Wash 1 cup of Dal and soak it for 10 minutes while you prep the veggies. Drain the water after 10 minutes.
Add the dal to pressure cooker. Add 1/4 Tsp Turmeric and 1/2 Tsp Salt. Add 2 Cups of Water and cook on high for 1 whistle. Then reduce the heat to medium flame, and cook it for 4 whistles or another 5 minutes. Let the pressure cooker cool down naturally.
After the pressure cooker cools down, carefully open the pressure cooker. With a whisk or hand blender, mash the dal.
In a heavy bottom Pot, Add oil/ butter / ghee, anything you prefer. Dal Fry tastes the best with ghee, but I use oil usually.
Once hot, add cumin seeds, red chilies, green chilies, asafetida, curry leaves, and bay leaves.
Add minced onions, ginger, and garlic with a pinch of salt. Cook the onions until they soften.
Next add in the chopped tomatoes, and ground spices along with salt. Cook the tomatoes until jammy.
Add cooked, mashed dal to the pot.
Add 1 Cup of water and crush the kasoori methi between your palms and add to the dal
Let the dal simmer on medium heat. Finish it off with cilantro.
Serve Hot with Rotis, Naan, Steamed Rice or Jeera Rice.