Parippu - Indian Recipe

Parripu is a lentil based dish that is essential to the Indian meal. The following recipe is from the south and is flavored with coconut, onion, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and curry leaves.

Ingredients:
1 cup masoor dal (red lentils)
1 onion, chopped
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1/4 cup creamed coconut, mixed with 1 cup coconut milk (water may be used)
2 green chiles, diced
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 table spoons oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
1 onion, diced
9 curry leaves

Place the lentils in a saucepan with two cups of water. Add chopped onions, tomatoes, coconut milk, green chiles, turmeric, ground cumin, and coriander, and bring to a boil. Simmer and cook, stirring occasionally until the lentils are cooked down to a mash. This should take about one half an hour.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over a low flame. Add cumin and mustard seeds and heat until popped. Then add diced onion and curry leaves; cook until browned. Pour seasoned onions and curry into lentils. Salt to taste.