Indian dal tadka

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Published on main spring summer fall winter

Ingredients

Dal

  • 400 g red lentils
  • 1 tsp tumeric powder
  • 1400 g water
  • 4 large garlic cloves, crushed
  • 8 cm ginger, crushed
  • 4 green chillies, chopped
  • 4 tbsp ghee (or oil)
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds, slightly crushed
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds, slightly crushed
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 red onion, diced
  • 4 tomatoes (or tomato puree), diced (or 2 cans tomato)
  • 0.5 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 3 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp cilantro, chopped optional

Tempering (tadka)

  • 4 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4 dried red chilies
  • 2 tsp red chili powder

Instructions

Precook lentils

  1. Cook the dal with the turmeric and water in a pressure cooker on high for 8 minutes (or 40 minutes over medium heat in a regular pot).

Dal

  1. Crush the garlic cloves, ginger and green chillies in a mortar pestle and set it aside.
  2. In a heavy bottom pot, heat the ghee on medium heat. Once hot, add the cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cloves. Saute for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add the garlic, ginger, and green chillies and cook for 2 minutes until the raw smell goes away.
  4. Next, add the onion and cook for 4 minutes or until they are soft.
  5. Add the tomatoes and season with salt. Cook with the lid on until the tomatoes are soft, roughly 10 minutes.
  6. Add the cooked dal.
  7. Add the rest of the dry spices and stir well.

Smoking (dhungar method)

  1. Heat a charcoal piece over a flame and place it into a metal bowl. Add the bowl to the centre of the dal pot and pour in 1 tbsp of melted ghee. Quickly put the lid on and leave on the heat for 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Remove the bowl with the charcoal and stir through the chopped coriander.

Tempering (Tadka)

  1. In a separate small pot, melt the ghee. Once hot, add the dried chillies, coriander powder and chopped garlic. Cook for 1 minute before adding the chilli powder.
  2. Pour tempering over the dal and mix.

Adapted from this original recipe