Dal Recipe

Dal is a North Indian dish mostly served with roti or rice. It is very simple and easy to prepare. It can be prepared with a single dal or a mix of 2-3 dals. I have used a mix of both moong dal and toor dal for preparing this dish. Today we will learn how to make basic dal following this easy recipe with step wise pictures.

Dal with roti

Dal Recipe


 Prep Time : 15 mins

Cook Time : 20 mins
Serves: 2
Recipe Category: Side Dish
Recipe Cuisine: North Indian

   Ingredients needed

   Split Moong Dal/pasi paruppu -1/4 cup
   Toor Dal /Arhar dal- 1/4 cup

   Finely Chopped onions – 1/2 cup
   Finely chopped tomatoes – 1/2 cup
   Ginger -1 inch piece (peeled and finely chopped)
   Garlic -2-3 cloves minced
   Green chilli -1 finely chopped
   Fresh lemon juice -1 tbsp
   Salt as required

   Spice Powder

   Turmeric powder – a pinch
   Coriander powder -1 tsp
   Cumin powder – 3/4 tsp
   Chilli powder -1/2 tsp
   Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp

   For the seasoning

   Oil – 1 tbsp
   Mustard seeds – 3/4 tsp
   Jeera/cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
   Urad dal – 1/2 tsp (optional)
   Red chilli -1
   Asafoetida/hing -a pinch

Preparation

Soak both the dal together in warm water for 15 minutes. Pressure cook with needed water (just enough water to cover the dal) and a pinch of turmeric powder for 3 whistles. Mash it well and keep it aside.

Finely chop onion, tomatoes, green chilli and ginger. Keep all the ingredients needed ready for seasoning.

Method

Heat 1 tbsp of oil, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add cumin seeds, when it sizzles, add urad dal, hing and red chilli.

When urad dal turns golden brown, add finely chopped onions and saute until they become golden brown. Add a little salt to speed up the process.


Add ginger, garlic and saute for a few more minutes.


Add tomatoes, all the spice powder, salt needed and cook until tomatoes become mushy and oil separates. If it is too dry, you can add 1-2 tbsp of water.

Then add cooked dal, 1 1/2 cups of water and simmer over low heat for a few minutes. Adjust water according to the consistency required. Remove from flame. The consistency of the dal should neither be too thin nor too thick.

Add lemon juice, mix well and garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot with chapati or roti or rice. Enjoy!

Do check out my

How to cook dal

Dal Makhani 

Masoor dal Tadka

Dal Palak 

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