Biuli Daal (Bengali Kalai Daal)

Sometimes back I wrote about Aloo Posto (Potatoes cooked in poppy seeds paste). It is served as a side dish with Biuli Daal (Urad Daal or Kalai Daal as known in Bengali). There are many ways of preparing this daal, but most famous is the simple & aromatic recipe stated below.

Ingredients:

• � cup (100 gms) urad dal (kalai dal / biuli dal)
• water (ratio 1 cup dal = 3 cups of water)
• � inch ginger
• 2 tsp aniseed (fennel / saunf / mouri)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2-3 green chilli
• salt (to taste)
• 1 tbsp oil, for tempering

Procedure:

1. Wash and soak the daal for 10 mins. Drain and keep aside.
2. Place the aniseed and ginger in a bowl and add hot water. Keep covered for 30 mins. Drain water and blend them together to form a smooth paste. (add a little water, if required). Keep aside.
3. Boil water in a pressure cooker and release the daal. Add salt and mix well. Place the cover with the lid and give one whistle. Simmer and cook daal for 10-15 mins or until moderately soft. (ensure that the grains are visible and daal is not mushy).
4. Heat oil in a kadhai, add the bay leaf, green chillies and aniseed-ginger paste. Saute and stir a little (don�t fry too much or the paste will have a burnt smell & taste).
5. Pour the tempering over the daal. Adjust the seasoning. (the daal should not be too thick. Add a little water, if necessary and give one boil). Serve hot with rice.