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Kancha aamer tok dal
কাঁচা আমের টক ডাল (kancha aamer tok dal): Rajshahi's thin red-lentil dal soured with green mango
When the first hard, green mangoes fall from the trees around Rajshahi in April and May, cooks slice them into the dal pot, and the result is the most refreshing bowl of the hot season. Tok dal is deliberately thin, almost like a soup, with soft red lentils and slices of green mango that turn tender and tangy, finished with mustard seed and dried chilli crackling in mustard oil. It is eaten poured over plain rice, often as the last thing before a light fish or vegetable curry, because the sourness is meant to cool the body in the heat. Adding the mango at the start leaves it mushy and the dal overly sour, so it goes in once the lentils are soft. Chef's tip: taste the mango first; very sour fruit may need a pinch more sugar to balance it.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz red lentils (masoor dal)rinsed
- 3 ¾ cups water
- 1 /2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 green (unripe) mangoabout 200 g, peeled and cut into thin slices
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 green chilliesslit
For the tarka
- 1 ½ tbsp mustard oil
- 1 /2 tsp black mustard seeds
- 1 bay leaf
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 5 ½ oz red lentils (masoor dal), 3 ¾ cups water and 1 /2 tsp ground turmeric in a pan, bring to the boil, skim the foam and simmer over a medium heat for 15 minutes until the lentils have dissolved.
15 minStep 2: Whisk well so the dal is smooth, then add 1 tsp salt.
Step 3: Add 1 green (unripe) mango, 1 tsp sugar and 2 green chillies and simmer for 5–6 minutes until the mango is tender but holds its shape.
6 minStep 4: In a small pan, heat 1 ½ tbsp mustard oil over a medium-high heat until it shimmers, then add 1 /2 tsp black mustard seeds, 2 dried red chillies and 1 bay leaf.
2 minStep 5: When the seeds pop and the chillies darken, after about 30 seconds, pour the tarka into the dal, cover for a minute, then serve hot with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 27 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kancha aamer tok dal take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of red lentils (masoor dal)?
- Yellow split peas (soak 2 hours and cook longer).
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
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