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Simple & Delicious Dal Tadka Recipe at Home!

Dal Tadka Recipe

This Dal Tadka is a comforting, protein-packed Indian lentil curry made with flavorful spices and a smoky tadka. Perfect for everyday meals, it's wholesome, satisfying, and full of aroma.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4
Calories 213 kcal

Equipment

  • Pressure cooker or deep saucepan
  • Tadka pan or small frying pan
  • Mixing spoon
  • Knife and chopping board
  • Small bowl for dhungar method (optional)
  • Ladle (for serving)

Ingredients
  

For cooking lentils:

  • 1 cup or 200 grams tuvar dal (arhar dal, tur dal or split pigeon pea lentils) or ½ cup tuvar dal + ½ cup masoor dal (split red lentils)
  • 1 to 2 green chilies or serrano peppers – chopped or slit lengthwise
  • ½ cup onions – chopped
  • 1 cup tomatoes – finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ginger – finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder ground turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1 pinch asafoetida hing, optional
  • 2.5 cups water – for pressure cooking
  • 1 tablespoon light cream or low fat cream optional
  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves – chopped (cilantro)
  • salt as required

For tempering or tadka:

  • 3 tablespoon oil or 3 tablespoon ghee clarified butter
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 5 to 6 garlic cloves – finely chopped small to medium-sized
  • 2 to 3 dry red chilies – broken and seeds removed
  • 1 generous pinch of asafoetida hing, optional
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi – crushed (dry fenugreek leaves), optional
  • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri Chilli Powder or cayenne pepper or paprika

For garnish:

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons coriander leaves – chopped cilantro

For dhungar method:

  • 1 small piece of natural charcoal
  • ¼ teaspoon oil or ghee clarified butter

Instructions
 

  • Rinse and soak the dal for 15–20 minutes, then drain.
    Rinse and soak the dal for 15–20 minutes, then drain.
  • Pressure cook dal with chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger, green chilies, turmeric, and salt for 3–4 whistles.
    Pressure cook dal with chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger, green chilies, turmeric, and salt for 3–4 whistles.
  • Mash the cooked dal lightly and simmer with water until creamy.
  • Heat oil or ghee in a small pan for tadka.
  • Add cumin seeds, garlic, dry red chilies, and a pinch of hing. Let it sizzle.
    Heat oil or ghee in a small pan for tadka. Add cumin seeds, garlic, dry red chilies, and a pinch of hing. Let it sizzle.
  • Stir in Kashmiri chili powder and crushed kasuri methi, then turn off the heat.
    Stir in Kashmiri chili powder and crushed kasuri methi, then turn off the heat.
  • Pour the tadka over the dal and mix well.
    Pour the tadka over the dal and mix well.
  • For a smoky flavor, use the dhungar method with charcoal and ghee (optional). Garnish with chopped coriander.
    Simple & Delicious Dal Tadka Recipe at Home!