VATLI DAL [For Ganapati Festival]

Vatli Dal is made during Ganapati Festival as an offering/naivedya/ prasad for Ganapati Bappa. It is traditional authentic Maharashtrian recipe and is distributed as Prasad on the day of Ganapati visarjan, Anant Chaturdashi or on the evening of Manglagauri. Along with all the sweet dishes offered to Lord Ganesha this is a savory dish offered. This recipe of today is one such simple and highly nutritious  dish. Simple chana dal soaked, grounded and then roasted with simple Indian spices. It tastes amazing and very flavourful. It is light on stomach and easy to make, full of protein an off course super delicious. This makes a healthy, easy and tasty snack. Less ingredients but yet loved by everyone and can be served like upma.

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Chana Dal [soaked for 4-5 hours]

2-3 Green Chillies

1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds

1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds

Pinch of Asafoetida

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice

¼ Cup Chopped Coriander

1/2 “Ginger Piece

½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder

½ teaspoon Red Chilli Powder

Salt to taste

¼ Cup Grated Fresh Coconut

2 tablespoon Oil

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Wash chana dal thoroughly and soak chana dal for 4-5 hours.

STEP 2 – After 5 hours, drain excess water from it.

STEP 3 – Add chana dal, some fresh coconut, chopped ginger, green chilli, ½ of the cumin seeds, some chopped coriander with 2 tablespoon water in mixer pot.

STEP 4 – Blend to make a coarse paste. If unable to blend, add some more water while blending. Keep it aside.

STEP 5 – Heat oil in kadai, add remaining cumin seeds, mustard seeds and let them crackle.

STEP 6 – Then add asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, sugar, salt and mix it well.

STEP 7 – Add ground dal paste and grated coconut and mix it well.

Cover it and cook it for atleast 5-10 minutes on low flame or till the dal mixture is dry and cooked. Keep on stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottomof the pan.

STEP 8 – All the moisture from the dal should get evaporated and the consistency is like upma.

STEP 9 – Switch off the flame. Now drizzle lemon juice and mix it very well so that everything get wet combined.

STEP 10 – Your vatli dal is ready to serve.
While serving, garnish it with some grated coconut and chopped coriander.

NOTES: You can only add green chillies or red chilli powder.