Fullmeals
HomeExploreCreatorsPantry MatchSurprise Me
HomeExploreCreatorsPantry MatchSurprise MeShopping ListMy Favorites
Fullmeals

Fullmeals helps you cook without watching by converting cooking videos into simple, step-by-step recipes designed for real kitchens.

cook@fullmeals.com

Quick Links

  • How it Works
  • Categories
  • Explore Recipes
  • RSS Feed

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

© 2026 Fullmeals. All rights reserved.

Fullmeals

Tadka Dal – Quick & Easy Indian Meals

Recipe by Food with Chetna

  • Ready in30 min
  • Prep10 min
  • Cook20 min
  • CuisineIndian · North Indian
  • Serves6 People
  • Calories~250 kcal
Tadka Dal – Quick & Easy Indian Meals

Ingredients

For the Dal

  • 300 gramsRed Lentils (Masoor Dal)
  • 900 mlWater
  • 1 tspSalt
  • 1 tspTurmeric

For the Tadka

  • 2 tbspGhee
  • 1 tspOil
  • 1 tspCumin Seeds
  • 3-4Garlic Cloves
  • 2 medium-sizedOnions
  • 1Tomato
  • 1/2Red Chilli
  • a handfulFresh Coriander
  • a tiny bitChilli Powder

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1.Prepare the Lentils

    Wash 300 grams of red lentils (masoor dal) thoroughly in cold water.

  2. 2.Cook the Lentils

    Add the washed lentils to a pot with 900 ml of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of turmeric. Bring the mixture to a boil.

  3. 3.Boil the Lentils

    Once the lentils are boiling, place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot to prevent it from spilling over. Continue to cook for 10 minutes until the lentils are fully soft and mushy. Turn off the heat.

  4. 4.Prepare Onions and Garlic

    While the lentils are cooking, peel and roughly chop 2 medium-sized onions. Peel and thinly slice 3-4 garlic cloves.

  5. 5.Prepare Tomato and Chili

    Chop 1 tomato and 1/2 a red chili.

  6. 6.Prepare Coriander

    Chop a handful of fresh coriander.

  7. 7.Start the Tadka

    Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee and 1 teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium heat.

  8. 8.Add Cumin Seeds

    Add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds to the hot oil and let them sizzle until fragrant.

  9. 9.Sauté Garlic

    Add the thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté until they turn golden brown.

  10. 10.Sauté Onions

    Add the chopped onions and sauté for 6-7 minutes until they become translucent and slightly browned.

  11. 11.Add Tomatoes and Chili

    Add the chopped tomato and red chili to the pan. Sauté for 5 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften.

  12. 12.Finish the Tadka

    Turn off the heat. Add the chopped fresh coriander and a tiny bit of chili powder (to taste). Stir well to combine.

  13. 13.Serve the Dal

    Transfer the cooked lentils to a serving bowl.

  14. 14.Top with Tadka

    Pour the prepared tadka mixture evenly over the dal. Serve hot.

Printed from Fullmeals.com — turn any cooking video into a recipe.

Tadka Dal – Quick & Easy Indian Meals

Ready in

30 mins

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

20 min

Serving

6 People

Calories / Serving

~250 kcal
Recipe by Food with Chetna on YouTube
Adjust Servings
Measurements
Tap an ingredient to mark it ready0 of 13 ready
All Ingredients

For the Dal

All Ingredients

For the Tadka

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow each step to make the recipe successfully.

  1. 1

    Prepare the Lentils

    Wash 300 grams of red lentils (masoor dal) thoroughly in cold water.

  2. 2

    Cook the Lentils

    Add the washed lentils to a pot with 900 ml of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of turmeric. Bring the mixture to a boil.

  3. 3

    Boil the Lentils

    Once the lentils are boiling, place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot to prevent it from spilling over. Continue to cook for until the lentils are fully soft and mushy. Turn off the heat.

  4. 4

    Prepare Onions and Garlic

    While the lentils are cooking, peel and roughly chop 2 medium-sized onions. Peel and thinly slice 3-4 garlic cloves.

  5. 5

    Prepare Tomato and Chili

    Chop 1 tomato and 1/2 a red chili.

  6. 6

    Prepare Coriander

    Chop a handful of fresh coriander.

  7. 7

    Start the Tadka

    Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee and 1 teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium heat.

  8. 8

    Add Cumin Seeds

    Add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds to the hot oil and let them sizzle until fragrant.

  9. 9

    Sauté Garlic

    Add the thinly sliced garlic cloves and until they turn golden brown.

  10. 10

    Sauté Onions

    Add the chopped onions and for until they become translucent and slightly browned.

  11. 11

    Add Tomatoes and Chili

    Add the chopped tomato and red chili to the pan. for until the tomatoes start to soften.

  12. 12

    Finish the Tadka

    Turn off the heat. Add the chopped fresh coriander and a tiny bit of chili powder (to taste). Stir well to combine.

  13. 13

    Serve the Dal

    Transfer the cooked lentils to a serving bowl.

  14. 14

    Top with Tadka

    Pour the prepared tadka mixture evenly over the dal. Serve hot.

Before You Cook

Helpful details before you start
Spice LevelFiery
Red chili · Chili powder · Chili
Ingredient SubstitutionsMissing something? View suitable alternatives.
View 4 swaps
  • 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)
  • No Onion?

    • 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
    • 3 tbsp dried minced onion
    • Shallots or leeks (1:1)
  • No Cilantro?

    • Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
    • Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
Ingredient Substitutions
  • 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)
  • No Onion?

    • 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
    • 3 tbsp dried minced onion
    • Shallots or leeks (1:1)
  • No Cilantro?

    • Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
    • Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
AllergensThis recipe contains dairy.
Dairy

Variations

Simple ways to adapt this recipe.

  • 1
    Serve with plain rice

    Onion pulao, roti, or sabji.

  • 2
    Can be eaten as a

    Can be eaten as a soup with a slice of sourdough bread.

Helpful Tips

Small details that can improve the final result.

  • 1
    Cooking tipPlace a Wooden Spoon Across

    Place a wooden spoon across the pot while cooking lentils to prevent them from boiling over.

  • 2
    Nutrition noteYou Can Make This Recipe

    You can make this recipe vegan by replacing ghee with oil.

Was this recipe helpful?

Comments (0)

Sign in to leave a comment on this recipe.

Loading comments...

More from Food with Chetna

Other recipes converted from Food with Chetna's cooking videos.

Coconut Chicken Curry – 5 Ingredient Indian

Coconut Chicken Curry – 5 Ingredient Indian

Cuisine

Indian · South Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 10 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

Home Style Chicken Curry with Potatoes

Home Style Chicken Curry with Potatoes

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 30 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

Vegetarian Indian Feast: Chole, Paneer, Pakora, Roti & More

Vegetarian Indian Feast: Chole, Paneer, Pakora, Roti & More

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

4 hr

Difficulty Level

Medium

Hariyali Chicken - Indian

Hariyali Chicken - Indian

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

45 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Medium

Mom's Home-Style Chicken Curry with Potatoes

Mom's Home-Style Chicken Curry with Potatoes

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 10 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

Coconut Chicken Curry – 5 Ingredient Indian

Coconut Chicken Curry – 5 Ingredient Indian

Cuisine

Indian · South Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 10 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

You might also like

Other recipes in the same cuisine, meal type, or style — ready to cook whenever you are.

Quick & Easy Sambar Recipe

Quick & Easy Sambar Recipe

Cuisine

Indian · South Indian

Prep + Cook Time

30 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Easy

Veg Pulao – Restaurant Style

Veg Pulao – Restaurant Style

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 10 min

Difficulty Level

Easy

Authentic South Indian Sambar Recipe

Authentic South Indian Sambar Recipe

Cuisine

Indian · South Indian

Prep + Cook Time

45 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Easy

Paneer Biryani - Restaurant Style

Paneer Biryani - Restaurant Style

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 30 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

Vegetable Dal (Lentil Curry) with Tarka – Indian Style

Vegetable Dal (Lentil Curry) with Tarka – Indian Style

Cuisine

Indian · Bengali

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr

Difficulty Level

Medium

Easy Yellow Dal Tadka

Easy Yellow Dal Tadka

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

25 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Easy