Name: Red Lentil Dal – Indian Style
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 People
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1, chopped Onion; 2 tablespoons Oil/ghee; 1 tablespoon Ginger paste; 1 tablespoon Crushed garlic; 2-3 teaspoons Curry powder; 3, diced Tomatoes; 1 1/3 cup Red/orange lentils; 4 cups Water/stock; to taste Salt; to taste Pepper; 1/4 cup, chopped Coriander

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow each step to make the recipe successfully.

Chop Onion
Chop 1 onion into small pieces.
Sauté Onion
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and for until it turns translucent and lightly golden.
Add Aromatics and Spices
Add 1 tablespoon of ginger paste, 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic, and 2-3 teaspoons of curry powder to the pot. Cook for , stirring constantly, until fragrant.
Dice Tomatoes
3 tomatoes into small pieces.
Cook Tomatoes
Add the tomatoes to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and break down, about .
Rinse Lentils
Rinse 1 1/3 cups of red/orange lentils under cold water until the water runs clear, then drain thoroughly.
Combine and Season
Add the rinsed and drained lentils to the pot. Pour in 4 cups of water or stock. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a Boil
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
Simmer Dal
Once boiling, the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and for about .
Stir During Simmering
During the process, open the lid every and stir the dal to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Chop Coriander
While the dal is cooking, finely chop fresh coriander.
Finish with Coriander
After , turn off the heat. Add the chopped coriander to the dal and stir well to combine.
Serve
Serve the hot dal in a bowl.

Before You Cook

Helpful details before you start

Spice LevelMedium

Ginger · Curry powder

Ingredient SubstitutionsMissing something? View suitable alternatives.

View 3 swaps

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

Variations

Simple ways to adapt this recipe.

For extra flavorCustomise
Temper the dal with a tadka of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chilies in ghee.
Add other vegetables like spinachCustomise
Add other vegetables like spinach or carrots for added nutrition and texture.

Helpful Tips

Small details that can improve the final result.

Cooking tipAdjust the Consistency of the
Adjust the consistency of the dal by adding more hot water if you prefer a thinner soup-like texture.
TipServe Hot with Steamed Rice
Naan bread, or roti for a complete meal.

Red Lentil Dal – Indian Style

45 mins

Indian · North Indian

15 min

30 min

4 People

~450 kcal

Main Ingredients

Chop Onion

Sauté Onion

Add Aromatics and Spices

Dice Tomatoes

Cook Tomatoes

Rinse Lentils

Combine and Season

Bring to a Boil

Simmer Dal

Stir During Simmering

Chop Coriander

Finish with Coriander

Serve

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