Recipe - Dhaba Style Dal Tadka

A simple and tasty lentil based curry recipe made with split pea lentil and indian spices. It is one of the most sought lentil curry recipe made and served as a side to rice based recipes. Having said that when the same recipe made with thick consistency, the recipe can be served as a side to roti or chapathi.

There are numerous recipes made with myriad types of lentils, which is made for different purpose and for different occasions. One such simple and easy lentil based recipe is the toor dal or arahar dal based dal tadka recipe known for its flavour from tampering.

Ingredients

½ cup toor dal, rinsed
2 tbsp masoor dal, rinsed
¼ tsp turmeric
½ tsp salt
1 tsp oil
1½ cup water
2 tbsp ghee / clarified butter
½ tsp cumin / jeera
1 bay leaf / tej patta
pinch hing / asafoetida
2 dried red chilli
2 clove garlic, crushed
1 inch ginger, crushed
1 chilli, slit
1 onion, finely chopped
¼ tsp turmeric
½ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
½ tsp coriander powder
½ tsp salt
1 tomato, finely chopped
2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
1 tsp kasuri methi, crushed
¼ tsp garam masala
1 tsp ghee / clarified butter
½ tsp cumin / jeera
pinch hing / asafoetida
1 dried red chilli
¼ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander, finely chopped

Method

* In a pressure cooker take ½ cup toor dal, 2 tbsp masoor dal. you can also add moong dal if you prefer.
also add ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp oil and 1½ cup water.

* Pressure cook for 5 whistles or until dal is cooked well.

* Add 1 cup water and adjust consistency. keep aside.

* Now in a large kadai heat 2 tbsp ghee and splutter ½ tsp cumin, 1 bay leaf, pinch hing and 2 dried red chilli.

* Also add 2 clove garlic, 1 inch ginger, 1 chilli and saute slightly.

* Further add 1 onion and saute until it turns golden brown.

* Keeping the flame on low add ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and ½ tsp salt.

* Add 1 tomato and saute until it turns soft and mushy.

* Add in cooked dal and stir well adjusting consistency as required.

* Simmer for 5 minutes or until flavours are well combined.

* Now add 2 tbsp coriander, 1 tsp kasuri methi and ¼ tsp garam masala. mix well.

* Finally, enjoy dal tadka with jeera rice or steamed rice.