Odia dalma recipe/ lentils cooked with vegetables:

DALMA OR ODIA STYLE DALMA, made from dal and vegetables is a traditional recipe of Odisha.It is generally made from toor dal and chopped vegetables like green papaya, raw banana, eggplants, pumpkin, drumstick and gourd etc and tempered with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves and dry red chili.

DALMA is the most widely and frequently prepared recipe in every odia household. This recipe has combination of lentils and vegetables, which makes the recipe tasty and healthy.

Dal is a great source of protein and vegetables are packed with minerals, and vitamins. Combination of these two makes the dalma healthy and nutritious.

Traditionally, dalma is made in earthen pots, which enhance the flavor of the dish. In odisha, dalma is prepared in temples as prasada. Dalma is also a part of maha prasada in jagannath temple. In temple, dalma is prepared without onion and garlic.

DALMA is a very easy and quick dish to make and it needs very less masalas and oil. So it is a must try recipe.

Ingredients for dalma:

· Arhar dal or tur dal – ½ cup

· Brinjal- 1 small

· Pumpkin – ½ cup (cut into cubes)

· Carrot- 1 ( cut into cubes)

· French beans- 4 to 5

· Colocasia – 2 to 3(peeled and cut into pieces)

· Yum – ½ cup( peeled and cut into cubes)

· Raw banana – 1(peeled and cut into big pieces)

· Potato – 1(cut into cubes)

· Raw papaya- ½ cup ( cut into big pieces)

· Tomato-1(chopped)

· Turmeric powder-1 tsp

· Salt

· Grated coconut – 3tbsp

(You can add more vegetables of your choice)

FOR TEMPERING:

· Onion-1(chopped)

· Ginger-garlic – 2 tbsp(crushed)

· Dry red chili - 2

· Green chili – 2 to 3(slit)

· Curry leaves- 2 strings

· Cumin seeds- ½ tsp

· Mustard seeds- ½ tsp

· oil

INGREDIENTS FOR MASALA:

· Cumin seeds- 2 tsp

· Pepper – ½ tsp

· Dry red chilies- 4 to 5

· Cinnamon-2

Preparations for making dalma:

· Wash and soak dal for 30 minutes.

· Wash all vegetables and chops into cubes or big pieces. Chop french beans into 2 inch pieces. chop tomatoes.

· Chop onion finely. Crush ginger and garlic.

· Dry roast cumin seeds, peppercorns, dry red chilies and cinnamon in a pan. When aroma comes from fried masalas, remove from flame and keep it for cooling.