I have a recipe for a rice dish which includes a 1  ts of the above.

However it does not say how to prepare them before adding to the rice 
Just says to add them with mustard seeds and fry.

Do I fry them raw ? or grind them down to a powder or there again cook
them before hand.

Any ideas please

Thanks Dave.

"Dave Truelove"  wrote in message 
news:hpl6q3p8j01kt8mvqb425nh76grflhnrl1@4ax.com...
>
> I have a recipe for a rice dish which includes a 1  ts of the above.
>
> However it does not say how to prepare them before adding to the rice
> Just says to add them with mustard seeds and fry.
>
> Do I fry them raw ? or grind them down to a powder or there again cook
> them before hand.
>
> Any ideas please
>
> Thanks Dave.

Hi Dave,

You are to fry them gently for a bit - they are acting as a seasoning in 
this case.  I sometimes soak them briefly for a bit because if I don't 
remember to take my time frying them, they will be too hard (crunchy in an 
unpleasant way) when I serve the dish.

I have made quite a few rice dishes (and veggie dishes) with dal used as the 
seasoning, and it adds such a great flavor!

Good luck!

Judy - Rochester, NY, USA

Judy  wrote  on Fri, 1 Feb 2008 13:22:03 -0500:


 JB> "Dave Truelove"  wrote in message
 JB> news:hpl6q3p8j01kt8mvqb425nh76grflhnrl1@4ax.com...
 ??>>
 ??>> I have a recipe for a rice dish which includes a 1  ts of
 ??>> the above.
 ??>>
 ??>> However it does not say how to prepare them before adding
 ??>> to the rice Just says to add them with mustard seeds and
 ??>> fry.
 ??>>
 ??>> Do I fry them raw ? or grind them down to a powder or
 ??>> there again cook them before hand.
 ??>>
 ??>> Any ideas please
 ??>>
 ??>> Thanks Dave.

 JB> Hi Dave,

 JB> You are to fry them gently for a bit - they are acting as a
 JB> seasoning in this case.  I sometimes soak them briefly for
 JB> a bit because if I don't remember to take my time frying
 JB> them, they will be too hard (crunchy in an unpleasant way)
 JB> when I serve the dish.

 JB> I have made quite a few rice dishes (and veggie dishes)
 JB> with dal used as the seasoning, and it adds such a great
 JB> flavor!

 As you say, the dal is being used as a flavoring and can be 
browned in a dry pan, rather like fenugreek seeds. I first came 
across the use in a Chettiar (Southern Indian) recipe for 
chicken breasts.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations: 
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not