Indumathi's Carrot and Moong Dal Salad

• 1/3 cup moong dal soaked in water for 1 hour (moong dal is the green gram dal, but de-skinned and halved, so it looks pale yellow)
• 3 carrots, peeled and grated
• 2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1-2 fresh green chillies, very finely chopped
• lots of fresh coriander, finely chopped
• 1 chopped tomato or some lemon juice (optional but recommended)
• hot oil and mustard seed seasoning (optional but recommended)
• salt