Ambat Varan- Ambat God Varan
Author: 
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 3-4
 
Ingredients
  • ½ Cup=125 gms Tur Dal (Split Pigeon Pea),
  • Soaked in water for 1 hour
  • 1 tbsp=12 gms Jaggery
  • 5-6 Kokum rinds
  • or 2 tbsp Tamarind Pulp
  • ¼th Cup Fresh Coriander Leaves (chopped)
  • Salt
  • Cooking Oil
  • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
  • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • ½ tsp Asafoetida Powder
  • 7-8 Curry Leaves
  • 1-inch Ginger root (chopped)
  • 5-6 Cloves of Garlic (chopped)
  • 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • ½ tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 2 Green Chilies (sliced into lengths)
Instructions
  1. We will Pressure Cook Tur Dal. We have soaked Dal for an hour. Drain water and transfer Dal to a Pressure Cooker. Now add Turmeric Powder, Asafoetida Powder, Red Chili Powder and Salt to taste. We will add water. Add enough water to rise above the level of Dal. We have used 1½ Cups of water. Pressure cook on low-medium heat until 3 whistles
  2. Transfer cooked Dal to a bowl and whisk cooked Dal
  3. Let's prepare for Tadka
  4. Heat 2 tbsp Cooking Oil in a Pan. Add Mustard Seeds to Oil. Add Cumin Seeds, Asafoetida Powder, chopped Ginger-Garlic, Curry Leaves, Sliced Chilies and chopped Coriander Leaves and fry until Garlic becomes light brown in color.
  5. Add whisked Dal and mix well. Adjust water as per desired consistency. We have added 1 and ¾th Cups of Water and let it simmer.
  6. As it begins to simmer on high heat, add Jaggery and Kokum rinds. Add Salt to taste and some more Coriander Leaves. Mix well. There are some possible variations in Ambat Varan recipe. We have used Kokum and Jaggery. Kokum can be replaced with Tamarind and Jaggery with Sugar
  7. Cover and Cook Dal
  8. We have cooked Dal for about 6 mins on low heat
  9. Ambat Varan is ready to be served. Keep covered until serving
  10. We have served it with Jeera Rice. Ambat Varan is my favorite comfort food since childhood. My Mom would serve it with Steamed Rice and Fish Fry. Love to try this combination of comfort meal?
  11. Two points worth remembering while making Dal
  12. a) Soak Dal for atleast an hour. This reduces the cooking time, thereby saving fuel.
  13. b) Whisk the cooked Dal. This helps in achieving smooth and silky texture
Recipe by Kali Mirch - by Smita at https://kalimirchbysmita.com/ambat-varan-ambat-god-varan/