Description
Mattar Dal, also known as Split Yellow Pea Dal with Green Peas, is a popular Indian lentil dish. It is made using split yellow peas (also known as chana dal) and green peas, cooked together with various spices to create a flavorful and nutritious dish. To prepare Mattar Dal, the split yellow peas are first soaked and then cooked until tender. In a separate pan, a tempering or tadka is prepared by heating oil or ghee and adding spices such as cumin seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric, and red chili powder. Once the spices are fragrant and the mustard seeds start to crackle, the green peas are added along with the cooked split yellow peas. The mixture is then simmered together, allowing the flavors to meld. The resulting dish is a comforting, creamy dal with a rich yellow color from the combination of split yellow peas and turmeric. It has a balanced flavor, with the nuttiness of the split yellow peas complemented by the sweetness of the green peas. Mattar Dal is often garnished with fresh coriander leaves and served with steamed rice or Indian bread such as roti or naan.
