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Masoor Dal kofta Gravy (Red Lentil Fritter Curry)

Servings: 4
Soaking time: 2 hours.
Preparation time: 10 minutes.
Frying kofta time: 10 minutes.
Frying curry masala time: 11 minutes
Cooking time: 8 minutes.
Total time: 39 minutes.

Masoor Dal (red lentil) fritters is one of the traditional dish from north India and Indian continents it is often served in winter or rainy season followed by masala tea. But in this post I prepare fritters (kofta) in gravy, which is also very popular all over Indian continent.

The origin of gravy can be traced back to the late 16^th century from ‘Tamil Kari’; a curry based dish made with vegetables or meat and spices.

Daily consumption of protein are fulfilled by lentil; eating dal for protein is part of eating habit in Indian continent.

“Masoor Dal kofta Gravy (Red Lentil Fritter Curry)” which I would like to upload today is very delicious; twined with Chapatti makes it complete meal, although it can be served with Rice too.

Ingredients for Kofta:

Masoor Dal (Red Lentil): 100 gm
Salt: ½ teaspoon (as per your taste)
Turmeric powder: ¼ teaspoon
Ajwain (caraway): ¼ teaspoon
Kuti Mirch( chili flacks): ½ teaspoon
Onion: 1 no. (Small)
Garlic: 3-4 cloves
Green chilli: 1 no.
Mustard oil: for frying

For curry:

Onion: 1 no. (Small)
Tomato: 1 no. (Medium size)
Garlic: 3-4 cloves
Green chilli: 1 no.
Ginger: 1“piece
Salt: ½ teaspoon (as per your taste)
Turmeric powder: ¼ teaspoon
Chilli powder: ½ teaspoon
Coriander powder: 1 teaspoon
Garam masala powder: ½ teaspoon

Preparation:

Soak dal for 1 -2 hours, grind them roughly, if required, add with small quantity of water.
Chop green chilli, garlic and onion, keep aside, to be used for Kofta.
Chop onion ginger, garlic and tomato; grind till fine paste, keep aside to be used for curry as wet masala.

Method:

Take a mixing bowl, put dal paste chopped green chilli, garlic, onion, turmeric powder and salt, mix properly. Now batter is ready.
Take heavy bottom wok/fry pan, put oil and heat till it smokes; drop small size batter (either directly using your fingers or spoon), If batter comes up, it means right temperature of oil otherwise wait for a while and test again.
After getting right temperature of oil; deep fry all kofta (size of your choice), till golden brown. Remove from oil, repeat this till all batter is finished. Masoor Dal Kofta (Red Lentil Fritters) is ready, keep aside.

For curry:

Take a wok/ fry pan, Put 3 spoon of oil; add cumin, sputter for few seconds, add wet masala, stir fry on medium low flame until gets golden brown in colour (~ 6-7 minutes), add salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder, and coriander powder, continue to fry for a minute.
Add the 300 ml water (as per your require consistency of curry) boil the gravy. Lower the flame and further boil it about 2-3 minutes; add fried kofta and continue to cook for couple of minutes with lid on. Put off the flame, add Garam masala powder.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.