Name: Dal Tadka
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 People
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup Toor Dal; 1/4 cup Moong Dal; 1/4 cup Chana Dal; 3 cups Water; 1 cup Hot Water; 1 tbsp Oil; 1 tsp Cumin Seeds; 1 tbsp Ginger (chopped); 1 tbsp Garlic (chopped); 1/2 cup Onion (chopped); 1-2 Green Chillies; 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder; 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder; 1/2 tsp Garam Masala; 1/2 cup Tomatoes (chopped); 1 tsp Salt; 1 tsp Kasuri Methi; 1 piece Hot Coal; 1 tbsp Ghee; 1 tsp Cumin Seeds; 2 Dried Red Chillies; 1 tbsp Garlic (chopped); 1/4 tsp Hing (Asafoetida); 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder

Ready in

45 mins

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

30 min

Serving

4 People

Calories / Serving

~400 kcal

Recipe by Swasth's Recipes Easy cooking on YouTube

Recipe Summary

This video demonstrates how to prepare a flavorful Dal Tadka, a popular Indian lentil dish. It involves cooking a mix of lentils in a pressure cooker, preparing a rich tomato-onion masala, infusing a smoky flavor with hot coal, and finishing with a vibrant ghee tempering.

Adjust servings

Tap an ingredient to mark it ready0 of 24 ready

All Ingredients - For Cooking Dal

Toor Dal 1 cup
Moong Dal 1/4 cup
Chana Dal 1/4 cup
Water 3 cups
Hot Water 1 cup

All Ingredients - For Masala

Oil 1 tbsp
Cumin Seeds 1 tsp
Ginger (chopped) 1 tbsp
Garlic (chopped) 1 tbsp
Onion (chopped) 1/2 cup
Green Chillies 1-2
Red Chilli Powder 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala 1/2 tsp
Tomatoes (chopped) 1/2 cup
Salt 1 tsp
Kasuri Methi 1 tsp

All Ingredients - For Smoky Flavor & Final Tadka

Hot Coal 1 piece
Ghee 1 tbsp
Cumin Seeds 1 tsp
Dried Red Chillies 2
Garlic (chopped) 1 tbsp
Hing (Asafoetida) 1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder 1 tsp

Tools You'll Need

Pressure cooker
Pan
Bowl

Don't have an ingredient? Try these swaps

No Garlic (fresh)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
- 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
No Onion?
- 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
- 3 tbsp dried minced onion
- Shallots or leeks (1:1)
No Garam masala?
- 1 tsp cumin + 1/2 tsp coriander + 1/4 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp cardamom
No Ghee?
- Unsalted butter (1:1)
- Neutral oil (1:1, lacks the toasted note)
No Asafoetida (hing)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder + 1/4 tsp onion powder

⚠ Contains Allergens

dairy

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare and Cook Dals

Add 1 cup toor dal, 1/4 cup moong dal, and 1/4 cup chana dal to a pressure cooker. Pour water and rinse the dals thoroughly. Drain the water, then add 3 cups of fresh water to the dals. Close the pressure cooker lid and cook until 3-4 whistles, or until the dals are soft and well-cooked. Once cooked, open the lid and stir the dals. Add 1 cup of hot water to adjust the consistency and stir again.

Step 2: Prepare the Masala

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a separate pan. Add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add 1 tablespoon each of chopped ginger and garlic, and sauté until fragrant, about . Add 1/2 cup of chopped onion and 1-2 green chilies, and cook until the onions turn translucent, approximately . Stir in 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala. Sauté for until aromatic. Add 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook until the tomatoes soften and the oil begins to separate from the mixture, about .

Step 3: Combine Masala with Dal and Season

Transfer the prepared masala into the cooked dal in the pressure cooker. Mix well to combine. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt (or to taste) and 1 teaspoon of kasuri methi. Stir thoroughly.

Step 4: Infuse Smoky Flavor (Optional)

Place a small steel cup in the center of the dal. Carefully place a hot coal piece into the cup. Pour 1 teaspoon of ghee over the hot coal to create smoke. Immediately cover the pressure cooker with a lid to trap the smoke and infuse the dal with a smoky flavor for . Remove the lid and discard the coal and cup.

Step 5: Prepare Final Tadka

In a small tempering pan (tadka pan), heat 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add 2 dried red chilies and sauté for . Add 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic and cook until it turns golden brown, about . Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of hing (asafoetida) and 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder. Mix quickly.

Step 6: Serve Dal Tadka

Pour the hot tadka over the prepared dal in a serving bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves before serving. Serve hot with rice or roti.

Pro Tips

• Adjust the consistency of the dal by adding more hot water if you prefer a thinner consistency.

• The smoky flavor from the hot coal is optional but adds a unique depth to the dal.

• Ensure the spices are cooked well to avoid a raw taste in the masala.

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