Mango Dal with Fenugreek - 1

Few days back my friend Mahi had invited us for dinner and she made a delicious mango dal. It reminded me of the big batch of frozen mangoes I had bought from Costco. It was another purchase on the whim. I never made anything with them. I usually make mango dal using this recipe . This time I wanted to try something different.

When I started making it, I remembered a big batch of roasted fenugreek(methi) seeds powder that aayi made for me when she was here last year. I was supposed to consume that batch after Ayaan’s birth. I religiously did for a while, but there was only so much time left for myself after taking care of a 4 year old and an infant. Most of the days I was happy to put a decent meal on the table and find enough time to sit and eat. So the fenugreek powder stayed there. I used it in this dal and it elevated the taste of this simple dal. I have made this once every week since then. Even the boys enjoys it very much.

mango dal with fenugreek1 - 2 mango dal with fenugreek1 - 3 mango dal with fenugreek2 - 4 mango dal with fenugreek2 - 5 mango dal with fenugreek3 - 6 mango dal with fenugreek3 - 7 mango dal with fenugreek4 - 8 mango dal with fenugreek4 - 9

Pictorial: Cook dal with mangoes. Add spices, salt. Put seasoning and serve.

Mango Dal (With Fenugreek/Methi)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup toor dal
  • 1 cup mangoes sweetish ones
  • 1 tea spn red chilli powder
  • 1 tea spn roasted fenugreek methi powder
  • 3-4 kokum pieces or 1/2 tea spn tamarind extract
  • A pinch turmeric
  • 1/2 tea spn mustard seeds
  • 4-5 curry leaves
  • Oil/ghee
  • Salt

Instructions

  • Roast fenugreek seeds (without oil) till a nice aroma comes out. Make a powder and keep aside (this remains good for a long time when stored in airtight container).
  • Cook toor dal with mango pieces, turmeric in pressure cooker (about 3-4 whistles).
  • When pressure cooker is cooled down, mash dal with the back of the spoon.
  • Add enough water to bring to required consistency.
  • Add chilli powder, fenugreek powder, salt, kokum(or tamarind), boil it for few minutes. Take off the heat.
  • Heat a little oil and add mustard seeds.
  • When they start popping, add curry leaves.
  • Pour the seasoning over dal.
  • Serve hot with rice and ghee.

Notes

Mango Dal (With Fenugreek/Methi)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup toor dal
  • 1 cup mangoes sweetish ones
  • 1 tea spn red chilli powder
  • 1 tea spn roasted fenugreek methi powder
  • 3-4 kokum pieces or 1/2 tea spn tamarind extract
  • A pinch turmeric
  • 1/2 tea spn mustard seeds
  • 4-5 curry leaves
  • Oil/ghee
  • Salt

Instructions

  • Roast fenugreek seeds (without oil) till a nice aroma comes out. Make a powder and keep aside (this remains good for a long time when stored in airtight container).
  • Cook toor dal with mango pieces, turmeric in pressure cooker (about 3-4 whistles).
  • When pressure cooker is cooled down, mash dal with the back of the spoon.
  • Add enough water to bring to required consistency.
  • Add chilli powder, fenugreek powder, salt, kokum(or tamarind), boil it for few minutes. Take off the heat.
  • Heat a little oil and add mustard seeds.
  • When they start popping, add curry leaves.
  • Pour the seasoning over dal.
  • Serve hot with rice and ghee.

Notes

ninja turtles cake - 10 ninja turtles cake - 11

Ishaan is turning 5 soon. After the spiderman craze, he moved on to Ninja Turtles sometime last year. He heard about them from his friends at school. He would come home and ask more about them and I had no clue. Then I got him a book about these mutant turtles. No looking back ever since then. He wanted ninja turtle shoes, hat, cloths etc. He knew the names of all the ninja turtles and even made up stories about them. His play time with his friends involved him becoming Leo – the leader!.

When I asked him about the cake, he didn’t think much. He wanted a ninja turtle cake. He is moving on to a new school from August. So he wanted to invite his friends and teachers from the school for his birthday party. We decided to have a Gymnastics party for him – he loves jumping around the trampoline and running around the place. It was such a big hit. Both Ishaan and Ayaan had so much fun.

ninja turtles cake1 - 12 ninja turtles cake1 - 13 ninja turtles cake2 - 14 ninja turtles cake2 - 15 ninja turtles cake4 - 16 ninja turtles cake4 - 17 ninja turtles cake5 - 18 ninja turtles cake5 - 19

Here is the cake I baked and decorated for him. It was cookies and cream cake with fondant decorations. I usually stay away from fondant but I read this post from Veena – she has become my online guru. I have learned so much from her videos and posts. I tried the fondant and it was the best tasting fondant I have ever used. I am going to use fondant more frequently from now on. The cake was a huge hit – both lookwise and tastewise. I followed this tutorial to decorate the cake.