Saturday, October 26, 2024

Chickpea and Bean Dahl

Just so you know what to look for in terms of a final result with this dish, the split peas should completely break down and join the cream to make a thick sauce in which are swimming the chickpeas and the beans. If the beans are breaking down a bit, that's not a bad thing. Served as a dal with an Indian meal accompanied by rice or naan and tarkari and saag, this is a lovely buttery, creamy dish.

1 cup yellow split peas (7 oz)
Salt, to taste
3 Tbsps. mild oil
2 Tbsps. fresh ginger, finely grated
2 large garlic cloves, grated (10-12g)
½ tsp red pepper flakes or 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 small tomato (3oz), chopped
1 Tbsp tomato paste
¾ cup cream (your choice, half and half, table cream or whipping cream)
2 Tbsps. (1oz/28gr) butter
½ cup water
4.5oz dried chickpeas, soaked and cooked or one 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4.5oz dried beans, soaked and cooked or one 15-ounce can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Salt and pepper, to taste (start with 1tsp salt and 1é4 tsp pepper, to taste?)
  1. Ideally, soak the split peas for at least an hour before boiling them.
  2. If using dry beans, cook in a pot separate from the peas.
  3. In a medium saucepan, bring plenty of water to a boil. Add the split peas and a generous pinch of salt and boil about 50 minutes. 
  4. When the peas are well cooked and just starting to break down, drain well and set aside with the other cooked beans.
  5. Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, heat the oil. 
  6. Add the ginger, garlic, jalapeño, cumin and cayenne and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 6 minutes. 
  7. Add the tomato and tomato paste and cook until the tomato is slightly broken down, about 5 minutes. 
  8. Add the cream, butter and water and bring to a boil. 
  9. Stir in the cooked yellow split peas, chickpeas and beans and season with salt. 
  10. Simmer, covered, over low heat until thickened, about 15 minutes. Cook longer if it seems too liquid or if the peas have not broken down into a sauce.

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