Indian Dish: Dal Tadka
Let's look at the recipe for tadka dal—one of India's most popular dishes, served in nearly every restaurant across the country.
- Serves 4
- 1 hr 20 min
- February 17, 2021
Ingredients
- Red lentils (masoor dal) (1/2 cup)
- Moong dal (1/4 cup)
- Toor/arhar dal (1/4 cup)
- Onion (1 large)
- Dried chilies (2–3)
- Turmeric powder (1 teaspoon)
- Green chilies (2)
- Panch phoron (1 teaspoon)
- Whole cumin seeds (1 teaspoon)
- Garlic (2–3 cloves)
- Salt (to taste)
- Oil (as needed)
Method
- Mix all three types of dal, wash well, and soak in water for 30 minutes. Drain and cook with 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder until completely soft and the lentils have mostly broken down—this can take 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the lentils. Add 2 green chilies while cooking and more water if needed. The cooked dal mixture should be about 2 cups in volume.
- Heat oil in a pot and add chopped onion and garlic. When the onion softens slightly, add whole cumin seeds, dried chilies, and panch phoron. When the onion turns golden brown, pour in the cooked dal. Cook for 2 more minutes, add salt to taste, and serve hot.