Tooriche Varan / Plain Toovar Dal

'Varan' is the basic recipe for making 'amti'. When the dals are pressure cooked, in marathi we call this 'varan'. After tempering, 'varan' becomes Amti or Dal. This is also a traditional maharashtrian recipe, eaten everyday in most homes even today . This dal is served piping hot over plain rice with a spoonful of ghee and a wedge of lemon. Jaggery can also be added to this plain dal if a sweet taste is prefered or omit it alltogether.

Ingredients:
Toor / Toovar Dal - 1 cup
Hing/Asafoetida - a pinch
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp.
Jaggery (optional )- 1/2 inch cube
Lemon - cut into wedges, 1 wedge per serving
Salt to taste

Before you start:
1) Wash the dal by lightly rubbing between the fingers. Change the water. Put in a steel utensil. Add the turmeric powder and a pinch of hing. Pressure cook the dal. Allow to cool.
2) Once the dal cools a little, remove from pressure cooker and mash with spoon.

How to proceed:
1) Bring the pressure cooked dal to a boil after adding 1 cup of water.
2) Add salt, jaggery (optional). Stir.
3) Serve hot with rice.

How to serve:
1) Serve plain rice.
2) Pour hot toor varan on it.
3) Add 1 spoonful of pure ghee.
4) Squeeze a lemon wedge on the rice for a sour taste (optional). Its worth a try as it tastes yummy!!