Description
This Dal Tadka is an Indian lentil delicacy that is comforting, nourishing and delicious. It is made with toor dal or yellow lentils, fresh herbs, spices and tempered in ghee or oil. It is simple, easy and quick to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup toor dal or yellow lentils
- 4 cups water for pressure cooking + 2 cups water for cooking
- 1 tomato finely chopped (optional)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- salt as needed
- 2 tbsp oil or ghee
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 red chili broken
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 green chili slit or chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste or 1 tsp grated ginger + 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 sprig curry leaves (optional)
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Rinse 1 cup toor dal (arhar dal) or yellow lentils until the water runs clear. Soak in enough water for 30 minutes to 2 hours if desired. Drain and add to a 2-liter pressure cooker.
- Add 4 cups water.
- Add salt and turmeric. Stir well.
- Cover the cooker and pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles on medium flame. (If cooking in a pot, simmer covered until soft and mushy).
- Mash the dal lightly with a wired whisk. Add 2 cups water to bring it to a consistency that is neither too thick nor too thin. Bring to a gentle boil and set aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil in a small pan or tempering pan.
- Add 1 tsp mustard seeds. When they splutter, add 1 broken red chili, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds. Stir and sauté for few seconds.
- Add 1 medium finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent on a medium flame.
- Add 1 tsp ginger garlic paste or 1 tsp finely chopped ginger and 1 minced garlic clove. Sauté for 30 seconds.
- Add 1 slit green chili and a sprig of curry leaves. Sauté for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Add 1 finely chopped tomato (optional). Sauté for 2 minutes until softened.
- Pour this tempering/tadka into the hot dal. Stir and mix well.
- Serve dal tadka hot with steamed basmati rice or jeera rice, roti, paratha or flatbreads.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Method: Main Course
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 10g