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English Chronicles 2025 26printed 02 · PDF 11
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printed 02 · PDF 11
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Masoor Daal on a Heavy Afternoon
I took out a cup of masoor daal and washed it slowly, letting the grains slip
through my fingers as the cloudy water cleared. The rhythm of it was almost
meditative, as if my hands were doing the thinking for me. I set aside an onion, a
few cloves of garlic, turmeric, salt, and cumin, ingredients so ordinary they felt
dependable. On days like this, I didn’t want excitement; I wanted certainty.
As the oil heated and the onions softened, their smell wrapped around the
kitchen, bringing with it a sense of familiarity I hadn’t realized I was craving. I
added the garlic and listened to it sizzle gently, then poured in the daal and water.
The pot began its slow simmer, and I stayed nearby, stirring occasionally,
watching the lentils soften and lose their sharp edges. In that quiet moment, I felt
myself doing the same.
When the daal thickened, I prepared a simple tarka, pouring the sizzling cumin
over the surface. I served it with plain rice and sat alone at the table. The first bite
was warm and grounding, reminding me of days when my mother would make
daal without asking if anyone wanted it, because she already knew they needed it.
As I finished the meal, I felt lighter, as though the daal had absorbed some of the
weight I had been carrying. It wasn’t just food, it was a small act of care, given
and received.
Sultan Chatha
C2-H
AC Chronicles
02
Masoor Daal (Red Lentils)
Ingredients
1 cup masoor daal
1 small onion, finely chopped
2–3 cloves garlic, chopped
½ tsp turmeric
Salt to taste
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp cooking oil or ghee
Water as needed
Method
Wash the masoor daal until the water runs clear.
In a pot, add daal, turmeric, salt, and water
(enough to cover by about 2 inches).
Cook on medium heat until the daal softens and
thickens, stirring occasionally.
In a small pan, heat oil or ghee and add cumin
seeds. Let them crackle.
Add chopped onion and cook until translucent,
then add garlic.
Pour this tarka over the cooked daal and mix
gently.
Recipe