Moong Dal

Khichdi

Our Weekly Sale from January 12th – 18th celebrates the culinary traditions of Makar Sankranti, which is a Hindu observance and festival celebrated on January 15th this year. Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara). Since the Sun is regarded to have moved from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere on this day in the Hindu calendar, the festival is dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, and is observed to mark a new beginning. Makar Sankranti is observed across India with festivals, fairs, ceremonial swims in sacred waters, dances, kite flying, bonfires, and feasts of popular Indian foods such as this khichdi recipe, which pairs nicely with the raita recipe that you’ll also find on our blog and at the Weekly Sale display!

Moong Dal Tadka

Dal is a layered dish with thousands of variations determined by everything from the availability of certain ingredients to family traditions. But amongst them all, two components are essential to dal: tender lentils and tempered spices. Soft-cooked lentils stewed in an aromatic broth full of onions, garlic, and ginger become the base of most dals. Tomatoes, potatoes, or other vegetables can be added as well, but those elements depend on the cook, the region, and the traditions that influence what goes in the pot. Our Indian Cuisine-themed weekly sale from February 13th – 19th features moong dal (split mung beans), so it’s a great time to give this comforting dish a try!