Tadka / Tarka
                                       (Tempering)

Tadka or tarka is a dal garnishing also known as baghar or vaghar. Tadka is known as tempering or seasoning in English. Tadka is what actually makes the dal exotic and delicious.

Tadka consists of various spices and ingredients. The ingredients in the tadka for each variety of dal vary by region and individual tastes. In north India tadka generally the combinations of cumin seeds and asafetida and before serving hot oil tadka which is made by Ghee and red chili powder is added to dal. Generally ghee or butter is used for seasoning the above ingredients which enhances the flavors and taste of the seasoning and one can also use any vegetable or healthy oil instead of ghee. Lemon juice or mango powder (amchoor) is also used to in hence the flavor.

There are common tadka ingredients are used all over India such as mustard seed, Cumin seeds, asafetida, onion, garlic, tomatoes, ginger, coriander leaves, ginger, tamarind, curry leaves, coconut and  Sambar powder. There are numerous variations and one can create their own variation of tempering or seasoning according to their taste and choice 

Tadka is used all over India in all regions to flavor not only Dal’s but vegetables, chutneys, raita and other dishes.Tadka is either added at the very beginning or at the very end of the dish depending on what it is. For example, in dals, tadka is often added in the end while other preparations have it at the start.

Tips for Tadka:
 
Prepare and add onion tadka and cumin seeds and asafetida tadka separate, because it gives more flavors to dal.      

                        Cumin seed tadka
                                     (Hing, Jeera tadka)

​Ingredients: 

1    Teaspoon cumin seeds (Jeera)
1    Pinch of asafetida or to your taste (Hing)
1    Tablespoon vegetable oil or Butter or Ghee

Cumin seeds (Jeera)

Asafetida (Hing)

Melted butter or Ghee

​1.  In a small pan (tadka pan) add 1 tablespoon oil, cumin seeds, mustard seeds
     and asafetida and fry them for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat or until cumin
     seeds become dark brown, turn the stove off.

In a pan add oil

Add Asafetida (Hing)

Add cumin seeds (Jeera)

Cumin seeds are fried

                              Hot chili tadka
                                (Mirch ka tadka)

​Ingredients:    
                          
 1  Teaspoon crushed red chilies or red chili powder
 2   Tablespoons melted butter or ghee

Red chili powder

Butter-melted (or Ghee)

OR, Crushed red chili flakes

1. In a small pan (tadka pan) heat 2 tablespoons ghee or melted butter add
   crushed red chilies or red chile powder and fry them on very low heat for
   1 to 2 minutes or until the red chilies fried, turn the stove off.

In a pan add butter or Ghee

Add red chili powder or crushed chili & fry

                     Caramelized onion tadka
                            (Bhuna pyaz ka tadka)

 Ingredients:           

1   Medium onion- Chopped length wise
1   Tablespoon vegetable oil or Butter or Ghee

Onion-sliced

Butter-melted or Ghee

​1. Heat a frying pan, add sliced onions and 1 tablespoon of oil and sauté them
    for 7 to  8 minutes on medium high heat or until onions become dark brown,
   while stirring constantly. Turn the stove off.

In a pan add butter or ghee

Sautee onion

Add sliced onion

Onion become light brown

Onions are fried

                         Onion and tomato tadka
                             (Pyaz, tamater ka tadka)

  Ingredients:

1   Medium onion- chopped
1   Teaspoon minced garlic (optional)
1   Medium ripe tomato- chopped into small pieces
1   Medium green Chile - chopped
1   Tablespoon grated ginger (optional)
1   Tablespoons vegetable oil or Butter or Ghee

Onion-chopped

Green chili-chopped

Garlic-minced

Ginger-grated

Tomato-chopped

Butter-melted or Ghee

1. Heat a small frying pan, add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, chopped onions and
    minced  garlic. (if you are going to add garlic)​ 

In a pan add oil

Add chopped onion & minced garlic

2. Mix onion garlic with oil and  sauté.

3. In about 5 to 6 minutes onions become light brown, while frequently stirring
​    them.

Mix onion & garlic with oil and sauté

Onion become light brown

4. Add chopped tomatoes, chopped green chilies and grated ginger (if you are
    going to add ginger and green chilies) and cook.

5, With the spatula try to mash the tomatoes so that they become soft quickly.

6. In about 5 to 6 minutes tomatoes will become soft and blend with onions,
    Turn the stove off.

Add chopped tomatoes

Add chopped green chilies

Add Ginger ( If you are going to add)

Mix all the ingredients and cook

With the spatula mash Tomatoes

Onion tadka is ready

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 recipes:

Toor dal (Arhar dal)                                     Green moong dal with spinach
                                                                       (Saag ki dal)
Black urad dal (Ma ki dal)                           White urad dal
 
Chana dal                                                      Masoor dal

Whole green moong dal                                Moong dal (Yellow split moong dal)

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