Recipe: Scrumptious Spiced Lentils in a Mug with Mighty Mint Yogurt

Scrumptious Spiced Lentils in a Mug with Mighty Mint Yogurt

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• dollop :

  to add an unspecified blob of food to the top of another food, like dolloping whipped cream on top of a piece of pie.

• microwave :

  to heat or cook food or liquid quickly in a microwave oven, which uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to generate heat in the food's water molecules.

• tear :

  to pull or rip apart a food, like basil leaves, into pieces instead of cutting with a knife; cutting breaks cell walls more, so herbs can discolor faster.

• whisk :

  to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

History of "Dal" in Indian Cooking!

• In India, "Dal" are split pulses, like lentils, beans, and peas. "Dal" is also a soup or stew made with lentils. 
• Lentils have been used in Indian cooking for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence exists for their use in the Indus Valley Civilization during the Bronze Age, around 2500 BCE. 
• Dal dishes can include vegetables and meat. They range from the basic, simple vegan "dal tarka" found on many restaurant menus to the more modern and richer "dal makhani," made with butter and cream. Dal is often served with rice or flatbread, like chapati or naan.

Let's Learn About India!

• India is a country in South Asia and is officially called the Republic of India. It is the second-most populous country in the world and has the largest population of any democratic nation. 
• Hindi and English are official languages, and there are 447 native languages spoken in India.
• India's government includes a president, prime minister, and parliament. Twenty-eight states and eight union territories make up India's federal union. 
• India's currency is the Indian "rupee." It is illegal for foreigners to take rupees out of India.
• Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal's construction in 1632 for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
• The anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is celebrated on October 2. He is considered India's "Father of the Nation" and led the Indian people to independence from 89 years of British rule in 1947. Gandhi's peaceful protest movement inspired many people in other countries.
• India's national symbols are the lotus flower, the Bengal tiger, and the peacock.
• Some of the world's highest mountains are in India, including Kanchenjunga, the third tallest at 28,169 feet. 
• The Bay of Bengal is a huge bay bordering the southeastern part of India and is home to the world's largest mangrove forest. Here, tigers swim in the same waters as dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and saltwater crocodiles. 
• The snow leopard, the Indian rhinoceros, the Bengal tiger, and the Asian elephant are all animals of India. Globally, it is the only country that has both lions and tigers.
• The most popular sport in India is cricket!
• It is hot in India, so people there often wear loose clothes. Traditional clothing differs by area in India. Women may wear saris, long pieces of colorful cotton or silk draped over and around the body like a dress. Men may wear a dhoti, made of material wrapped around the hips and pulled through the legs, somewhat resembling loose pants, although they aren't seen in cities much anymore. Photos of Gandhi show him wearing dhotis.
• Seventy percent of the world's spices come from India.
• Staple foods in India include lentils, rice, bread, and spices. People living on the coast eat more fish and seafood. In other regions, they eat chicken, beef, and game meats. Many people throughout India are vegetarians. Common fruits and vegetables are mangoes, apples, oranges, pineapples, bananas, onions, okra, potatoes, spinach, and carrots.  
• Curries are popular dishes in India and are made with a variety of vegetables, fish, meat, and fruits, and spices. 
• When people greet each other in India, as a sign of respect, they bow, placing their hands together before their chest or face, and say "Namaste," which translates to "I bow to the divine in you."

What's It Like to Be a Kid in India?

• Indian parents are encouraged to start their kids in preschool at 2½ to 3 years old. School is usually taught in a particular state's language, which could be Hindi, English, or another language. 
• Kids often have their grandparents living with them in the family household.
• Along with cricket, tennis, badminton, and chess, kids may play traditional Indian games like kabaddi or kho-kho, both played by teams, or kancha, a marble game played individually or with others.
• Kids enjoy the Holi festival, which is a religious celebration that also heralds the arrival of spring. Celebrated in various ways throughout the country, most versions include the joyous spraying and throwing of colorful powders by festival participants at one another.