Name: Yellow split pea and carrot dhal
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 4 - 6
Ingredients: 40 gm ginger, coarsely chopped; 5 golden shallots, 4 coarsely chopped, 1 thinly sliced; 3 garlic cloves, 2 coarsely chopped, 1 finely chopped; 80 gm ghee; 2 long green chillies, thinly sliced, or to taste; 2 tsp black mustard seeds, plus 1 tsp extra; 2 tsp each coriander seeds and cumin seeds, coarsely crushed; 2 tsp each ground turmeric and garam masala; 1 tomato, coarsely chopped; 1 sprig fresh curry leaves; 250 gm yellow split peas; 800 ml canned coconut milk; 500 ml (2 cups) chicken stock; Juice of 2 limes, or to taste, plus extra wedges to serve; 3 carrots, cut into julienne; To serve: thick natural yoghurt and coriander; Tadka; 60 gm ghee; 2 golden shallots, thinly sliced; 2 long green chillies, thinly sliced; 2 sprigs fresh curry leaves

Ingredients

40 gm ginger, coarsely chopped

5 golden shallots, 4 coarsely chopped, 1 thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, 2 coarsely chopped, 1 finely chopped

80 gm ghee

2 long green chillies, thinly sliced, or to taste

2 tsp black mustard seeds, plus 1 tsp extra

2 tsp each coriander seeds and cumin seeds, coarsely crushed

2 tsp each ground turmeric and garam masala

1 tomato, coarsely chopped

1 sprig fresh curry leaves

250 gm yellow split peas

800 ml canned coconut milk

500 ml (2 cups) chicken stock

Juice of 2 limes, or to taste, plus extra wedges to serve

3 carrots, cut into julienne

To serve: thick natural yoghurt and coriander

Tadka

60 gm ghee

2 golden shallots, thinly sliced

2 long green chillies, thinly sliced

2 sprigs fresh curry leaves

Method

Main

1.Process chopped ginger, chopped shallot and coarsely chopped garlic in a food processor to a paste. Heat half the ghee in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add shallot mixture and chilli and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender (4-5 minutes). Add seeds and spices and fry until fragrant and mustard seeds start to pop (1-2 minutes), then add tomato and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato breaks down (2-3 minutes). Stir in curry leaves, then add split peas, coconut milk and stock, bring to the simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until split peas break down (35-40 minutes). Stir in half the lime juice and season to taste.

2.When the split peas are almost cooked, heat the remaining ghee in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add sliced shallot and finely chopped garlic and sauté until tender and slightly caramelised (5-6 minutes). Add carrot and toss occasionally until just tender (2-3 minutes). Stir in the remaining lime juice, season to taste and keep warm.

3.For tadka, heat ghee in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add shallot and sauté until light golden (6-7 minutes). Add chilli and stir occasionally until crisp (1-2 minutes). Remove from heat and add curry leaves (be careful, hot oil will spit).

4.To serve, divide curry and carrot mixture among bowls, spoon tadka over and serve hot with yoghurt, coriander and lime wedges.