Buta Dali Alu Tarkari(Chana Dal & Potato Curry)

A very popular dal dish from Orissa. It goes very well with rice,roti,paratha or puri.
This dal is a combination of Channa dal (protein) and potato ( starch) and tempered with Panch Phoron and garnished with finely chopped coriander leaves.
I prepare it very often as i love the taste.Recently i cooked it with Palakh paratha..the combination goes very well.

Ingredients

1cup Buta daal (channa daal/Bengal gram)
1 Potato(Washed,Peeled and cut in to cubes )                     
1 Onion(Finely chopped)
1 tsp Panch Phoron

1 tsp Cumin Powder                                                                        
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
Salt to Taste
Oil/Ghee
Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves

For Masala Paste

1 Tomato
1" ginger
4 flakes of garlic
1tsp Melon seeds

Prepare a smooth paste of the above ingredients.

Method

Soak dal for 10 mins. Pressure cook the soaked dal with potatoes and salt.
Heat ghee in a pan. Add panch phoron.
When they start to crackle add chopped onions with red chilli powder.
Fry the onions till they are translucent.
Now add the masala paste,cumin powder & coriander powder with salt.
Cook it till oil evaporates.Add water in between if needed.
Now add the boiled dal with garam masala powder and cook for couple of minutes.
Garnish it wih chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot.