Recipe- Enjoy The Early Rains And Cold WIth Misal

One of the best-ever favourite recipes served by Mumbai’s roadside eateries, Misal can even be considered a trademark dish of the city’s food scene.

Ingredients

2 cups soaked safed vatana (dried white peas)
a pinch baking soda
salt to taste
3 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson)
1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
10 curry leaves (kadi patta)
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1 tsp ginger (adrak) paste
1 tsp garlic (lehsun) paste
3/4 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tsp coriander (dhania) powder
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) powder
1 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tbsp kashmiri red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp goda masala
1/4 cup finely chopped coriander (dhania)
salt to taste

For The Topping

8 tbsp mixed farsan
8 tbsp finely chopped onions
4 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)

For Serving

8 laddi pavs
4 lemon wedges

Method

* Combine the safed vatana, soda, salt and 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker, mix well and pressure cook for 4 whistles.

* Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep the safed vatana and the water aside. Do not drain.

* Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan, add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds.

* Add the onions, ginger paste and garlic paste and sauté on a medium flame for 3 minutes.

* Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin seeds powder, chilli powder, kashmiri red chilli powder, garam masala, goda masala and 1 tbsp of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

* Add the cooked safed vatana with its water, salt, and 1 more cup of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

* Just before serving pour ¼ of the misal in a serving bowl, sprinkle 2 tbsp of mixed farsan, 2 tbsp of onions and 1 tbsp of coriander evenly over it.

* Repeat step 7 to make 3 more servings.

* Serve immediately with laddi pavs and lemon wedges.