Dal Tadka, a simple dish with comfort value and flavour, perfumed with tempting aromas, is a lovely North Indian dish. Made with lentils (dal) and tempered (tadka) with spices, it’s undoubtedly a staple at any Indian household, perfectly paired with steamed rice or roti. It’s a wholesome meal packed with protein, ideal for both weeknight dinners and festive occasions.

Ingredients

• 1 cup toor dal or a mix of toor dal and moong dal

• 3 cups water

• 1 medium tomato chopped

• 1 green chili slit

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons ghee or oil

• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 2-3 garlic cloves finely chopped

• 1-inch ginger finely chopped

• 2 dried red chilies

• 1 medium onion finely chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala

• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)

• 1 medium tomato finely chopped (optional)

• Fresh coriander leaves chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Step By Step Guide

Cook The Dal

Wash the toor dal thoroughly. In a pressure cooker or pot, combine dal, water, tomato, green chili, turmeric, and salt. Cook until the dal is soft and mushy (3-4 whistles in a pressure cooker or 25 minutes in a pot). Mash lightly and set aside.

Prepare The Tadka

Heat ghee or oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds; let them splutter. Add garlic, ginger, and dried red chilies. Sauté until the garlic is golden. Stir in the chopped onions and cook until translucent. Add red chili powder, garam masala, and asafoetida. Stir well. If using, add tomatoes and cook until soft and mushy.

Combine And Simmer

Pour the prepared tadka into the cooked dal. Mix well. Simmer for 5-7 minutes to let the flavors blend. Adjust the consistency with water if needed.

Final Tadka (Optional)

For an extra burst of flavor, prepare a second tadka with 1 teaspoon ghee, 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, and a pinch of asafoetida. Pour it over the dal before serving.

Garnish And Serve

Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves and add a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve hot with steamed rice, jeera rice, or roti.

Pro Tips

Adding a dollop of butter while serving enhances the richness. Adjust spices to suit your taste preference. To make it vegan, replace ghee with vegetable oil.