Name: Dalma (Traditional Cuisine from Orissa) recipe by Shaheen Ali at BetterButter
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Toor dal -1 cup; Veggies: all cut into medium dices, of similar sizes; Elephant yam (suran) - 1/2 cup; Pumpkin -1/2 cup; Brinjal -1/2 cup; Raw banana -1/2 cup; Carrot -1/4 cup; White raddish - 1/4 cup; (You can add Drumsticks) optional; Dalma Masala :; 2 tsp saunf /fennel seeds; 3 tsp zeera / cumin seeds; 1 tsp dalchini / cinnamon; 3 tsp kali mirch/ black pepper; 3 tsp dried red chillies; Spice Mix/ Paanch phoren : 1 tsp (Fennel seeds, Cumin seeds, Mustard Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Nigella seeds); Turmeric powder - 1 tsp; Salt as per taste; Dried red chillies - 2-3; Clarified butter (Desi Ghee) - 2 tbsp; Shredded coconut to garnish; Chopped coriander to garnish; Sugar - 1 tsp; Water - 3 Cups

ABOUT Dalma (Traditional Cuisine from Orissa) RECIPE

Dalma is a dish made from Toor Dal and Vegetables. It is a traditional curry from Odisha, which is a part of a Chappan Bhog served in Puri Jaganath Temple. It is generally made from toor dal and contains chopped vegetables like Elephant yam, Unripe Banana, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Raddish, Drumsticks etc. It is tempered with paanch phoren and garnished with coconut and coriander. In temples the Dalma is made in earthen vessels using the authentic recipe, though the recipe has many variations too.

Ingredients Serving: 4

Toor dal -1 cup
Veggies: all cut into medium dices, of similar sizes
Elephant yam (suran) - 1/2 cup
Pumpkin -1/2 cup
Brinjal -1/2 cup
Raw banana -1/2 cup
Carrot -1/4 cup
White raddish - 1/4 cup
(You can add Drumsticks) optional
Dalma Masala :
2 tsp saunf /fennel seeds
3 tsp zeera / cumin seeds
1 tsp dalchini / cinnamon
3 tsp kali mirch/ black pepper
3 tsp dried red chillies
Spice Mix/ Paanch phoren : 1 tsp (Fennel seeds, Cumin seeds, Mustard Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Nigella seeds)
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt as per taste
Dried red chillies - 2-3
Clarified butter (Desi Ghee) - 2 tbsp
Shredded coconut to garnish
Chopped coriander to garnish
Sugar - 1 tsp
Water - 3 Cups

Instructions

Soak the dal for 4-5 hours.
Wash the vegetables and cut it all in medium dices of equal sizes.
In 3 cups of water, add the dal, vegetables ,salt and turmeric in a pressure cooker and cook till 1 whistle blows. Now add the drum sticks, if using this ingredient put it on a low flame.
Meanwhile prepare the dalma masala. Take saunf, zeera, dalchini, kali mirch and dried red chilies. Dry roast the spices and let it cool for sometime. Later grind them all into a fine powder.
Now in another pan prepare the tadka. Take ghee and heat. Add panch-phoran and dried red-chilli and mix this tadka to the dal mixture. Let it cook for 8-10 minutes. If you prefer little sweet ,you can add 1 tsp of sugar or can skip it.
Check the salt and adjust as per your taste. Once you get a medium consistency gravy, sprinkle the Dalma Powdered masala and turn off the flame.
Mix it and cover with a lid, let it sit for 5 minutes till the flavor infuses properly.
Garnish with shredded coconut and chopped coriander leaves.
It is served hot with rice/roti or Pithas (on festivals in Orissa).

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