Make Dhaba-Style Dal Tadka With This Easy Recipe

By Suprita Mitter

November 5, 2024

Dal Tadka is a comforting, flavourful Indian dish made from lentils simmered with aromatic spices and topped with a tempering of ghee, cumin, garlic, and chillies. Its rich, smoky flavour and inviting aroma make it perfect when paired with steamed rice or roti.

Ingredients

1 cup toor dal (pigeon pea lentils) 3 cups water 1 onion 2 tomatoes 2-3 green chillies 4-5 garlic cloves 1-inch ginger

Ingredients

1/2 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp mustard seeds 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 2 tbsp ghee Fresh coriander leaves 1/2 tsp garam masala 1 dry red chilli Pinch of asafoetida 

Step 1

Pressure cook toor for 3-4 whistles or until the dal is soft. Mash lightly. Heat ghee in a pan. Add cumin and mustard seeds, letting them splutter.

Step 2

Add chopped garlic, grated ginger, and dry red chilli. Sauté until garlic turns golden. Add the chopped onions and green chillies. Sauté until the onions are translucent.

Step 3

Mix in the chopped tomatoes and cook until soft, adding salt and red chilli powder.

Step 4

Pour the cooked dal into the pan with the onion-tomato mixture. Simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add garam masala if using.

Step 5

In a small pan, heat 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add a pinch of asafoetida and a dry red chilli. Pour this over the dal. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.