before u laugh at me 
the thing is that whenever I make daal, it comes out really thick and the water is on top…so it has to be stirred a bit before getting the right consistency. no matter how much water I add, it separates..is that how its supposed to be? 
Re: daal chawal
Water on the top of daal...no it shouldn't be...or may be you put a litte too much water in your daal...for most kind of daals...I think your water level should be one inch above the surface of the daal in your pan when you start cooking... :)
Re: daal chawal
It is normal for daals Sara. daal is not soluble in water that is why.
Re: daal chawal
Usually for 1 cup daal, I do 3 cups water.
Then I start on high, lid partially covered so it doesn't boil over, and once it starts boiling, lower the heat and let it cook until tender. Then pour the tarka. Cover and let it absord the flavors before serving. Water over the daal is fine.
Re: daal chawal
watery daal...hehehe...i like sookhi safed wali maash kii daal with desi ghee meN bhuni hui cripsy pyaaz :) love it. eat with Khushka chaawal :) yummy...lakhnauwa andaaz kii bibi kii daal :)
Re: daal chawal
KKF, talking of Lucknow, have you ever been to Liberty Cinema wala area?
Re: daal chawal
omgomgomgomg it came out perfecttttt 
added bonus I FINALLY figured out how to cook white rice perfectly!
Re: daal chawal
Did you use my recipe 
Re: daal chawal
Kind of...
I had 2 cups of masoor daal so i boiled it with 5 cups of water, added salt, lal mirch, haldi, a few bay leaves, shan masala for dal curry, boiled uncovered on high heat for a few minutes then left it on low heat covered for 35 minutes.
For rice, I boiled 4.5 cups of water with a lil bit of salt, added 2 cups of rice, let that boil for a minute then put it on the lowest heat possible, put a piece of bounty tissue paper and covered the pot...after 15 minutes, perfect rice.
Re: daal chawal
watery daal...hehehe...i like sookhi safed wali maash kii daal with desi ghee meN bhuni hui cripsy pyaaz :) love it. eat with Khushka chaawal :) yummy...lakhnauwa andaaz kii bibi kii daal :)
Exactly! My favourite.
Re: daal chawal
do you not "ghot" the daal after its cooked?
Re: daal chawal
what is "ghot"?
Re: daal chawal
just through the water away & enjoy the daal ;) ............
Re: daal chawal
KKF, talking of Lucknow, have you ever been to Liberty Cinema wala area?
**yes, i've been to that area :) are u from Lucknow too? and, have you been there as well?
**
Exactly! My favourite.
waah, ek na shud do shud :) [2 is better than 1]
what is "ghot"?
to finely grind [daal]
Re: daal chawal
No matter thick or patli dal a perfectly cooked dal will not have water seperated from it. when cooking, boil dal until the danay are mushy and mix with water that way you don't see a seperate layer of water on top and dal at bottom. After the dal is cooked and resting for a while a little bit water will seperate but when you heat it up again it should me mixed.
Re: daal chawal
:k: Exactly.
Re: daal chawal
Just use a pressure cooker... I can't be bothered with cooking daal in a normal pan, it takes ages coz i like the daal to be well cooked with no watery residue on the top....
Re: daal chawal
key is to cook daal on low heat for long time once bringing water to boil.