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1
Put the drained green lentils alongwith 2 cups of water in a large pot and bring to a boil.
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2
Lower flame to medium, cover and allow the lentils to continue to cook until tender.
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3
This will take about 30 minutes.
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4
Do not throw out this water in which you have cooked the lentils.
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5
Now, with the back of a large mixing spoon, mash the lentils.
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6
Keep aside.
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7
Heat oil in a large pan on medium flame.
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8
Once it's hot, add mustard seeds and allow to splutter.
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9
Once they start spluttering, add cumin seeds and allow to crackle.
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10
Once they start crackling, add curry leaves and stir-fry for 2 minutes on medium flame.
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11
Then, toss in the chopped ginger,garlic,onions and green chilli.
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12
Mix well and continue to stir-fry until the masala becomes very dry.
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13
Add turmeric powder, corriander powder and red chilli powder.
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14
Mix well and continue to stir-fry for another 3 minutes.
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15
Fold in the chopped tomatoes alongwith 1/4 cup of water.
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16
This water is to be added to cook the tomatoes.
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17
Mix well and cook on medium flame until the tomatoes become really soft and mushy.
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18
Add salt and mix well.
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19
Add the lentil-water mixture to this pot containing the prepared masala mixture.
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20
Mix well.
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21
Stir in 1 1/4 cups of water (so that you obtain the correct consistency of this lentil curry).
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22
Remove from heat.
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23
Serve hot with rotis (Indian flatbreads) or bread or cooked long-grain Basmati white rice.