dal tadka

The most amazing and authentic Indian dal recipe packed with flavor, so easy and nutritious. Make it rich and exotic restaurant style or simple and comforting home style. Guaranteed to be a hit always.

Dal Recipe (Indian Red Lentil Curry)

red lentils (masoor dal or other yellow lentils)

onion (yellow, medium, finely chopped)

tomato (chopped)

garlic (finely sliced)

turmeric

water

Salt (to taste)

olive oil (or ghee)

tsp cumin seeds

red chilies

- 10 curry leaves

1.5 inch ginger (finely grated)

garlic (finely grated)

shallot (medium, finely chopped (or small onion))

tomato (small, finely chopped)

green chili (optional, remove seeds

tsp chili powder* (Kashmiri chili powder is less pungent)

tsp coriander

tsp cumin

tsp garam masala

tsp kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)

tsp mustard seeds (optional)

garlic (thinly sliced)

cilantro

ghee (optional)

Rinse the lentils well until the water is clear and drain in colander. Tip: If using other yellow lentils instead of red lentils, then soaking in water for about an hour will help.

In a medium cooking pot take the drained red lentils, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, sliced garlic, turmeric, water and bring it to a boil.

Lower the heat and cook it for about 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to cook until most lentils start breaking down, become a bit mushy and turn into a thick sauce like consistency.

Cook the dal until it reaches a consistency that is thinner than what is desired, because it will thicken further after cooking.

Heat oil or ghee in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Place your palm three inches above the oil and when it is hot enough, add cumin seeds.

When the seeds start to splutter, add dried red chillies and curry leaves. Sauté a little bit and then add the chopped ginger and garlic.

Sauté few minutes and then add chopped shallots and cook until translucent. Then add chopped tomatoes and cook until softened.

Next add green chilies, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala and kasuri methi. Stir and turn off the heat. Don’t let the spices burn.

Then add most of the tempered spice oil, and half the chopped cilantro into the cooked dal, stir and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Transfer the dal into a serving dish. Add the remaining tempering, cilantro and ghee on the top. Serve with steamed rice.

Restaurant Style Tadka

Heat oil or ghee in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Place your palm three inches above the oil and when it is hot enough, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

When the seeds start to splutter, add the sliced garlic and sauté a little bit. Then add the dried red chillies and curry leaves. Sauté everything until garlic turns a light tan color and curry leaves are cooked.

Turn off the heat and add most of the tempered spice oil, and half the chopped cilantro into the cooked dal, stir and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Home Style

Restaurant style Dal Tadka (lentils) tempered with ghee and spices! This dal has a smokey flavor which makes it all the more special!

Dal Tadka

toor dal (200 grams, also known peas

turmeric powder

salt (divided, adjust to taste)

water (divided)

garlic

ginger

green chili

ghee

cumin seeds

coriander seeds (crushed in mortar pestle)

cloves

red onion (150 grams, chopped)

tomatoes (chopped)

coriander powder

garam masala

kashmiri red chili powder

red chili powder (or adjust to taste)

kasuri methi (crushed, dried fenugreek leaves)

ghee (10 ml)

hing (also known as asafoetida)

kashmiri red chili powder (optional)

To a pressure cooker add toor dal along with turmeric, 1 teaspoon salt and 3 cups water.

Pressure cook for 4 whistle on high heat then lower the heat and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. If using an Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 8 minutes with natural pressure release.  Set it aside.

Meanwhile crush 4 large garlic cloves, 1-inch ginger and green chili in a mortar pestle and set it aside.

In a heavy bottom pan, heat ghee on medium heat. Once hot, add the cumin seeds, crushed coriander seeds and cloves. Saute for few seconds until fragrant.

Then add onions, cook for around 3 to 4 minutes until they are soft and start changing color.

Add the crushed garlic-ginger-green chili. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the raw smell goes away.

Add the chopped tomatoes along with 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix. Cover and cook for 7 to 8 minutes until tomatoes are very soft and cooked.

Then add the coriander powder, garam masala, kashmiri red chili powder, red chili powder, cilantro and kasuri methi. Stir the spices with the masala for few 30 seconds.

Add the boiled dal to the pan and mix. I also added 1/2 cup water here as dal looked very thick to me.&nbsp;Let the dal simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.

For the tempering/tadka, heat 2 teaspoons ghee in a small pan. Once the ghee is hot, add 2 chopped garlic cloves. Also add hing and dried red chilies.

Cook for one minute until the garlic starts changing color. Add kashmiri red chili powder remove pan from heat.

Pour tempering over the dal and mix.&nbsp;

This last step is optional but recommended.For the dhungar method - place a steel bowl on top of a trivet placed inside the dal. Then heat a piece of charcoal over direct heat until its red hot.

Place hot charcoal in that steel bowl on top of the trivet. Pour melted ghee (around 1 tablespoon) on top of charcoal.&nbsp;You will immediately see fumes coming out of charcoal.

Immediately close the pan with a lid. Let it remain like this for 5 to 10 minutes. After 5 to 10 minutes, remove lid and remove the bowl from dal.

The longer you keep the lid closed, the smokier dal will get, so don&#039;t do more than 10 minutes.

Garnish dal tadka with more cilantro and serve!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYGYscdb9Hk

Lentils tempered with spices and ghee, this Dal Tadka is one of the most popular Indian dishes and also my personal favorite.

This recipe uses burnt charcoal for that smokey flavor which makes the dal even more special!
https://www.cookwithmanali.com/dal-tadka/

This restaurant style dal tadka is a smooth and creamy dal tempered with Indian spices with a smoky charcoal flavor.

Dal Tadka (Restaurant Style Recipe)

tuvar dal ((arhar dal

green chilies (or serrano peppers

onions (or 1 medium sized onion)

tomatoes (or 2 medium sized tomatoes)

turmeric powder ((ground turmeric))

½ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder

asafoetida ((hing) - optional)

water (- for pressure cooking)

low-fat cream (- optional)

coriander leaves

salt (as required)

oil (or 3 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter))

dry red chilies

red chili powder (or cayenne pepper

charcoal

¼ teaspoon oil (or ghee (clarified butter))

1. Thoroughly rinse 1 cup tuvar dal (arhar dal, or split &amp; husked pigeon pea lentils) in water. Add them to a 3-litre pressure cooker.No pressure cooker? You can also cook the lentils in a pot. Soak the lentils for an hour or two before you cook them in a pot.

2. Add ½ cup chopped onions, 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes, 1 or 2 green chilies (1 teaspoon of chopped Anaheim pepper or Serrano pepper can be subbed for green chillies) and 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger.

3. Pour 2.5 cups of water into the pressure cooker. If cooking in a pot, then about 4 to 4.5 cups of water can be added.

4. Add ½ turmeric powder and 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing). If you do not have asafoetida, then skip it. 5. Mix well.

6. Pressure cook the lentils for about 7-8 whistles, or until they become soft and creamy. Mash the cooked lentils with a wired whisk or with a spoon and keep aside. If the consistency looks thick, then add about ½ - 1 cup water (depending on the thickness) to get a medium consistency. Simmer dal for 3 to 4 minutes.

7. Once the desired consistency is reached, add 1-2 tablespoons low-fat cream (optional), ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) and salt to taste. Switch off the the heat.

8. Mix well so that everything combines uniformly. Taste and adjust salt before adding tadka.

1. cook lentils

10. To get the smoky fumes of burnt charcoal like you would in a restaurant, you&#039;ll want to follow the dhungar method. Using tongs, place a small piece of charcoal on a grill pan like shown in the photo below. Burn the charcoal till it becomes red hot. Please be sure to use natural charcoal for this method, avoiding anything that has a flame accelerant added. Note that this is an optional step - you can proceed directly to the tempering method.

11. Place the red hot charcoal in a small steel bowl. You can also use a halved hollow onion instead of the bowl.

12. Pour about ¼ tsp of oil or ghee on the charcoal. You will see fumes emanating as soon as you pour oil or ghee on the hot charcoal.

13. Place this bowl on the dal.

14. Cover the cooker or pot with a lid and let the dal get infused. Only smoke for 1-2 minutes. Do not keep for a long time, or you&#039;ll risk making the dal taste bitter. Remove the bowl carefully with the help of tongs and cover the cooker with a lid. Set aside.

2. Smoke lentils using dhungar method (optional)

15. Next, heat 3 tablespoons oil or ghee (clarified butter) in a small pan over low-medium heat. First, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and crackle them. The cumin should get fried and not be raw, but be careful not burn them.

16. Now add 2 to 3 dry red chilies, a generous pinch of asafoetida, and 5-6 medium sized garlic cloves which have been finely chopped. Let the garlic brown lightly and the red chilies change color. Do not burn the garlic.

17. Lastly, add 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (fenugreek seeds) and ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper. Mix well and turn off the stove.

18. Pour entire tempering along with the oil or ghee into the dal.

19. You can either mix the dal with tempering, or serve the dal tadka with the tempering on top it. I personally like the aesthetic of having the tadka floating on top. Garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestion: Serve dal tadka hot with steamed basmati rice or jeera rice (cumin rice), or with roti, naan or paratha.

make the tempering (tadka or chaunk)

https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/os763iYF.mp4

Dal Tadka is a popular Indian lentil dish made with arhar dal or tuvar dal (husked &amp; split pigeon pea lentils) or masoor dal (husked &amp; split red lentils). This recipe is of restaurant style dal tadka with has smokey flavors and aroma.

Dal tadka is a comforting, flavorful and hearty Indian lentil dish. This super flavorsome &amp; delicious homemade dal tadka rivals any Indian restaurant!

Dal Tadka Recipe

toor dal ((split pigeon peas

water ((to cook dal))

cumin seeds ((jeera))

garlic (fine chopped)

ginger (fine chopped)

onion ((⅓ to ½ cup fine chopped))

green chilli ((chopped, optional))

tomatoes ((¾ to 1 cup deseeded, fine chopped))

red chilli powder

½ teaspoon garam masala

salt ((more

kasuri methi ((dried fenugreek leaves))

coriander leaves ((fine chopped, more for garnish))

lemon ((for serving))

ghee ((oil for a vegan dish))

garlic (fine chopped (I use 1 tbsp))

⅛ teaspoon hing ((asafoetida) (or gluten-free hing))

Add dal to a pot or pressure cooker and rinse them very well with lots of water. Rub the lentils well with your hand while you rinse. Drain completely.

Pour water and pressure cook the dal on a medium heat for 3 to 4 whistles. To cook in instant pot, pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. To cook in pot check my notes below.

When the pressure drops naturally, open the lid. Dal should be soft cooked.

Lightly mash keeping some of the dal intact. Add more water only if required to bring to consistency.

While the lentils cook, to a medium pan pour oil and heat it. Add cumin seeds to the hot oil.

They will begin to splutter, then add ginger garlic and saute on a low heat until fragrant.

Add onions and green chilies. Fry them until slightly golden.

Reduce the heat. Add red chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala. Give a quick stir.

Stir in the tomatoes along with salt. Saute until the tomatoes become soft. The mixture begins to smell good at this stage.

Transfer this to the cooked dal and simmer for about 6 to 7 minutes. Taste test and add more salt at this stage. Then add kasuri methi and give the boiling dal a good stir. Add coriander leaves and turn off the heat.

Cook Dal

Place a tall steel cup in the center of the pot. With a tong hold a wood coal over direct fire like a candle or lighter until a portion of it becomes red and hot. This will take about 2 minutes.

Place this gently into the cup and pour ½ teaspoon ghee directly over the hot coal. It will begin to release smoke. Quickly cover the pot and let the dal smoke for 3 to 4 minutes.

Smoke Dal (Dhungar, optional)

Transfer the hot cooked lentils to a serving bowl. Pour 2 tbsps ghee to a small pan &amp; heat it on a medium heat.

Add cumin seeds and let them fry on a low heat until aromatic.

Next add red chilies and give a good stir. Add garlic and fry until light and aromatic. Do not brown.

Stir in asafoetida and red chili powder. Quickly remove from heat and pour the tadka over the dal.

Garnish dal tadka with coriander leaves. Squeeze some lemon juice over the dal while serving. Serve with rice, roti, paratha, naan, jeera rice or ghee rice.

How to Make Dal Tadka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63_KsWxTOyk

Dal tadka made with lentils, spices and herbs, is a delicious Indian staple. This recipe will help you make super flavorful, healthy and delicious Indian dal.

For full recipe check my blog post 
https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/dal-tadka/

Dal Tadka Recipe - Indian Dal Recipe

Quick and Easy Tarka Dal is healthy, delicious and tastes just like from the Indian restaurant. Serve with steamed rice, salad and poppadoms for a comforting midweek meal!

Easy Tarka Dhal recipe ( Restaurant style)

Red Lentils (190 g) (masoor dal)

Cup Water

green chilies (optional)

Turmeric powder

tbsp Ghee / Oil

fennel seeds

Red Chilli

Onion, (diced)

Inch Ginger

Cloves Garlic

Tomato diced (diced)

½ Tsp Turmeric

½ Tsp Chilli Powder

½ Tsp Coriander Powder

Salt

Coriander leaves

Wash the lentils at least 4-5 times in water until clear. Drain and set it aside.

Add lentils, water, turmeric powder,  green chilies (optional) to the saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat and cook until tender. Skim the foam on the top. Cooking lentils can take between 18- 20 minutes

Once the lentils are cooked, simply whisk it through for a smooth consistency. Add another 1/4 -1/2 Cup water if the dal is too thick.

Season with salt.

Stove Top Instructions

Place the washed lentils, 3 cup of water, turmeric, salt, green chilies to the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Secure the lid and turn the vent to sealing. Pressure cook on HIGH for 5 minutes and NPR.

Instant Pot Instructions

Heat 1 tbsp ghee/oil in another pan and add cumin seeds, fennel seeds,dried red chillies and allow the seeds to pop.

Add onion, ginger garlic and fry for 3 minutes until translucent.

Add the tomatoes, spice powders, salt and cook for 4-5 minutes.

Pour the prepared Tarka to the lentils and stir. Cook again for another 1 minute.

Garnish with coriander leaves  and Serve restaurant dal Tarka with roti/rice for a comforting Indian meal.

Tadka for Dal

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The most viewed dal tadka recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

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Dal Tadka (Restaurant Style Recipe)

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The most viewed dal tadka recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine