Khatti Masoor Daal (Sour Split Red Lentils) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup split red lentils
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoons tamarind juice (add more if you like it really sour) or 2 tablespoons lemon juice (add more if you like it really sour)
1 small tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander
3 whole dried red chilies
1/4 teaspoon cumin seed
1 garlic clove, sliced
4 -5 curry leaves (optional)
3 -4 tablespoons oil, for tempering

Preparation

Wash the dal well.
soak for at least 15-20 minutes or upto half hour.
In a pot add the dal and a glass of water.
add the salt, chili powder, Turmeric (Haldi) and leave on very low heat to cook.
When the dal has softened to a paste, add the chopped tomatoes and fresh coriander and lemon juice or Tamarind juice.
Cook till it is of medium consistency (not too pasty or too liquidy)
In a frying pan heat the oil along with the Garlic and whole red chili and curry leaves.
When the Garlic slices turn light brown add cumin seeds and wait for them to be brown but be careful not to burn them.
pour the oil and its contents over the daal and cover immediately.
take off heat.
after a few minutes serve with plain boiled rice.