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Ou tenga dal
ঔটেঙা দাইল (ou tenga dal): Assamese masoor dal soured with elephant apple
Assamese cooks love a sour note, and ou tenga dal is the everyday lentil dish of Upper Assam's homes in the monsoon and autumn, when elephant apples (ou tenga) fall from the trees. Split masoor is boiled thin with turmeric and slices of the hard, tart fruit, then tempered with mustard oil, panch phoron and garlic, so it tastes bright, fruity and comforting. Serve with rice, or with a millet roti and a green vegetable for a lower-GI plate. It is suitable as part of a balanced diet. About 190 kcal and 26 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is adding the fruit too late, so its sourness never comes out; it must cook with the lentils from the start. If you can't find it, use a slice of green mango or 1 tsp tamarind. Chef's tip: bruise the ou tenga slices with a pestle so they release their juice.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 6 ½ oz split red lentils (masoor dal)rinsed
- 3 ¾ cups water
- 3 ½ oz elephant apple (ou tenga), or green mangosliced and lightly bruised
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 tsp panch phoron
- 3 cloves garlicsliced
- 1 green chillislit
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 6 ½ oz split red lentils (masoor dal), 3 ¾ cups water, 3 ½ oz elephant apple (ou tenga), or green mango, ½ tsp ground turmeric and 1 tsp salt in a pot. Bring to the boil, skim off the foam, then simmer partly covered for 20–25 minutes until the lentils have broken down and the fruit is soft.
25 minStep 2: Whisk the dal for a few seconds to make it smooth; it should be thin enough to pour.
1 minStep 3: Heat 1 tbsp mustard oil in a small pan over a medium heat. Add 1 tsp panch phoron, 2 dried red chillies, 3 cloves garlic and 1 green chilli and fry for 1 minute until the garlic is golden.
1 minStep 4: Pour the tempering over the dal, cover for 2 minutes, scatter with 2 tbsp fresh coriander and serve.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ou tenga dal take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of split red lentils (masoor dal)?
- Yellow split peas (soak 2 hours and cook longer).
- What can I use instead of elephant apple (ou tenga), or green mango?
- Pears, same amount.
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