Herbs & foods10 min
Tejpatta Benefits and Uses in Dal
Tejpatta is the bay leaf in dal. Simmer one leaf for flavour, or make a mild cumin infusion, then lift the leaf out. Do not eat the leaf whole.
Tejpatta benefits and uses, leaf removed
A bay leaf scents a pot. It does not soften into food the way spinach does. One dried leaf in dal, or one leaf simmered with cumin in a cup of water, is the kitchen use. Before anyone eats or drinks, the leaf comes out on a spoon.
Chewing or swallowing the whole leaf is not the method. It stays stiff and can scratch the mouth or throat. The infusion is a warm sip after a heavy dinner, not a digestion treatment and not a blood-sugar drink.
Ingredients
- One dried bay leaf
- A pinch of cumin seeds
- Water for a short infusion
- A ladle of dal if the leaf is flavouring a pot
How to prepare
- For dal, add one bay leaf while the pot simmers, then take the leaf out before serving.
- For a sip, simmer one bay leaf and a pinch of cumin in a cup of water for five minutes, strain, and discard the leaf.
How to use
- Eat the dal. Do not eat the leaf.
- Sip one small cup of the strained infusion warm, after a heavy meal if you like it.
- One leaf is enough for either the pot or the cup, not both piled together.
Helpful habits
- A fresh-smelling leaf is better than a pale old one that has sat open for years.
- If a leaf breaks in the dal, fish the pieces out. Do not leave them for someone to chew.
Precautions
- The bay leaf is not eaten whole. Always lift it out.
- This infusion does not treat indigestion, diabetes, or pain.
- One cup is enough. A strong boiled-down brew is not a better drink.
Frequently asked questions
Should I eat the bay leaf?
- No. It flavours the dal or the water and then comes out. The leaf is not eaten whole.
How many leaves go in one pot?
- One dried leaf for a family pot of dal, or one leaf for a single cup of infusion.
Is bay-leaf water a sugar remedy?
- No. It is a mild kitchen sip with cumin. It is not a blood-sugar treatment.
