Green Split Peas & Whole Masoor Dal Curry with kalonji tadka

Pressure cooker is one of my best gadget in the kitchen. I cook lentil/bean dals, soups, sambar, non-veg curries, rice, pulav, biryani, Kheer in pressure cooker. Today I cooked delicious Dal with Whole masoor and green split peas. This combination was easy and quick One-Pot-Recipe. I made slight variation to this Dal by giving kalonji tadka (nigella seeds), it infused curry with nice aroma. I avoided using any masala powder but spiced it with ginger and green chilies. Green split peas bring mushed up texture and brown lentils stay intact yet soft and tender.

Ingredients :-

• 1 Cup Whole Masoor Dal (brown lentils) - picked and rinsed.
• 1/2 Cup Green split peas - picked and rinsed.
• 1 medium size onion - finely chopped. ( 1 cup yield)
• 1 inch piece of ginger - finely crushed
• 6-7 Garlic cloves - finely crushed
• 5-6 green chilies - finely crushed
• 1 large size tomato - diced
• 1 Tb.spoon oil
• 1 Cup fresh cilantro - finely chopped
• 1 T.spoon - turmeric powder
• 6-7 Cups water

Whole Spices for Tadka /Tempering :-

• 1 Bay leaf - 2 inch long
• 1 T.spoon - Kalonji
  
• 5 cloves

Method of Cooking :-

1. Thoroughly rinse masoor dal and green split peas - Soak them in 5 cups water. Keep it aside.
2. Finely crush ginger,garlic and green chilies - Keep it aside.
3. Heat 1 Tb.spoon oil in pressure cooker or pressure pan (4 liter size). Add Kalonji - let it sizzle for 20 seconds. Add bay leaf and cloves - Saute for 15-20 seconds.
4. Add chopped onions - saute for 3-4 minutes on medium high heat.
5. Add finely crushed ginger, garlic, green chilies - Mix with onions and stir fry for one minute.
6. Pour in rinsed brown lentils and green split peas with total 5 cups water. Add 1 tspoon turmeric powder and salt. Leave it to simmer on high heat for 10 minutes.
7. Once it reaches boiling point - close pressure cooker lid with whistle on top. Maintain medium high heat, after it blows two whistles and as pressure starts building for third whistle - shut off the gas. It is o.k if third whistle blows. Transfer pressure cooker on heat proof surface.
8. Once it cools down transfer it back on stove. Add diced tomatoes, little chopped cilantro. Adjust salt level and add 1-2 cups water. Let it simmer on medium heat for 10-12 minutes without lid. Keep stirring at regular interval.
   
9. Add remaining cilantro and shut off the heat. Enjoy with rice, roti or as delicious soup.