What is more comforting than a bowl of Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves for a weeknight dinner. This is a better option than doing a take-out and healthier as well.
I love summer months as we grow our own vegetables and the flavor from the home grown vegetables is just way better than anything store bought. Now as we step into fall, our garden is slowly dying. I am back to buying vegetables from the stores and one such vegetable that I buy regularly from the Indian stores is Fresh methi / fenugreek leaves. This Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves, is one of the simplest recipe to make with the fresh methi leaves.
This recipe for the Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves, fits perfectly for my this week’s BM theme of ‘Prep to Table in 30 minutes’. Anytime, I am rushed for time, the different dals comes to my rescue. After I started cooking using the Instant Pot, it has become even more easier, as I can place the dal / lentils to cook in the evening before I go out for my kid’s activities and all I have to do is temper it after I come back.
Which lentil / dal to use –
This time, I used Toor dal / pigeon peas and Masoor dal / orange lentils to make my dal. Depending on how I feel that day, I use any dal. I also choose to use onions or not. This time, I used onions in my dal. My boys loved the fresh methi flavor with the sweet dal so much that they came around for a second round of dal chawal / Rice and lentils.
The most time consuming part of this whole recipe would be to clean the fenugreek leaves. Since I made it on a weekend, I had my little (not so little anymore) helper to pick the leaves from the stem. make sure to wash the leaves very well to get rid of the dirt as the leaves grow very close to the ground and they can be quite muddy.
Fresh Methi leaves also has many health benefits. They are very easy to grow at home and there are several different recipes that we can make with them. I have 3 sets of pots in summer that I rotate and grow Fenugreek leaves. This way, I have a constant supply of fresh methi leaves whenever I need them.
Check out my other Methi recipes to for more ideas –
Methi Malai Mutter – Green Peas and fresh fenugreek leaves in cream based gravy
Gajar Methi Subzi – Carrot and fresh fenugreek leaves stir fry
Menthiya Keerai Sambhar/ Methi Sambhar /Fenugreek leaves Lentil stew
Aloo Methi Paratha / Parathas stuffed with Potatoes and fresh Fenugreek leaves
Preparation time – 10 minutes
Cooking time – 20 minutes
Difficulty level – Easy
Ingredients to make Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves – Serves 4
- Toor Dal / Pigeon Peas – 1/2cup
- Masoor dal / Orange lentils – 1/2 cup
- Fresh fenugreek leaves / Methi – 1 large bunch (about 1 1/2 cups chopped)
- Onion – 1 medium (finely chopped)
- Tomatoes – 2 large (finely chopped)
- Green chilies – 3 (chopped)
- Ginger – 1 inch piece (finely grated)
- Oil + Ghee – 1 TBSP + 1 TBSP
- Cumin seeds – 2 tsp
- Dried red chilies – 2
- Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
- Red chili powder – 1/2 tsp
- Salt – to taste
Procedure to make Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves –
- Measure both the lentils in a bowl and wash them well. Add about 4 cups of water along with the turmeric powder and pressure cook them until soft. It took me about 8 minutes in my instant pot.
- Separate the leaves of the fenugreek and wash it well to remove all the dirt. I usually do it the night before or get my children to help me do this. Make sure you wash the methi leaves in plenty of water to remove all the dirt.
- Chop the methi leaves coarsely and keep it aside.
- Meanwhile, in a pan, heat the oil. Once the oil is hot, add 1 tsp of cumin seeds and red chilies and let it fry. Add the chopped onions and saute in until translucent.
- Add the green chilies and grated ginger and cook for 30 seconds. Now Add the methi leaves and the tomatoes along with salt and let it cook until the tomatoes are mushy and the methi is soft.
- Once the lentils are cooked, mash it lightly. Pour the cooked dal into the methi mixture and mix well.
- Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- In another small pan, heat the ghee. You could use oil if making it vegan. Add the remaining 1 tsp of cumin seeds along with the red chili powder. Pour this mixture into the simmering dal.
- Mix well and serve hot with rice!
Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves
What is more comforting than a bowl of Methi Dal | Lentils with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves for a weeknight dinner. This is a better option than doing a take-out and healthier as well.
Ingredients
- Toor Dal / Pigeon Peas - 1/2cup
- Masoor dal / Orange lentils - 1/2 cup
- Fresh fenugreek leaves / Methi - 1 large bunch about 1 1/2 cups chopped
- Onion - 1 medium finely chopped
- Tomatoes - 2 large finely chopped
- Green chilies - 3 chopped
- Ginger - 1 inch piece finely grated
- Oil + Ghee - 1 TBSP + 1 TBSP
- Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
- Dried red chilies - 2
- Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
- Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
- Salt - to taste
Instructions
- Measure both the lentils in a bowl and wash them well. Add about 4 cups of water along with the turmeric powder and pressure cook them until soft. It took me about 8 minutes in my instant pot.
- Separate the leaves of the fenugreek and wash it well to remove all the dirt. I usually do it the night before or get my children to help me do this. Make sure you wash the methi leaves in plenty of water to remove all the dirt.
- Chop the methi leaves coarsely and keep it aside.
- Meanwhile, in a pan, heat the oil. Once the oil is hot, add 1 tsp of cumin seeds and red chilies and let it fry. Add the chopped onions and saute in until translucent.
- Add the green chilies and grated ginger and cook for 30 seconds. Now Add the methi leaves and the tomatoes along with salt and let it cook until the tomatoes are mushy and the methi is soft.
- Once the lentils are cooked, mash it lightly. Pour the cooked dal into the methi mixture and mix well.
- Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- In another small pan, heat the ghee. You could use oil if making it vegan. Add the remaining 1 tsp of cumin seeds along with the red chili powder. Pour this mixture into the simmering dal.
- Mix well and serve hot with rice!
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#94
Such a flavourful dal, and those methi leaves looks fabulous Sandhya.. Just love these sort of dal, need some rite and papads to enjoy without any fuss.
One of my favorite dals. But I don’t add onion in dals. Comfort food at its best.
During methi season I add these leaves in every dish I make. Adding it in dal makes it so yum and also colourful.
This is such a comforting weekday meal. Love the flavor of fresh methi. Yummm
dal tastes great when mixed with greens. In winters such combinations are so heavenly. fenugreek dal looks absolutely comforting and inviting with those chapatis. Loved the step by step clicks.
Such a comforting dal to have it on any time of the day. I too prepare the same way and love to have it with rotis.
I like the use of more than one kind of lentil and with methi must have a nice earthy taste not to mention the great health benefits of methi