fragrant rice and some moong dal. Lets spice things up a bit

The other day my son and I watched a show about the Taj Mahal.  Of Course we decided that we had  to go there. My husband rolled his eyes and said he would put it on the list.  I have grand life travel plans you see, my very patient husband has to hear all the time about how I want to go here or there.  Looks like we better start saving more, my son has now go the travel bug too.
  So, since we probably won't be going to India anytime soon I decided to jump into the world of Indian food.  I have always enjoyed eating it, but was intimidated to cook anything not basic an easy.  Well I've been reading recipe after recipe, and even ordered myself a new cookbook, that should arrive tomorrow.  I'm excited to start trying some new things in the kitchen.
  I have known for years what my Dosha is, I am a Vata, I try my best to eat Vata friendly foods whenever I can, have for years.  How do I know that?  In my 30's I started doing yoga in a Hindu facility in the Los Angeles area, I learned so much about this beautiful religion, and also an appreciation for Indian food.  I've held on to some of that knowledge, and I still practice Yoga some 15years later. Anyway, I digress.
My Husband is a Kapha and my son a nice mix of Vata-Pitta.  Makes cooking for my Dosha mixed family nice and easy, lol.  I think after some time though I can make all our Doshas happy.   Oh, go google it, I'm not explaining the whole thing now. 
   My oven has been broken for a week, the igniter or something, It won't be fixed for another week, so I had to do stove top cooking, I don't like being limited. I needed some new culinary fun anyway!
  I think my Indian dinner was super yummy.  My son and husband both agreed and finished up everything.  I truly thought I made enough for the next day lunch.  Nope, the Wilson family is feeling spicy!

So, here's what I did
but first here is a photo of my well used bag of dal, just incase somebody does not know what it is.  Just split yellow lentils.

The moong dal was a very basic recipe that I know by heart, I have it for lunch a lot. I don't even remember how I got it.  It's mild in spice, but very flavorful. I didn't last night, but I will often add basmati rice to the mix.  1/2 and 1/2 split with the dal.

1 cup Moong Dal
1/4 cup Ghee
2t cumin seeds
1t turmeric
1 medium onion sliced thin
3ish cups water
salt and pepper to taste
cilantro garnish if you want.

heat ghee over medium heat, add cumin and turmeric, saute until you hear popping.
about 30 seconds to a minute.
add onion, saute until wilted and browning.
add dal and H20, simmer 35-45 minutes, add more water as needed to keep dal just covered. 
when water is all but soaked in and the dal is tender, taste, salt and pepper to your liking and simmer another 10 min or so. 
stir in cilantro if using, or you can just garnish your serving.

Now the best part, the rice!

This was a mix of some of the recipes I had read online all day, I put together bits and pieces of what appealed to me.  My son said it tasted like a gingerbread cookie.

2 cups basmati rice
a big drizzle of olive oil
1t mustard seed
1 big carrot, diced
1/2 a large onion, diced
1T fresh ginger, minced
3 med sized cloves garlic, minced
2 smallish bay leaves
1/2 t turmeric
1t garam masala
big dash of salt
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup rounded of cashews
3 cups veggie broth ( I but a veg bullion cube in boiling water and added that.)

It would probably have been good to add a handful of cilantro too, but my son does not like it so I didn't, but I can't see how it would hurt, if you like cilantro.

heat olive oil and mustard seed in a medium to large pot, when you hear popping add onions and carrots.  Cook for a few minutes, or until the onions start to get soft.
Stir in ginger, garlic,bay leaves, turmeric, garam masala and salt.  stir until combined.

add rice, raisins and nuts and water or broth.  bring to boil then cover and simmer 20 minutes.  after 20 minutes remove from heat and leave covered for 10 more minutes. 

As you can see, I served the dal and rice with basic buttered and steamed green beans.  I didn't want to scare everybody with a crazy vegetable too. ;-)

I am looking forward to trying and sharing many new Indian dishes in the future.  Hopefully inspiring some of you to try it.  Heck if I can do it, you can too!

Namaste.