TOK DAAL/MANGO LENTIL SOUP

This is a very common traditional Bengali - Indian recipe. It is made of green mangoes which are pretty sour. It is a very good food for respite against the hot Indian summer. It helps to keep the body temperature down.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Masoor Dal/Red Lentils
3 cups Water
1 Green Raw Mango
2 tsp Mustard Seeds
2 Dry Red Chillies
2 Green Chillies, sliced
2/3 tsp Turmeric Powder
2 1/2 tbsp Mustard Oil
1 tbsp Sugar
Salt to Taste

Preparation:

• Wash the lentils till they run clear.
• Boil the lentils in water in a sauce pan. Boil the lentils till they are 'almost' done. Adjust water so that it doesn't become dry.
• Add turmeric and salt to taste.
• Meanwhile peel the mangoes and cut then into 1 inch cubes.
• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and add 1 tsp of mustard seed.
• When the mustard seeds splutter, add the mangoes and the green chillies. 
• Cook till the mangoes become soft. 
• Now add the boiled lentils to it. Add sugar.
• Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes. 
• Add water to make it soupy and taste for salt and sugar. It should be sour-sweet.
• Remove the lentils in a serving bowl.
• In a small tempering pan, heat the remaining mustard oil. Add mustard seeds to it.
• When it sputters, add the dry red chillies. Fry them for a few seconds.
• Pour this directly on the lentils in the serving bowl.
• Serve hot with rice or as soup.