The most flavorful vegan Dill Daal Fry aka Sabsige Soppu Daal recipe! This Karnataka recipe is fresh, flavorful and loaded with fresh dill. Perfect with Jollada roti or chapathi.
Eat your Greens, they are good for you.
The cuisine of Karnataka is known to be one of the oldest in the country comprising of flavors, different ingredients & unique techniques.
The food varies from region to region. From coconut based meat dishes of Mangalore, tangy dishes of Uttara Canara . South Karnataka is popular for the variety of rice, known as bhaath. North Karnataka food is much spicier in comparison to the other parts of Karnataka. Udupi rasam is world famous, to Navyath cuisine. Grains such as ragi, rice, jower, urad dal, semolina are some staples. Palm jaggery is also an important ingredient in Karnataka’s cuisine.
I am a big fan of Dharwad food. There are some scrumptious yet nutritious food items that you may enjoy in Dharwad and Hubli. A majority of the people living there belong to the Savji community which is known for its love for spicy food. Hence, spicy food is popular in the city. The specialty food here includes the wholesome Jolada Rotti Oota, the delicious Girmit, Badanikao Palya and Dharwad Peda. They are known for their downright vegetarian hearty food.
Growing up, I ate this Sabsige Soppu Daal while visiting Dharwad with dad on his work trips. We were housed in home stays where someone cooked for us. Some of the best food I’ve had and some of the best moments too. Every meal came with dharwad peda, the best part. I’ve always loved and enjoyed food, savored it even as a young five year old. Vegetarian or chicken dishes both got same attention. Some of my early memories of jollada rotti was in Dharwad. As I write this, I doze into my dream where the floors were red, the kitchen was small yet efficient. The cooks are steaming, sautéing, grinding and giving me a taste of food as they cook and answering my questions very patiently. I would be half full just watching them cook and being in the kitchen. Farm to table definitely was a thing back then. I probably got obsessed with Sabsige or Dill from my visits there. Sabsige or Dill is very popular in Karnataka. I have not see many other places in India use dill as much as we do. It’s my favorite.
This Sabsige Soppu Daal is something I remember having there, and I also remember how the host would tell my dad that they are surprised a young kid loves greens this much. Nothing much has changed.
It’s traditionally made with black lentils. I like the Sabsige Soppu Daal with channa dal and also make with black lentils too.
It’s something I make often now and love it for it’s flavors and memories.
Dill Daal Fry/Sabsige Soppu Dal
Dill is the star ingredient in this recipe. There are few things to keep in mind while making this simple comforting dish.
- Don’t overcook the dill or the chard.
- Cook the daal just enough. You could use any dal which is heartier.
- Try not to salt too much, since greens don’t need much salt.
- Soak the dal for 1-3 hours, the dal is flavorful and cooks faster.
Enjoy!!
- ⅓ cup moong dal or yellow split
- ½ cup channa daal
- 2 cups chopped fresh dill
- ½ cup chopped amaranth or red chard (optional)
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 small red onion, sliced lengthwise
- 2 inch ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp red chili powder
- ⅓ tsp turmeric powder
- Salt
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup water
- Wash and soak both daals in water for an hour, this way it cooks fast and the channa dal cooks well without being mushy.
- Cook the daal until it is al dente or still holds it's shape, cooked but holds shape, Drain it and set aside.
- In a flat bottomed pan, add oil, cumin and onion. Saute for couple of minutes. Add the ginger, saute, toss in the chili powder, turmeric salt. Cook for a minute, add the tomatoes and water. Cook this for about 10 minutes on simmer until the tomatoes have disintegrated and the raw smell of chili powder is gone. Add more water if it's too dry.
- Add the greens an cook for 5 minutes, at this point there should be no liquid. Mix and add the cooked dal. Mix well and serve with chapathi.
If you make this Dill Daal Fry/Sabsige Soppu Dal, rate the recipe and comment if you liked it and tag me on Instagram using hashtag #foodfashionparty.
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