Dal Tadka Recipe | Classic Homestyle Toor Dal
Dal tadka recipe is a North Indian staple, usually served in restaurants and dhabas. Prepared with whole toor dal, basic spices, and finally, finished with a tadka. Perfect for lunch and dinner, paired beautifully with jeera rice, simple roti, and naan.
Ingredients
For Cooking
- 1 cup whole toor dal (arhar dal)
- 4 cups water
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ asafoetida
For Masala
- 1 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 inch of ginger paste
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes puree
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
For Tadka
- 1 tbsp ghee
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 2 dried red chilies
- ½ tsp kashmiri lal mirch
Instructions
- Take 1 cup of toor dal and soak it in water for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, add to a pressure cooker.
- Pour 4 cups of water, turmeric powder, red chili powder, salt, and asafoetida.
- Mix all of them well. Cover the cooker lid and cook till 3 whistles on high flame.
- After 3 whistles, turn the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes.
- After that, turn the flame off and release the pressure naturally.
- Open the lid the lentils are cooked properly. Transfer it to a bowl.
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil with some cumin seeds to sizzle.
- Add ginger paste and saute for a minute.
- Now add chopped tomato and saute till golden.
- When onions are golden, pour tomatoes puree and green chilies.
- Saute until the raw smell of tomatoes is gone.
- Add cooked dal to it.
- Season garam masala powder and chopped coriander leaves.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then turn off the flame.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in pan, add cumin seeds and dried red chilies.
- When they starts crackle, add Kashmiri lal mirch. Saute for a few seconds.
- Pour them on the cooked dal. The dal tadka recipe is ready.
- Serve it with steamed basmati rice.
Notes
- Always soak the dal for 20 minutes before cooking.
- Cook the dal until complete soft and creamy texture.
- You can mash some dal before adding tadka for better consistency.
- Use ghee in tadka for a richer taste.
- Add a pinch of hing in the tadka for the best aroma.
- Garnish with some coriander leaves.