Kairi dal Ambe dal Green mango recipe

Indian summer Recipes with green mango

Kairi dal Ambe dal Green mango recipe is a traditional Maharashtrian recipe.

You could call it a mango chana dal(bengal gram dal) salad.

Ambe dal is made during the start of summer, when raw green mangoes are available in plenty. It is a good accompaniment to any meal as well as a snack by itself.

Ready Kairi dal - Ambe dal

The start of the Hindu new year is celebrated as Gudhi padva (ugadi). It is the start of the month of Chaitra, the first month of the year.

Ambe dal is made on this day particularly. It is also made when womenfolk celebrate 'Chaitra haldikunku' by inviting their friends and relatives during the month.

Ambe dal and Kairi panha are served to all invitees. You will find Kairi panha recipe here.

Ready Kairi dal - Ambe dal

How to make Kairi dal - Ambe dal - Green mango chana dal salad recipe

Ingredients to serve 3-4

Split chana/harbhara dal - 1/2 cup
Amba / kairi / green mango - 1 or 2 tbsp grated or cut into pieces (see note below)
Salt - 1/4 tsp or according to taste
Chopped fresh coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1/4 tsp or according to taste.
Green or red chili - 2-3 or according to taste

Ingredients for tempering

Vegetable oil or ghee - 1 - 2 tbsp
Rai - Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Jeera - Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Hing / asafetida - 1/4 tsp
Haldi/turmeric powder
Curry leaves - 4-5

Optional ingredients

Fresh grated coconut - 2 or 3 tbsp
Fresh ginger - a small piece or 1/2 tsp grated or paste

Kairi dal - Ambe dal ingredients

Making ambe dal - Mango chana dal salad

1. Take chana dal in a bowl. Add some water and wash well.

washing chana dal

2. Add water to cover chana dal and keep aside to soak for 2-3 hours.

soaking chana dal

3. Most of the water is absorbed by dal and it becomes soft. After soaking, chana dal will look like in the image below.

soaked chana dal

3. After soaking, if any water remains, pour dal on a colander and drain water from the dal. Keep water aside, we do not need to use this water in this recipe.

draining chana dal

To make tempering

Heat oil in pan.
Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing (asafetida).
When the cumin and mustard seeds splutter add curry leaves.
Remove from fire and let cool to room temperature.

To make ambe dal

In a mixer jar, take green chilies, ginger (if using), mango pieces or grated mango, salt and sugar. Grind to rough consistency.
Add drained dal and grind to rough consistency. Do not add any water while grinding. You may need to stop, scrape sides and grind again. We do not want the dal ground into paste.
Take out the ground mixture into a bowl.
Add grated coconut(if adding), chopped coriander leaves, and mix well.
Add the ready cooled tempering and mix again.
Taste and see if it is to your liking. Add more sugar, salt, grated mango if you wish. Mix again and keep aside till serving time.

Ambe dal / kairi dal is ready.

Serve at room temperature or after cooling in the fridge.

Serve as a snack or part of traditional main meal. Makes a good colorful party salad too.

Tips :

The quantity of mango will depend on the sourness of the mango you are using. The sourness differs according to the variety of the mango.
The quantity of sugar will also depend on the sourness of the mango.
Balance the sourness(mango) and sweetness(sugar) according to your taste.
Do not add any water while grinding the dal. Stop, stir the mix and grind again.
If you add water, dal may get ground fine like chutney. We do not want that.
A little bit of extra hing tastes good in this ambe dal.
This Ambe dal / kairi dal may be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
If you add fresh coconut, it will stay good in the fridge for 2 days.
Do not add other ingredients such as salt or sugar while dal is soaking.
Add tempering after it has cooled a little.
If any ambe dal is leftover, you may make ambode - chana dal vada with it.