Mulo Diye Motor Dal (Bengali Yellow Split Pea with Radish)

The best thing about winter to me are the winter delicacies. I already have started cooking those at home and in fact, started baking as well. I mostly cook on the weekend as only manages to get time on these two days only after office. Last to last week I cooked Mulo Diye Motor Dal after a long time. This flavorful Dal cooked with radish is for sure a winter delicacy and worth recording the recipe here.

My parents were with us last to last week and hence I had no option but to stick to typical Bengali food all through the week. In fact, I cooked an all-veg meal on Saturday. Not that I am complaining; after all the meal was quite comforting with Shukto, Mulo Diye Motor Dal, Alu Potoler Dalna, Borir Jhal, and Tomato Chutney as well. The Dal was something I cooked and had after a long time.  Dida used to cook amazing Matar Daal with a punch of Ghee. The addition of Mulo aka Radish, however, in the winter, used to make it way better.

“Momma Pasta will not eat radish Momma! Pasta hates radish!” Pasta said when I served her the Mulo Diye Motor Dal aka Yellow Split Pea cooked with Radish a few days back.

I was quite surprised when she told me that she hates radish. I then asked her how does she know that she hates Radish. Her reply though was hilarious. “Momma; Papa hates radish and that is why Pasta hates Radish!”

I served her the dal asked to eat. Pasta is a non-fussy child when it comes to food. She knows how to manage Mehebub however, she does not dare to do that with her mother! Needless to say, my little one ate it without further question and told me afterward that she liked the dal! Then the father then also had the dal and liked it too!

In Bengali households, Dal is cooked almost every day and especially in the Ghoti homes, we prefer the Dal a bit sweet with a punch of Ghee except Biulir Dal. Motor Dal if not the boiled and massed, known as Motor Dal bhate, is cooked with Ghee. Seasonal veggies are added to it and radish for sure and the end result is a bowl full of happiness.

I would not call the recipe of Mulo Diye Motor Daal a family heirloom recipe. It cannot be. After all this variety is In fact, it is quite common amongst the Bangali families, especially during the winter. We cook it just the way they cook it at my neighbors. However, then there is something called the magic touch. When I was cooking the Mulo diye Motor Dal, I was remembering Dida and her amazing cooking. The little lady was a brilliant cook and with her, she took away the best bowl of Dal from my life. Maa though at times claims I almost cook like Dida. Then Baba also says that I inherited the love for cooking from Thakuma! Both of them, the respective mothers of my parents were known for their culinary skills. I never have seen Thakuma but grew up eating the food cooked by Dida.

The vegetarian meal was so good that I decided to write the recipe here on my blog. This simple Dal for sure needs the mention.