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    Home » Recipes » Mains

    Red lentil dal: masoor dal tadka

    Published Nov 30, 2017, modified Mar 6, 2021 by Nicole Shroff / 9 Comments /

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy red lentil dal is healthy, full of flavour and delicious with steamed rice.

    closeup of dal in a small white bowl

    Masoor dal tadka is a popular dal in India and one of the easiest to make. The tadka (tempering), is a combination of Indian spices which are fried and immediately poured over the lentils to infuse the flavours. 

    Red lentils (masoor dal) are easily available and nice and cheap. Being high in protein, and rich in fibre, they form a valuable part of a healthy diet. They do not require pre-soaking, just rinse them well (till the water runs clear) and drain. Red lentils do cook quickly so there’s no need to get the pressure cooker/instant pot out.

    As the lentils cook, they turn yellow and have a wonderful earthy flavour. Combine with the tempering of Indian spices for a delicious aroma and an incredibly tasty dish. This is Indian comfort food! 

    Serve with hot fluffy steamed rice

    ⭐️ Are you making this recipe? Do let me know how it turned out in the comments! And please give it a star rating below!

    Instagram – I love seeing your creations, so post a picture, tag @endofthefork and hashtag #endofthefork

    ⚜

    📋 Recipe

    white bowl with yellow dal with coriander leaves and paprika garnish

    Red lentil dal: Masoor dal tadka

    Nicole Shroff
    This easy red lentil dal is healthy, full of flavour and delicious with steamed rice.
    4.92 from 12 votes
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    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 451.7 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups red lentils (masoor dal) washed and drained
    • 5 cups water
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • salt to taste
    • ½ teaspoon red chilli flakes adjust to taste
    • 1 tablespoon butter omit for vegan
    • 1 medium onions, diced
    • 1 tablespoon oil to fry onion
    • 2 green chillies, chopped
    • 1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves

    For the tempering

    • 3 tablespoons oil
    • a pinch asafoetida optional
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 inch ginger, minced
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils, water, turmeric, salt and chilli flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. When the lentils are soft, add the butter and using a hand blender, partially mash the lentils. Keep the heat on very low.
    • In a small saucepan, heat the oil and fry the onions till golden brown. Add the onions, green chillies and coriander leaves to the lentils. 
    • In the same small saucepan, heat the oil, and gently fry the asafoetida, garlic, ginger, cumin, and fenugreek seeds. As the garlic begins to turn golden, turn off the heat and immediately pour over the lentils and cover. Add lemon juice. Serve with steamed rice.

    Notes

    Omit the butter to make this vegan 

    MEASUREMENT NOTES

    The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 451.7kcalCarbohydrates: 52.5gProtein: 20.9gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3.5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 7.2mgSodium: 31.6mgFiber: 22.2gSugar: 2.3gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 6.7mg
    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to know how it turned out! Let me know by leaving a review below, or snap a photo and share it on Instagram tagging me @Endofthefork.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pat F.

      March 28, 2020 at 12:40 am

      5 stars
      Wow!! So good!!! I was lazy 😉 so I sauteed the cumin seeds with the onions when they were almost done, plus some brown mustard seeds. And I used a small can of chopped green chiles rather than fresh. I’ll be making this again for sure. Thank you! 😍

      Reply
      • Nicole Shroff

        March 28, 2020 at 12:47 am

        I’m so glad you liked it Pat, thank you!

        Reply
    2. Lisa

      March 01, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      Oh this looks yummy! I’ve never tried anything like this!

      Reply
    3. Jacqueline Debono

      March 01, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love lentils and I love dal, but I’ve never actually made it myself. Yours looks so good that now I want to try!

      Reply
    4. Jennifer

      March 01, 2018 at 1:14 am

      5 stars
      I’m all about comfort food these days and I just love the flavors in this recipe! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Nicole | What She Ate

      February 28, 2018 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      Red lentils have been my ultimate comfort food this winter. Dal is always a winner. Looks delicious!

      Reply
    6. Patty

      February 28, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      Such a delicious and comforting meal, love anything with turmeric!

      Reply
    7. Julie

      February 27, 2018 at 3:42 am

      I love dal – It can be so comforting especially during cold weather. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Julie

        March 01, 2018 at 2:38 am

        5 stars
        I love dal – It can be so comforting especially during cold weather. Thank you for sharing!

        Reply

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