Tarka Dal – British Indian Restaurant Style
Recipe Summary
- A classic British Indian Restaurant style Tarka Dal recipe featuring red split lentils cooked with aromatic spices, onions, garlic, and ginger, finished with a sizzling tarka of fried garlic and onions, and fresh coriander. This hearty and flavorful lentil dish is perfect as a main course or a side.
All Ingredients - Main Dal Ingredients
- Red split lentils 1 cup (160g)
- Water 600ml
- Onion 1 medium (100g), peeled and finely sliced
- Turmeric powder ¼ teaspoon
- Salt 1 teaspoon (7g)
- Garlic & ginger paste 1 teaspoon (20g)
- Cassia leaf 1-2 (optional)
All Ingredients - For the Tarka
- Vegetable oil 1 chef's spoon (40ml)
- Garlic 3 cloves, peeled, crushed and chopped
- Onion ½ small (25g), peeled and finely sliced
- Fresh coriander Handful
Tools You'll Need
- Pan
Don't have an ingredient? Try these swaps
No Onion?
- 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
- 3 tbsp dried minced onion
- Shallots or leeks (1:1)
No Garlic (fresh)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
- 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
No Cilantro?
- Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
- Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Wash the lentils
Wash 1 cup (160g) of red split lentils under running water until the water runs clear.
Step 2: Combine ingredients for dal
Add the washed lentils to a pan. Pour in 500ml of water. Add 1 medium (100g) onion, peeled and finely sliced, ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon (7g) of salt, 1 teaspoon (20g) of garlic & ginger paste, and 1-2 optional cassia leaves.
Step 3: Cook the lentils
Cook the mixture on a medium heat for , stirring frequently until the lentils soften and break up completely.
Step 4: Adjust consistency
Add an additional 100ml of water to the dal and stir. Bring the dal to a boil.
Step 5: Prepare the tarka
On a medium-high heat, add 1 chef's spoon (40ml) of vegetable oil to a separate pan. Add 3 cloves of peeled, crushed, and chopped garlic, and ½ small (25g) onion, peeled and finely sliced.
Step 6: Fry tarka ingredients
Cook the garlic and onion until they start turning golden brown.
Step 7: Combine tarka with dal
Pour the hot tarka directly into the hot dal.
Step 8: Simmer and finish
Stir the tarka into the dal and simmer for . Add a handful of fresh coriander and stir it in.
Step 9: Serve
The Tarka Dal is now ready to be served.
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