Dalca is a stewed vegetable curry with lentils (Dalca Sayur in Malay) which is famously served with Briyani Rice,Tomato Rice or Nasi Minyak; normaly cooked during special occasions and it is also a staple dish for a Malay wedding lunch menu. Dalca is cooked in curry lentils, tamarind (asam) fruit juice and mixed vegetables. Everyone has their own interpretation for Dalca. Mutton bones or beef is sometimes added to enhance the flavour for this dish.- 500grm yellow lentils, soaked with water and boiled till soft (do not overcooked)
- 5 sticks bigcarrot, cut into 3 cm strips
- 1kg long green beans, cut into 3 cm length
- 1kg Indian eggplant cut into chunks of 3-4
- 5 large tomatoes cut wadges
- 3 red chilli (cut diagonally )
- 3 green chilli (cut diagonally )
- 10 potatoes, cubed
- 10 big red onions, sliced thinly
- 10 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
- 10 cm ginger, sliced thinly
- 1kg meat curry powder (mixed with water to make a paste)
- 500grm coconut milk
- 2-3 litres water
- 8 tbsp tamarind juice
- 10 tbsp oil
- 2 medium cinammon stick
- 8 cardamom
- 8 cloves
- 4 star anise
- Salt to taste
- Curry leaves
Method:
- In a pot, heat the oil, throw in curry leaves and fry the onions, garlic and ginger with the spices until fragrant.
- When the onions turned brown, add in meat curry paste and stir until the oil is set to reddish brown. Reduce heat and continue to stir.
- Dissolve the tamarind in a little water and discard the pulp. Get ready for use.
- Add in 2-3 litres of water, tamarind juice and the soft lentils. Stir. Increase heat. Let boil.
- When the curry starts to boil, add in carrots and cubed potato and let it cooked till soft. Stir.
- Add in eggplants, longbeans and let it simmer for about 5-8 mins.
- Finally, add in tomato wedges and sliced red and green chillies.
- Add salt to taste and simmer for another 10 mins.
- Serve hot with Briyani rice or pratha bread. Happy trying!
