR FLAVORED OIL

Recipe by Aroona Reejhsinghaini, modified by me.

1. Wash and soak toor dal for a few hours. Drain and grind to a course paste along with onion, ginger, garlic, and chilies. (I do this by chopping the large ingredients and blending with the dal in batches. Add enough water so the blender pastes, but not so much that it turns to watery mush.) Mix in salt and (optionally) cillantro leaves. Form into balls and steam 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool balls. They will obtain a somewhat rubbery texture as they cool.

2. Gently heat buttermilk/yogurt in a pan. Add spices (ground coriander, cumin, channa dal, fenugreek, turmeric) and enough dried coconut to give a nice flavor and slightly thicken the sauce. (I add all these ingredients to a coffee grinder and grind to a powder.) Add ginger and chilies. Add salt to taste. Adjust spices. It will taste like it's missing something until you add the flavored oil.

3. Carefully place kofta balls into sauce.

4. Heat a little oil in a separate frying pan over medium heat, add mustard seeds and curry leaves. When mustard seeds stop bursting, add oil into the curry. You may want to partially cover pan to prevent seeds from popping grease all over your kitchen.

NOTE: If you use non-fat yogurt, there is only 2 T oil in the whole dish! JKANDELL@...

(JONATHAN KANDELL)

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