Moong Dal Soup

Moong Dal is a childhood comfort food, had with fresh rotis or rice. A North-Indian staple, this simple dal with the flavour of ginger, garlic and cummin, becomes a South Indian traditional with the addition of coconut paste and additional spices. This is a traditional accompaniment to a favourite breakfast dish, the Puttu.

I have used these flavours in today's Soup: taking a light touch of garlic with cummin and adding thin coconut milk. It can be served with crispy toasts or to complete the sub-continent's flavour, I have served it with Garlic Naan. This goes to Deb's Souper Sunday's.

Moong Dal Soup with Coconut Milk

Serves 4

 Ingredients

1 1/2 Cup  of cooked  green moong beans, [ 1/2 Cup of moon beans soaked overnight in 3 cups of water]

1/2 Cup finely chopped white onions

1/2 tsp cummin seeds

1/4 tsp of turmeric powder

1 pod of  green cardamom

1 small piece of Indian cinnamon, 1 inch long, about 1/4th inch wide!!!;-)

1 'petal' of star anise

2  cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped coarsely

1/4 Cup  of chopped tomato

2-3 finger hot green chillies, slit [ or according to taste]

Salt

2 tsps of Ghee/clarified butter

For Garnish

Crispy fried onion slices

2 tablespoons, finely chopped fresh coriander

Dollop of fresh whipped cream

Dollop of butter :-D

1 tsp of clarified butter/ ghee for individual bowls! :-D

Method

Cook the moong beans  with  turmeric, salt, the sliver of cinnamon, one cardamom and a tiny 'petal' of star anise.

Heat the pot and add 2 tsps of clarified butter/ghee

Temper cummin seeds,

Immediately add the chopped garlic and turn the heat to medium

Saute until soft

Add the slit green chillies and saute for a couple of minutes

Add 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder

Add  the tomatoes and saute for 3 -4 minutes

Add the cooked moong beans  and 2 1/2 Cups of water

Bring to a gentle simmer.

Cook for about 8 minutes

Add 1/2 Cup of thin coconut milk.

[Easy step: Mix 1 tbsp of coconut powder in 1/2 cup of hot water and add. Alternately you can omit this step and add just water]

Simmer for another 5 minutes,

Check for salt  and seasoning,

Add garnish and serve.

Garnished here with finely chopped coriander and 1/2 tsp of  butter.