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This is a very popular food throughout India but since lentil soups, or soups with lentils are well known in the Middle East, the recipe will be included here. Pick over and wash thoroughly 1 cup of red lentils. Cover this with 1 cup of boiling water and keep on the boil. Slice a small onion and add this to the lentils. Simmer until the lentils have broken down, which should take about a quarter of an hour. Stir hard or whisk so that the lentils and water become thoroughly integrated. Then add 2 tea cups of cold water which will give the liquid a smooth consistency. Continue to simmer.
Meanwhile heat 2 teaspoons of cumin powder, 2 grated cloves of garlic and 1 teaspoon of salt in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over a moderately high flame. When the oil begins to smoke and the aroma of the garlic and cumin rises, add this very gradually and carefully to the lentils. Care must be taken because the oil bubbles when poured into the lentils. Stir vigorously or whisk and then add salt. Serve very hot with boiled rice. This is the traditional way to eat dal. However, it is to be used as a starter, one way to serve it is without rice but with diced raw vegetables such as peppers, celery and carrot. Although untraditional, it is delicious and nutritious eaten this way
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