Orange Dhal
From: J. - Toronto, Canada

This is a variation on a recipe that I found in a collection of clipped recipes from 'Femina' backissues that my mom had compiled for me.What made me scrounge through old feminas you say? well this: the sight of the two oranges langusihing on my table for about a week that I knew I would never eat.
Its perfect for cold winter evenings when you want a fun way to get your vit c quota particularly if you're a spoiled brat of an east indian kid used to mom or grandmom's homecooked meals with the freshest of ingredients.

• Lentils-1 cup
  
• fresh ginger root (slivered)- one inch
  
• Green chillies- 4 recommended but can be varied depending on your preference
  
• Oranges- 2
  
• Lime/lemon- 1 half
  
• Mustard seeds- 1tsp
  
• Cumin seeds- 1tsp
  
• Asafoetida- a pinch (optional)
  
• Turmeric powder- a pinch
  
• Salt to taste
  
• sugar- a pinch
  
• Veg Oil/butter- 1 tsp

In a saucepan, heat the oil/ butter.
Throw in the mustard and cumin seeds.
When they start to splutter throw in the ginger root and the green chilies.
Once they're sautéed, (probably takes less than a minute), throw in the lentils and the turmeric powder along with sufficient amount of water let it cook well.
While the lentils are boiling, juice 1 and half oranges keeping the segments of the "unjuiced" portion to use as garnish.
If you don't care for having orange segments as garnish, juice all of it.
Once the lentils are cooked to a mash consistency, the O.J, squeeze half of the lemon; add salt and a dash of sugar.
Garnish with Coriander leaves and the orange segments.
Serve hot either by itself or with freshly cooked basmati Rice

Lentils-I used masoor because I was ravenous and they cook super fast but Toor or split moong should work equally well. Quantities of just about everything from the chillies to the ginger to the salt and sugar can be varied to suit individual palates. Add more dhal and less water if you like it thick. Less dhal and more water if you like it watery. for an interesting and exotic variation, some Coconut milk can be added at the end along with the OJ and the lime juice.
That's the great thing about cooking. You can be as creative as you wish.