Lentil Soup or Dhal (Mugu riha)

Mugu riha is one of my favourite side dishes. Its a healthy, tasty and an easy dish to make . Mugu riha is a popular dish at our home. 

This is one of the dishes my mom admits that I prepare better than her. Isn't  that the highest praise a daughter could get from a mother.

Ingredients;

• 1 cup (210g) lentils, rinsed well
• 3cm fresh ginger, sliced
• ½ inch cinnamon stick
• 3 cardamoms
• 2 Bilimagu (or juice of 1 lemon)
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp mustard seed
• 1/2 chili pepper
• 1/2-1 tsp salt
• 1 Carrot peeled and chopped
• 10 green beans ends trimmed and cut
• 5 curry leaves
• 4inch pandan leaf (raanbaa)
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 cups of coconut milk
• 1 Tomato chopped
• coriander leaves 

Place lentils in a large saucepan with 3 cups of cold water. Bring to boil, and remove the froth, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring to prevent sticking for 10-12 minutes. 

Add all the other ingredients except the tomatoes and coriander leaves and coconut milk, and cook for 3 minutes and season to taste with salt.

Stir in coconut milk and cook for another minute or two. Add tomatoes and coriander leaves and remove from the heat. Enjoy hot with rice or flat bread and a side dish of fish or chicken.