Ingredients

Paneer made of 1 litre milk.

250 grams channa dal.

2 large onions, finely sliced.

2 large tomatoes, diced.

1 inch piece ginger.

4 flakes garlic.

½ tsp. Cardamom seeds.

1 bay leaf. Crulmpled.

2 cloves.

½ inch piece cinnamon stick, broken into bits.

1 tblsp. Mango powder.

1 tsp ground cumin seeds.

½ tsp turmeric powder.

2 green chillies, minced.

Handful of coriander leaves.

Salt and chilli powder to taste.

Method

Fry the paneer to a pale gold colour. Grind garlic and ginger to a paste. Wash and soak dal in water for a couple of hours. Heat 2 tblsps. Ghee and fry onion and ginger and garlic paste to a golden colour. Add all the whole spices and fry briefly. Put in tomatoes and cook till the ghee oozes out. Drain out the water from dal and set aside. Put in the dal and fry continuously till the mixture turns dry. Put in soda and drained out water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook till the dal is almost done. Stir in turmeric and salt and paneer and continue cooking till the dal is done. Put dal in a serving dish. Mix together mango powder powdered cumin seeds and chilli powder and sprinkle over the dal. Decorate with coriander leaves and chillies before serving.