Masala Tadka Dal
(Arhar Dal)
Masala tadka dal is a spicy and flavorful dal. It is called masala dal because spicy tadka is added to the dal. This spicy dal is served with hot chapattis or tandoori roti in many Dhabs (street side food stalls) and restaurants.
Masala dal is usually prepared with Toor dal (arhar dal) which is a very simple and easy to cook dal but when you give spicy tadka of onion, garlic, tomato and green chilies it becomes spicy and flavorful. Tadka means tempering in Hindi and every household has its own combination of seasoning for tadka. Most often tadka dal is prepared with Toor dal but you can prepare with Masoor dal, chana dal, Moong dal or combination of dals.
Masala dal is usually prepared with Toor dal (arhar dal) which is a very simple and easy to cook dal but when you give spicy tadka of onion, garlic, tomato and green chilies it becomes spicy and flavorful. Tadka means tempering in Hindi and every household has its own combination of seasoning for tadka. Most often tadka dal is prepared with Toor dal but you can prepare with Masoor dal, chana dal, Moong dal or combination of dals.
Ingredients for dal:
1 Cup Toor Dal
½ Teaspoon turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon salt or to your taste
1 Teaspoon oil
4 Cups of water
Serving for 4
Cooking measurement conversion
Measurement converter
1 Cup Toor Dal
½ Teaspoon turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon salt or to your taste
1 Teaspoon oil
4 Cups of water
Serving for 4
Cooking measurement conversion
Measurement converter
Toor dal (Arhar dal)
Turmeric powder
Oil
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Salt
Water
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Ingredients for onion tadka:
(See tadka)
1 Medium onion- chopped
1 Teaspoon minced garlic
1 Medium ripe tomato- chopped into small pieces
1 Medium green chili - chopped
2 Tablespoons coriander leaves chopped
1 Tablespoon Ghee or Butter (or 1Tablespoons vegetable oil)
(See tadka)
1 Medium onion- chopped
1 Teaspoon minced garlic
1 Medium ripe tomato- chopped into small pieces
1 Medium green chili - chopped
2 Tablespoons coriander leaves chopped
1 Tablespoon Ghee or Butter (or 1Tablespoons vegetable oil)
Onion-chopped
Green chili-chopped
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Garlic-minced
Coriander leaves
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Tomato-chopped
Ghee or melted butter
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Ingredients cumin seed tadka:
1 Teaspoon cumin seeds
1 Pinch of asafetida
1 Ghee or butter (or 1Tablespoon vegetable oil)
1 Teaspoon cumin seeds
1 Pinch of asafetida
1 Ghee or butter (or 1Tablespoon vegetable oil)
Cumin seeds
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Asafetida (Hing)
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Ghee or butter
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Ingredients for hot chili tadka:
½ Teaspoon crushed red chilies or red chili powder
2 Tablespoons melted butter or ghee
½ Teaspoon crushed red chilies or red chili powder
2 Tablespoons melted butter or ghee
Red chili powder
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Ghee or Butter
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Directions for cooking dal:
1. In a pressure cooker add dal and wash , changing water several times until the
water appears clear and then soak dal in 6 cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes.
1. In a pressure cooker add dal and wash , changing water several times until the
water appears clear and then soak dal in 6 cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Add Dal in Pressure cooker
Wash and rinse Dal
Soak Dal in water
2. Once dal is soaked drain all the water out and wash.
Dal is soaked
Wash and rinse soaked Dal
Soaked Arhar dal
3. Add 4 cups of water, turmeric powder, salt and 1 teaspoon of oil and mix.When
dal is boiling it create lot of foam and the foam comes out from pressure cooker
to prevent that it is a good idea to add little oil.
dal is boiling it create lot of foam and the foam comes out from pressure cooker
to prevent that it is a good idea to add little oil.
Add water in soaked dal
Add turmeric powder
Mix turmeric powder well
Add salt and mix
Add oil and mix
4. Close the lid of the pressure cooker, place the weight on the lid and cook on
medium high heat.
medium high heat.
Close the pressure cooker
5. In about 8 to 10 minutes pressure cooker will start steaming turn the heat
down and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the stove off and wait until steam
goes down. Different brand of cooker requires different time to cook.
6. While dal is cooking prepare onion tadka and cumin seed tadka and keep it
aside (see below for tadka direction)
7. Open the pressure cooker, turn the stove on to medium heat, with the cooking
spoon mix Dal well so there are no lumps.
8. Dal should have some texture, so do not overcook it or mash it. (If Dal is
overcooked and become like soup that is fine to and it will still taste good)
down and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the stove off and wait until steam
goes down. Different brand of cooker requires different time to cook.
6. While dal is cooking prepare onion tadka and cumin seed tadka and keep it
aside (see below for tadka direction)
7. Open the pressure cooker, turn the stove on to medium heat, with the cooking
spoon mix Dal well so there are no lumps.
8. Dal should have some texture, so do not overcook it or mash it. (If Dal is
overcooked and become like soup that is fine to and it will still taste good)
Open the Pressure cooker
Mix Dal
Toor Dal is cooked
9. Add Onion tadka and mix it well and let it cook for 5 minutes.If the Dal is
thick then add more water, if it is too watery then cook little longer.
thick then add more water, if it is too watery then cook little longer.
Add onion, tomato tadka
Mix onion, tomato tadka well
Let the Tadka cook with Dal
10. Add cumin seed tadka and cook for a minute turn the stove off or once you
have the desired constancy of dal.
have the desired constancy of dal.
Add Cumin seed tadka
Mix cumin seed tadka
Tadka Dal is cooked
11. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves and mix.
Sprinkle coriander leaves
Mix coriander leaves with Dal
Masala Tadka Dal
Masala tadka Toor Dal (Arhar Dal)
12. When ready to serve, transfer dal in a serving bowl and pour hot chili tadka
over dal. (See below for hot chili tadka)
over dal. (See below for hot chili tadka)
Masala tadka toor Dal (Arhar Dal)
Tips:
Cook dal in pressure cooker otherwise it takes too long to cook dal.
Cook dal in pressure cooker otherwise it takes too long to cook dal.
Directions for onion Tadka: (See tadka)
1. Heat small frying pan, add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, chopped onions and
minced garlic and sauté them on medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until
onions become light brown, while frequently stirring them. (Instead of oil you
can use butter or Ghee)
1. Heat small frying pan, add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, chopped onions and
minced garlic and sauté them on medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until
onions become light brown, while frequently stirring them. (Instead of oil you
can use butter or Ghee)
In a pan add oil, onions & garlic
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Sauté onion and garlic
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2. Add chopped Tomatoes, chopped green chilies and cook.
Onions become light brown
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Add chopped Tomatoes
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3. With the spatula try to mash the tomatoes so that they become soft quickly,
in 5 to 6 minutes tomatoes will become soft and blend with onions. Turn the
stove off.
in 5 to 6 minutes tomatoes will become soft and blend with onions. Turn the
stove off.
Add chopped Green chilies
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Mix all the ingredients
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With spatula mash Tomatoes
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Onion tadka is ready
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Cumin Seed Tadka: (tadka)
1. In a small pan (tadka pan) add 1 tablespoon oil, cumin seeds, and asafetida
(Hing) and fry them for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat or until cumin seeds
become dark brown, turn the heat off.
1. In a small pan (tadka pan) add 1 tablespoon oil, cumin seeds, and asafetida
(Hing) and fry them for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat or until cumin seeds
become dark brown, turn the heat off.
In a pan add oil
Add Asafetida (Hing)
|
Add cumin seeds (Jeera)
Cumin seeds are fried
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Hot chili Tadka: (Hot oil) (Tadka)
1. In a small pan (tadka pan) heat 2 tablespoons ghee or melted butter add crushed red chilies or red chili powder and fry them on very low heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until the red chilies fried, turn the heat off.
Hot chili Tadka: (Hot oil) (Tadka)
1. In a small pan (tadka pan) heat 2 tablespoons ghee or melted butter add crushed red chilies or red chili powder and fry them on very low heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until the red chilies fried, turn the heat off.
Add ghee or Butter in the pan
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Add chili powder
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Please take the time to let me know what you think about my recipe. Your comments would be helpful to me to improve the recipe.
Thank you
Geeta Seth
Please take the time to let me know what you think about my recipe. Your comments would be helpful to me to improve the recipe.
Thank you
Geeta Seth
Other recipe:
Toor Dal and rice khichdi Chana dal
(Arhar dal with rice khicdi)
Moong dal
Urad dal
Masoor dal Trevti dal
Moong dal and rice khichdi Muttar pulao (Rice with green peas)
Sambhar Chapatti (Pulkha or roti)
Boiled white rice Lachha roti (Spiral layered roti)
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