Lemon dal or Khatti Dal or Nimmakaya Pappu Recipe

Dal is such a must for in every part of my meal. Dal along with rice and veggies are always my first course. And since we have dal almost everyday , I always plan to make a variation in the recipe. Lemon dal is one such variation.
The lemon lends a tangy taste and the tomatoes and chillies with the spices give a nice aroma and enhances the floavour along with the taste





Preparation: 15-20 mts
Serves 4-5 persons
Cuisine: Andhra
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Ingredients:
1 cup yellow moong dal/pesara pappu
big pinch turmeric pwd
juice of a small lemon
salt to taste
3 cups water

For seasoning/popu/tadka:

1-2tsp of oil
1/2tsp of mustard seeds
2-3 green chillies, slit lengthwise
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 red chily
curry leaves

1.Wash the dal, with several changes of water. Drain.
2.In a pressure cooker, add the dal and 2 cups of water and the turmeric.
3.Close the lid and cook for rwo whistles of the pressure cooker
4.Then remove the pressure and cook on stove top by adding tomatoes , cook till the dal is semi soft., add a cup of water and salt. You can add more water if you want a watery consistency. Cook on slow to medium flame for 4-5 mts. Turn off heat. And allow it to cool
5.Add lemon juice and combine. Keep aside.
6.Heat oil in a pan, add mustards seeds and as they splutter, add cumin seeds, green chillis, red chillis and curry leaves and stir fry for a few seconds. Add asafoetida and turn off heat.
7. Add this to the dal and combine. Serve with white rice or rotis.
Note: Always lemon juice should be added once the mixture is little cold. If the lemon juice is added when it is too hot, dal can become bitter.