Lemon Rice With Dals - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups basmati rice
1/4 cup masoor dal
1/4 cup channa dal
1 medium onion
2 lemons
25 g butter
3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
3/4 teaspoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 bay leaves
2 -3 cloves
3 -4 cinnamon sticks
4 curry leaves
5 -6 cashew nuts (chopped)
coriander sprig
dried parsley
fresh lemon rind
salt

Preparation

Soak masoor and chana dals for a few hours prior to cooking.
Boil rice with about 4-5 cups water and salt until grains are soft and firm.
Just before draining the rice, add the turmeric powder.
Stir to ensure that the color spreads evenly over the rice.
Remove from heat and drain.
In another pot, add the masoor and chana dals; cover with water and boil until the dals soften.
In a separate small saucepan, add butter on low heat until it melts.
Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, bayleaves, cloves, cinammon, curry leaves and cashew nuts.
When the seeds begin to splutter, add the onion and allow to heat till onion becomes translucent.
Then add the boiled/softened masoor and chana dals along with the turmeric powder.
At this point you can peel the lemons and add the lemon rind to the rest of the ingredients.
Stir this mixture thoroughly to ensure a nice distribution of the butter flavor.
Transfer this mix to the already cooked rice and toss or stir well.
Squeeze two fresh lemons to obtain about half a cup of juice, add a tsp of salt to it, and then pour the liquid on the rice concoction, making sure to toss it thoroughly.
Garnish by drizzling with dry parsley, coriander and a whole cashew.