Dalma

Dalma is synonymous with Odiya Cooking and a comfort food of Odiyas. This is a highly nutritious dish which combines lentils (daal) and vegetables. There are many versions of Dalma but this one is the most common one. This traditional dish is prepared in earthen vessels in many temples across Odisha and offered as a Prasad.
Preparation Time - 45 minutes
Serves - 4
Ingredients
Toor Daal - 1 Cup
Pumpkin - 1 Cup cut into large pieces
Raw Banana - 1 Cup cut into large pieces
Bringjal - 1 Cup cut into large pieces
Drum Sticks - few pieces
Ginger - 1 inch
Dry Red Chilli - 5
Cumin Seeds - 3 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Ghee - 3 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Method of Preparation
1 Wash and cut all the vegetables into large pieces. Soak the Toor daal for 20 minutes.
2 Add a little salt and turmeric Powder to the daal and pressure cook so that the daal gets 3/4th cooked.
3 Once the daal is partially cooked, open the cooker and add coarsely grated ginger and all the vegetables.
4 Pressure cook again on medium heat (1 whistle) so that the daal gets completely cooked along with the vegetables.
5. In a separate pan heat the Ghee. Add 1tsp of Cumin Seeds, Mustard Seeds and 2 dry chillis to crackle. When the tempered Ghee is still hot add it to the cooked daal and vegetables. Add sugar now.
6. Simmer for a minute or two.
7 Dry Roast the remaining Cumin Seeds and Dry Red Chillis. Grind them to prepare a powder.
Season the Dalma with this powder. This brings out the real flavor of this dish.
Serving Tips
Serve hot with a extra ghee on top with Rice or Paratha
Notes
Make sure the daal is not watery and cooked to a thicker consistency.The vegetables should be cut in large cubes,else they may get mashed while cooking.
Variation
You can add your choice of vegetables. Freshly grated coconut gives this dish extra flavor. In case you don't like ghee,use refine oil instead. You may also avoid sugar in this dish.
Other Names
Toor Daal - Arhar Daal, Raw Banana - Green Plantain, Bringjal - Egg Plant, Ghee - Clarified Butter