Best 4 Indian Yellow Split Pea Recipes

EASY CURRIED YELLOW DAL (YELLOW SPLIT PEAS)

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and salt. Saute until soft, about five minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add remaining spices and stir. Saute for about 1 minute, cooking spices. If spices start to stick to pan, add some water - 1/4 cup should do. Add peas and stir to coat with butter, onion, and spice mixture. Add broth, 1/2 cup water and bring to boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer.
• Simmer for 40-50 minutes or until peas are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. (Check peas periodically - you may need to add more water during cooking if peas are absorbing the liquid too quickly). Garnish with chopped cilantro/coriander leaves before serving.
• Options: Serve with hot basmati or brown rice for a filling one-dish meal. Or, double the broth/water to make a curried pea soup. To turn this into a spicy curry, add some finely chopped jalapeno, serrano, or chile pepper at the same time as the garlic.
• Update 1/6/2010: Some people have reported issues with the peas taking longer to soften. I have never had an issue but try cooking the onions without salt and waiting until the last 10 minutes or so of cooking time to add the salt. I have heard salt interfers with lentils softening perhaps it is the same for split peas. Curry powder - I usually use a mild Indian yellow variety, the all-purpose kind found in most US supermarkets. But I have also made this with a hot Madras and it was also delicious (but spicy!).

INDIAN YELLOW SPLIT PEA DAL

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large pot, combine the uncooked yellow split peas and the water or vegetable broth. Bring to a slow simmer.
• Add the turmeric , cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and cover.
• Cook for at least 20 minutes, covered, until the yellow split peas are fully cooked, stirring occasionally. If you prefer a smoother texture, continue to cook the dal for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to allow the yellow split peas to break up even more.
• Once the split peas are almost done, in a separate large skillet or frying pan, heat the onion, cumin, and clove in the margarine. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the onion is soft.
• Add the spiced onion mixture to the split peas, and allow to simmer for at least 5 more minutes.
• Add a dash of pepper and more salt, if desired, and serve hot with rice or alone in a soup bowl. Enjoy!

INDIAN-STYLE SPLIT PEA FRITTERS

Steps:

• For at least 3 hours, soak the split peas in water to cover. Drain but leave them wet. Place oil, to a depth of at least 3 inches, in a wok or large, deep saucepan. Turn heat to medium-high. Let it heat while you prepare fritters; it should reach a temperature of 365 to 375 degrees.
• Place the drained peas in the container of a food processor with chili, ginger, garlic, onion, cilantro, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, salt and pepper. Process until mixture is a coarse purée - not perfectly smooth, but with no whole peas remaining. Add a couple of tablespoons of water if necessary to help the machine with its work. The mixture should be fairly loose; add a little water if it is quite thick, or a tablespoon or two of flour if it is soupy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Drop the mixture by the heaping tablespoon into the oil; do not crowd. Cook until lightly browned and crisp, turning if necessary; total cooking time will be about 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot or at room temperature, with lime wedges.

EAST INDIAN SPLIT PEA PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine peas and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until tender. Drain and keep warm., In a large nonstick skillet, cook the bay leaf in oil until golden, about 3 minutes. Add onion; saute until tender. Stir in the seasonings; saute for 30 seconds. Add the rice; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in broth and remaining water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender. Add peas; heat through. Discard bay leaf.