104 | CURRY YELLOW SPLIT PEA DHAL 1 Tbs oil 1 Tbs cumin 1 Tbs coriander power 1 tsp mustard seeds (Optimal) 1 tsp ground ginger Chili according to taste 1 medium onion, chopped finely 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 cup yellow split peas, rinsed and few times and drained 1 Tbs parave chicken soup powder (Optional) About 2 cups water Heat oil in pot over medium heat. Add spices and sauté until fragrant. Add onion then garlic. Add split peas, 2 cups water and parave powder. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes or more until tender. Adjust taste. Saba and I lived in Durban in South Africa before we married and came on Aliyah in 1964. The Jewish community in Durban was a strong and embracing community. Very few were particularly religious and we, the young people, went to synagogue for the social meetings. We were members of and madrichim in Habonim a Zionist Youth Movement, which was often more of a home than our family life offered. We lived in Apartheid South Africa. Durban, besides the English, Afrikaans and Jewish communities had a majority of Africans (with virtually no rights) and a large community of Indians. The Indian workers were brought in 1890 to work the extensive sugar cane fields in the region. Traders and their families also came and Durban became the largest Indian community outside of India. Of interest is that Mahatma Gandhi began his political activity in South Africa. Durban had a huge colourful Indian Market, where we would go to buy fruit and vegetables and spices. You would tell the spiceman what curry you wanted and he would take a little of this, a lot of that and a pinch of something else, and it was always delicious. The most famous curry was Mother-In-Law curry, so hot it was said to be able to do away with your mother in law if you didn’t like her. There was also a large area of Indian shops and restaurants, called Grey Street. Our favorite was to go to a specific roadside cafe and order samosas, light and airy and spicy, the best we have ever tasted. When already living in Israel I met my cousin Frankie on a visit in Durban and
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