How to Make: Kwati Sprouted Lentil Soup

The Kwati dal is a famous Nepalese dish made from nine kinds of lentils. This lentil soup is made by sprouting mixed beans for a few days. This dish is consumed during the monsoons on the day of Janai Purnima; considered very healthy, it is eaten with rice. Vegetarians can omit the mutton bones.

This special recipe is excerpted from The Rana Cookbook: Recipes from the Palaces of Nepal by Rohini Rana.

Preparation time: 45 minutes

Serves: 10

Ingredients

3 cups sprouted mixed beans and lentils

1.5 cups sliced onions

250 g mutton bones with meat (optional)

1 tbsp ginger paste

1 1/2 tbsp garlic paste

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup mustard oil

2 bay leaves

2 big cardamoms

5 small cardamoms

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp carom seeds

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 1/2 tbsp coriander powder

1 1/2 tbsp cumin powder

1 tbsp chilli powder

Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing 6 slices of lemon

Salt to taste

Preparation:

Heat oil till it smokes, add the whole spices and carom seeds, add the onions and fry to a golden-brown. Add the meat and kwati with the onions and stir for 2 minutes. Add the garlic-ginger paste and the dry masalas and stir for five minutes. Once well integrated put in the chopped tomatoes and stir again till the oil separates. Add three cups of water and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Check to see if the beans and meat are cooked and fix the consistency of the soup, add water if necessary. Add a dash of lime juice before serving.