Moong dal with fresh green peas Or Koraishuti diye bhaja muger dal

 The morning started as usual, just as any other week day would.
Today was our 'stock up on green vegetables' day, just as every Tuesday is.
That means a hurried breakfast, a whole hour or more of shopping for vegetables, coming back, doing the dishes and then of course, think about lunch.
And wash, dry and store the vegetables in the fridge.
It was only after I had done the dishes and sat back to rest awhile that I opened facebook and was reminded that it is International Women's' day today.

Big deal.

Yes, that is what I thought.
It makes no difference to me. And I pray that it never does.
Why do we have to get a single day dedicated to us to remind us, or the men, or the world and its cousin and cat that we are special?
Do we need just one day to remind the world that we are beautiful, affectionate, loving, caring,respectable, capable, brave and proud?
Do we need just one day for people to notice our existence?
Do we need just this one day to get pampered and gloat how everyone made you feel like a queen or a princess?

Does celebrating Women's day guarantee that some lady some where does not have go to work and still not worry about what to feed her children for dinner?
Will it mean that some where a little girl will not have to cry of hunger? Or feel unsafe?
Will it mean some frail, old lady will get some love from her family members who usually ignore her presence?

No.
We don't need special days for special treatments.
We want everyone to think of us this way for the rest the days of the year.
We know what we are. And what we are capable of.
We just want the world to know. And accept.

A few flowers, chocolates, cakes, dinner,drinks. These are not celebrating womanhood.
Celebrating womanhood is keeping in mind what a woman wants. And fulfilling it.
A little respect. A little love. Lots of acknowledgement. Lots of trust.
A hug of security.
A smile of sincerity.
A warm heart. A dose of humour to make her smile.
Encouragement. Walking together.
Faith. Belief. Attendance.
Simplicity.

All these will celebrate a woman, a girl, an old lady.
Make them smile.
Make them happy.

It is the simplicity in your heart that will win her over.
And make her celebration of being herself even more beautiful.

Just like this simple dal that I made for lunch one day.
Keeping the saga of dal alive on my blog, I wanted to post this too as it turned out to be very flavourful.
I am not happy with the photos, but since fresh green peas have disappeared from the market already, there is no chance that I will be making this dal immediately in the near future.
So decided to make a post anyway.
After all, the recipe is more important.

You can, of course, make this with frozen peas too. Which I plan to, too.
Loved it that much.

Ingredients needed :

Yellow Moong dal - 1 cup
Green peas - ½ cup
Grated ginger - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp, or a little less
Jeera / Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Fresh green chillies - 2, broken
Bay leaves - 2
Cooking oil - 1 tbsp ( I use mustard oil )
Ghee - 1 tsp
Fresh coriander leaves - chopped
Water - to cook ( around 2 cups )

How to cook :

In a heavy bottomed kadahi or pan, pour in the dal and dry roast it on low heat. 
Keep stirring it constantly ... do not let it burn.
When you get that light brown colour and the nutty aroma of roasted dal, remove from flame and cool.

Wash the dal well.

Heat a pressure cooker.
Add oil + jeera + bay leaves + green chillies.
Add the grated ginger and stir a little.

Add the dal and the green peas and stir well.
Add the turmeric + salt.

Add water and ghee.
Close the lid and cook on low heat for 2 whistles.

Remove and sprinkle chopped coriander leaves.

I sprinkled some chilli powder + roasted jeera powder.
But would love to say I loved the plain one better.

Done!

The beautiful aroma of roasted moong dal along with the sweetness of fresh green peas complement each other perfectly.
Add a fresh dash of ghee and the flavour will be perfect.

You can also cook the dal separately and the temper it.
I cooked everything together to save time.

Try it with steaming hot rice or soft phulkas hot off the tawa.
I had it with rice.

Here is a look of our lunch plate today.

Simple, homemade, healthy food for the soul.

And here is to every woman in this world.
Go, live it girl!
You rock!