Spicy Lentils

 A friend of mine made a very special request to post this recipe. She tried this at my place few months back and totally loved it. Even my dad loves this and thought it was a good idea to put this up today. Hope you guys like it? :)                                               

                                                             

Stuff you need:

1.  Red lentils 1 cup
2. Water 5 cups
3. Salt (according to your taste)
4. 1 whole green chilli (slit from the center)
5. 3 cloves of garlic
6. 1 finely chopped ginger ( 1 inch cube)
7. 2 medium tomatoes, diced
8. Chopped Coriander leaves
9. 1 tsp coriander powder
10. 1 tsp turmeric powder
11. 1/2 tsp chilli powder ( or more if you are in a daring mood)
12. 1/4 tsp garam masala powder
13. 1 tsp Asafoetida (hing) powder [ This is optional, but adding this does add flavor. If you don't have this spice, you may use an onion instead, since this spice smells a lot like fried onions]
14. 2 tsp cumin seeds
15. Oil 4-5 tbs
16. 1 bay leaf

Okay here we go...

1. Wash the lentils till the water runs clear and keep them soaked in water for 15-20 mins and then drain the water. 
2. In a  pot, boil 5 cups of water and then add the lentils. Close the lid and let it sit there for 10 to 15 mins. (During this time, a froth starts forming on the surface. Take a spoon and throw out the froth coz  leaving it there just makes it nastyyyy!)
3. Add some salt to the lentils and let the lentils cook for another 10- 15 minutes and let some of the water evaporate.(You will know it's cooked, when the seeds swell up and get smushed easily between ur fingers or on the spoon. I like my lentils smooth so I use a whisk to get an even and silky texture. By doing this the lentils blend in with the water.) 
4. Take it off the stove and leave it aside once the whole thing is smooth and a little thick.
5. Now take medium sized frying pan and heat the oil.
6. Add bay leaf, garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, asafoetida and green chilli and fry for a minute. 

7. Now add the garam masala powder, turmeric powder, chilli powder & coriander powder and fry for a few seconds (on medium flame) and then add the tomatoes and fry for 4-5 minutes or till the tomatoes become soft. ( At this point add a tablespoon or two of some more oil just to prevent it from sticking to the pan.)

8. Add this to the lentils and then add in some of the coriander leaves and let it simmer for a few minutes. 

9 Garnish with the rest of the coriander and serve with rice.

Tip: Sometimes we all make blunders. I always mess up the salt. So while cooking if I feel I added too much salt to the lentils, I add some diced potatoes to it and after a while, I take them out. Potatoes absorb the excess salt in the dish. Another alternative to this is making a dough out of flour and water. Splitting the dough into a few balls and adding them to the lentils.

Try it out and let me know... :)

Dark Chocolate Cake

  

Goodies you need

For the cake batter:

• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup Cocoa Powder
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup hot coffee ( 2 tsp of coffee powder mixed in 1 cup hot water)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbs Vanilla essence

Chocolate Frosting

• 6 tbs cocoa powder
• 4-5 tbs sugar
• milk (about 15 to 20 tbs)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5 tbs water
• 1 tsp corn flour
• 1 to 2 tbs butter

Lets get crackin!!! ;)

Making the batter: Keep two mixing bowls handy

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
• Whisk in the eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla essence, oil and salt in bowl 1, till the mixture is smooth and the sugar has blended in.
• In bowl 2, mix in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder & baking soda (preferably using a sieve to avoid lumps)
• Now pour in the wet ingredients of bowl 1 into bowl 2 and gently fold it in.
• Pour in the hot cup of coffee and mix. (Note: Do not add the hot coffee to the eggs or else you will end up with coffee flavored scrambled eggs)
• Pour the batter in your greased baking tin.I used a 9 inch tin that was 3 inch deep.It is better to use a deep tin or else it spills out later.
• Put it in the oven and PATIENTLY wait for 50 minutes. (If you use a bigger tin, the cake will cook faster so check on it after 40 minutes.)
• To check if the cake has set, stick in a tooth pick or a small knife right in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, you know your baby is done. So take it out and leave it aside to cool.

Making the frosting:  

• Mix the cocoa powder, sugar, milk and salt till the batter is smooth and runny.
• dissolve the corn flour in the 5 tbs water and keep it aside.
• On medium flame melt the butter. 

• Pour in your cocoa mixture into the saucepan and stir if.
• Add the cornflour mixture into the saucepan and stir it.
• Once the mixture starts bubbling and becomes thick turn off the heat and let it cool a little.( To check if it is of the right consistency, dip a spoon into it and then run your finger on the back of the spoon. If the sauce stays separated, then it is perfect.) this frosting becomes more thick after it cools down.
• Spread this frosting over your cake and decorate it with some chocolate shavings or toasted ground almonds.

Aand enjoy!!!