dhal

Trinidad Dhal
Ingredients
5 cups water
1 cup yellow split peas
1 teaspoon turmeric
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 teaspoon whole cumin(geera)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste (I used 1 1/2 tsp plus a pinch)
1 whole scotch bonnet or habanero pepper

Before cooking split peas, inspect them carefully, remove bad peas and any excess dirt or debris and rinse with several changes of water.

1. In a medium sized pan, add 5 cups of water and bring to a boil.

 2. Immediately add split peas, turmeric, 2 cloves of sliced, crushed or whole garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste and the whole pepper.

[The pepper infuses flavor into the dhal without leaving any heat.]

Warning: Be careful not to burst it unless you like your food very spicy.

3. Bring to a boil again, cover pot and then reduce heat to low. Cook until split peas are tender.  

It takes about 60 minutes on my stove.

4. Remove whole pepper and use a swizzle stick, immersion or regular blender to create a smoother consistency. I like texture so I don't swizzle too much..........

If too much liquid has evaporated during the cooking process, add additional water as required to come to a consistency that you are satisfied with. If you like your dhal thicker, continue to boil until desired consistency. 

5.Heat oil in a small frying pan, add cumin. When it starts to sing and starts getting golden brown, add 1 clove of thinly sliced garlic and watch it dance in the hot oil (no kidding). Cook until golden brown also. Singing and dancing=happy times....

The garlic will have a bitter taste if it becomes very dark.

6. Using a pot cover to prevent oil from splashing, SLOWLY add oil, cumin and garlic to the split peas. This process is called "chunkaying" (pronounced Chung-k-ing).

...Mix well, test for salt....and adjust...

...Mix well immediately before serving warm over rice or with roti and a side of bhagi(spinach), tomatoes choka, fried fish, salmon and tomatoes, curry or stew--all up to you....

Thank you for stopping by,
Cooking with love, 
Ria

..and because I also love pics of flowers, here is a pic of a gigantic hibiscus from my backyard over the summer.....