GUJARATI SURATI DAL Sweet & Spicy Dal with Chillies & Peanut

Cooked with jaggery, chilli, turmeric and peanuts, this dal is soupy, tangy and a must on every thali. Adjust the jaggery based on the grade and quality, as some varieties can be sweeter than others.

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Step 1

Put the peanuts in a bowl, cover with hot water and leave to soak while you cook the dal.

Step 2

Put the dal, water, tomatoes and turmeric in a large saucepan, over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1¼ hours until the dal is thick and soft, stirring a few times as it cooks to make sure it is not sticking to the pan. Turn off the heat and mash with a potato masher, or use a stick blender to coarsely crush the dal and thicken it slightly. Set aside.

Step 3

Heat the ghee in a frying pan (skillet) over a medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and asafoetida and fry for a few seconds until they sputter, then add the dried chillies and stir well. Turn off the heat and quickly stir in the curry leaves and chilli powder. Pour this mixture over the warm dal and stir well, then drain the peanuts.

Step 4

Put the dal back over a low heat, then add the peanuts and jaggery and season to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes until the jaggery has dissolved, stirring to make sure the dal doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat, add the lemon juice and garnish with fresh coriander. Serve in your Gujarati thali with roti or rice.