This Dal Gosht Is Pure Comfort In A Bowl

Everyday food becomes special when cooked with care, and today’s thali brings together two comforting dishes: a flavourful Mixed Vegetable Curry and a hearty Dal Gosht. These are simple home-style preparations that turn an ordinary meal into something satisfying and delicious.

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Mixed Vegetable Curry

A lightly spiced sabzi made by sautéing vegetables and cooking them in a yogurt-based gravy.

Ingredients
• Brinjal: 200 g
• Carrots: 200 g
• French beans: 200 g
• Potatoes: 200 g
• Cauliflower: 200 g
• Green peas: 200 g
• Oil: ½ cup (for sautéing vegetables) + 3 tbsp (for gravy)
• Whole spices: 1 inch cinnamon, 4 green cardamoms, 4 cloves, 1 tsp shah jeera, 2 bay leaves
• Onions: 3 medium, finely chopped
• Garlic paste: 1 tsp
• Ginger paste: 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder: ½ tsp
• Red chilli powder: 1 tbsp
• Coriander powder: 1 tbsp
• Yogurt: 1½ cups
• Homemade garam masala: 1 tsp
• Lime juice: 2 tbsp
• Fresh coriander: 2 tbsp, chopped
• Salt to taste

Method (Summary)
1. Sauté all the vegetables except peas in ½ cup oil until three-fourth cooked. Add peas and cook until done.
2. For the gravy, heat 3 tbsp oil, sauté the whole spices and onions until golden.
3. Add ginger, garlic, turmeric, red chilli powder and coriander powder. Cook briefly with a splash of water.
4. Add yogurt on low heat and cook until the oil separates.
5. Add the sautéed vegetables, mix gently, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Finish with garam masala, lime juice and fresh coriander.

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Dal Gosht

A rustic dal and mutton preparation cooked with whole spices, bottle gourd and a blend of two dals.

Ingredients
• Ghee: ¼ cup
• Whole spices: bay leaves, mace, cinnamon, star anise, shah jeera, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, peppercorns
• Onions: 3 medium, sliced
• Mutton with bone: 1 kg
• Ginger paste: 1 tbsp
• Garlic paste: 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder: ½ tsp
• Red chilli powder: 1 tbsp
• Tomatoes: 3 medium, finely chopped
• Water: ½ to ¾ litre
• Chana dal: ½ cup
• Toor dal: ½ cup
• Bottle gourd (doodhi): 500 g, peeled and cut into chunks
• Green chillies: 5–6 slit
• Garam masala: 1 tsp
• Lime juice: from 1 lime
• Salt to taste

Method (Summary)
1. Boil chana dal and toor dal with ginger, garlic, green chillies and turmeric.
2. Boil bottle gourd separately with ginger, garlic, green chillies and turmeric.
3. Heat ghee, sauté whole spices and onions until golden.
4. Add ginger-garlic paste and mutton; sauté on high for 3–4 minutes.
5. Add turmeric, red chilli powder and tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes soften.
6. Add water and salt; cook until the mutton turns tender.
7. Add the boiled dal and bottle gourd. Simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Finish with garam masala and lime juice.

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Serving Suggestion

Serve this thali with steamed rice, rotis, salad, pickle and papad for a complete, wholesome meal.

Try out these recipes at home and let me know how they turned out.
For more home-style cooking, keep watching Smita Deo.