Moong dal soup for dinner

Some nights you do not want a full thali, you want something warm, soft and easy. This moong dal soup is exactly that. Yellow moong dal simmered with gentle vegetables and finished with a jeera tadka, it is the kind of bowl Indian homes have always turned to after illness, during recovery, and in the early weeks after a baby. It is light on the stomach but still gives your body real nourishment.

Why it helps

Moong dal is the gentlest of all dals, easy to digest even when your appetite or energy is low, which is why it appears in every traditional postpartum kitchen. It still carries protein and fibre, so this soup feeds you properly instead of just filling space. The vegetables melt in and add goodness without any chewing effort. New mothers can see how bowls like this fit into a full Indian postpartum diet. If you notice fever, heavy bleeding or feel very low in the weeks after delivery, please see your doctor promptly.

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 1/2 cup yellow moong dal, rinsed well
• 1 small carrot, finely chopped
• 1 small lauki piece or 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• A small piece of ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon jeera
• A pinch of hing
• Salt to taste
• 1 to 2 teaspoons ghee
• Fresh coriander and a squeeze of lemon

Method

1. Add the rinsed moong dal, carrot, lauki or tomato, turmeric, ginger and 2.5 cups of water to a pressure cooker.
2. Pressure cook for 3 whistles until everything is completely soft. Let the pressure release on its own.
3. Whisk the dal lightly with the back of a ladle so it turns smooth and soupy. Add hot water if you want it thinner.
4. Add salt and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
5. In a small tadka pan, heat the ghee, add jeera and hing, and let the jeera crackle.
6. Pour the tadka over the soup, then finish with coriander and a squeeze of lemon.
7. Serve warm in a bowl, on its own or with a soft phulka if you are hungrier.

Make it your own

• Add a handful of spinach in the last few minutes for extra greens.
• Stir in a spoon of soft-cooked rice to make it more of a light khichdi bowl.
• If you are breastfeeding and hungrier at night, have a katori of curd or a boiled egg alongside for extra protein.

Enjoy it as part of the CurviCare Plate, and if you are in the postpartum months, read our gentle guide to postpartum weight loss.