Aam Dal | Red Lentil & Raw Mango Soup
A news alert two days ago declared that the western part of India will experience monsoon “in 2-3 days”. This means me, along with scores of others, have joined a thousand others sending prayers to the rain gods! But until the rains arrive, I am busy enjoying the last of the mango rush.
Like almost every Gujarati household – we are part Gujarati by virtue of the years we’ve lived here – we love mangoes. Green raw and tangy or orange fleshy juicy… we like it all. Maa does her bit to keep up with the aam (mango) demand with aam ras (mango puree), aam papdi (mango leather), aam achaar (mango pickle), aam chutney (mango chutney), aam panna (mango concentrated juice). The favourite of them all is the aam dal (mango dal) or tok dal (sour dal).
A simple and delicious masoor dal cooked with raw mangoes, this is a Bengali staple. The masoor dal (red lentil) is light on the stomach – perfect for summer – while the raw mango adds freshness to the mundane. The two main ingredients make the aam dal a very healthy dish. While the benefits of red lentils are well known, raw mangoes help prevents dehydration, acts against tummy troubles and are good for the heart-liver-intestine.
I don’t remember the first time I had this dal – it’s been around forever. But I do remember hanging around with Raka and another cousin sister in the little garden behind my maternal grandparents’ home, attempting to clamber up trees to grab raw mangoes. I never did master the art of climbing trees. But I did master the art of eating mangoes and am I proud of it!
A perfect recipe for a kitchen fresher like me, this dal is super easy to make! No sweat recipe, thy name is aam dal. The method and seasonings differ in each household. The tanginess increased or decreased to suit the discerning Bengali palate. My way of making the aam dal is the way Maa makes it; it’s what I love and learn.
If dal is your soul food – among others – do check out the Coconut Prawn Dal, Spicy Toor Dal, Panch Ratni Dal. They’re simply delightful, the kind that warms your soul.
