Dalma ( An Odia Dish - Split Pigeon Pea Cooked With Specific Vegetables Only)

Today I decided to write about "Dalma" a very popular dish from Odisha. This is mostly cooked on Mondays and Thursdays- strictly vegetarian days:-) ; It's a very nutritious dish loaded with vegetables.

The vegetables are cut into medium size pieces; as demonstrated below:

We can use a variety of vegetables here like potatoes, raw papaya, eggplant, raw plantain, carrots, pointed gourd (Parval), pumpkin, eddoe (Arbi), drumsticks. I have used whatever was available here at my local store however you may be use all the above vegetables if the same is available at your local store. Now lets get started with the ingredients:

Ingredients	Quantity
Split Pigeon Peas/ Toor Dal	¾ Cup
Brinjal/Eggplant	4- 5 pieces
Pointed Gourd (Parval)	5- 6 pieces
Raw Plantain	1 whole, cubed
Raw Papaya	4-5 pieces
Potato	1 medium, cubed
Carrots	7-8 pieces*
Turmeric Powder	½ tsp
Ghee	1 tbsp
Bay Leaf	1
Dry roast Cumin and red Chilli powder	½ tbsp
Salt	To taste
Panch Phoron	1 tsp

* I have used baby carrots here however regular is a better option. The same can be cubed or diced and used.

Method of Preparation:

• In a pressure cooker first add split pigeon peas and 2 cups of water. Allow one whistle.
• Now add all the vegetables and let it cook. One more whistle will let the vegetables cook and it intact too. Make sure the vegetables are not over cooked as it will spoil the taste completely. The above picture should give you a brief idea as to how it looks once its boiled
• Now take a wok, once it is warm enough add 1 tbsp ghee, bay leaf, Panch Phoron and turmeric to it.
• When the panch phoron starts spurting add the lentil and vegetables which are already boiled. Add salt to taste
• Let it boil for 2-3 minutes and then garnish it with dry roast cumin and red chilli powder
• To make it more rich you may add about 1/2 tsp of ghee on the top
• "Dalma" is now ready to be served with white rice

Enjoy cooking!!!!!