I found an Indian food section at an area supermarket and they
had packaged ready-to-eat meal pouches. For $1.34 to $1.99 each
I got a variety of 300g pouches of Vimal brand meals and today
I made the Tadka Dal with lentils, onion, tomato, and various
spices like coriander, ginger, chile, turmeric, and comino.

Very good. Probably not authentic but I added ground pork, tofu,
and rice (with extra water to account for absorbtion) and it was
so incredibly delicious. I tried another mix a few months ago
and they are essentially Indian chili, and while they use the
same chile and comino as Tex-Mex chili, they add a variety of
exotic spices that make it completely unique. Very very spicy,
not unbearably hot but you don't want to add any hot sauce. It
still made me sweat, though. In the end I wish I had added more
tofu, it just adds so much more substance to any Asian dish.

I have to say this posting piqued my interest, and at our local Indian
grocery here in SF I found them (albeit for $2.49) and on a whim I got the
Benghan Bharta (sp?) to serve along some Bhindi Gosht (Lamb w Okrah) and I
was completely astounding. Wonderful smokey flavor. Certainly different
than what we get at Chutney or Shalimar but certainly as good.

I've walked right past them countless times. I'm shocked, and hooked. And
I'm telling the world.

thanks
enzosf

> I found an Indian food section at an area supermarket and they
> had packaged ready-to-eat meal pouches. For $1.34 to $1.99 each
> I got a variety of 300g pouches of Vimal brand meals and today
> I made the Tadka Dal with lentils, onion, tomato, and various
> spices like coriander, ginger, chile, turmeric, and comino.
>
> Very good. Probably not authentic but I added ground pork, tofu,
> and rice (with extra water to account for absorbtion) and it was
> so incredibly delicious. I tried another mix a few months ago
> and they are essentially Indian chili, and while they use the
> same chile and comino as Tex-Mex chili, they add a variety of
> exotic spices that make it completely unique. Very very spicy,
> not unbearably hot but you don't want to add any hot sauce. It
> still made me sweat, though. In the end I wish I had added more
> tofu, it just adds so much more substance to any Asian dish.