My cinematographer friend, Yadubara Das, was part of a small traveling party that accompanied Srila Prabhupada to Rishikesh in May 1977. Though Srila Prabhupada’s health was not good on this trip, he took the time to show Yadubara how to make this urad dal ….

Although one type of dal can be successfully substituted for another in many recipes, the particular flavor and texture of the urad dal in this recipe, enhanced by the combination of selected seasonings and vegetables, cannot be obtained with any other. The…

Toovar dal is also known as arhar or tuar dal and pigeon peas. The mildly seasoned combination of moong and toovar dals in this recipe is popular in cool-weather months. Dal soaking time: 3 hours for toovar dal , 5 hours for yellow split peas Preparation time (after…

Dry-roasted split mung beans lend a distinctive flavor to this thick, textured dal . The recipe comes to me from Pishima. It is simple to make and perfect for persons new to cooking with eggplant. Be sure not to wash and drain the dal until after the dry-roasting, as…

Dals are perhaps the most popular and the most economical foods in Vedic cuisine. They are relished by everyone, rich and poor, and are part of almost every Vedic lunch. A bouquet of delicate flavors in this creamy dal soup comes from the spices, seasonings, tomatoes…

As the personal cook of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, who was himself a superb cook, I took every opportunity to learn from his expertise in both simple and complicated dishes. Often, especially when traveling, he would come into the kitchen to check on the…

If you live in a large city, you are likely to find the white cooking radishes called mooli in an Indian or Chinese grocery store. They may be a bit difficult to find in other areas, so for a similar but milder flavor, you may substitute the smaller red salad…

Moong , North India’s most popular dal , was a great favorite of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. It is easy to digest and has a good flavor and high vitamin content. The spinach, preferably fresh, enhances the texture and marbled color of this…

This smooth, liquid mung dal soup is seasoned with a simple chaunk . It is easy to prepare and easy to digest, and its light consistency makes it appealing in any season. Serve it accompanied by a wheat bread or rice and a vegetable. To complete the meal, serve yogurt…

You can, of course, use fresh ingredients in place of any of the dried or frozen ingredients listed here and you’ll get a bigger wallop of vitamins and nutrients in the process. Serves 10–12 Ingredients • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 medium onion, chopped • 2 ribs…

Slightly sweet, slightly sour, and absolutely satisfying, this dish pairs wonderfully with a cumin-heavy green lentil dish and warmed garlic naan. Serves 4 Ingredients • 2 cups mango cubes, preferably fresh • 11⁄2 cups mango nectar • 1 cup coconut milk • 1⁄2 cup sour…

If you can’t find baking pumpkins, you can use 2 cans of plain (unsweetened) pumpkin puree in this recipe, but you’ll end up with a soup with a thinner consistency. Serves 8–10 Ingredients • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1⁄2…