Dal Fry or Dal tadka is a simple and flavourful dal recipe that makes a Comforting meal. This dal tadka recipe is popular lentil dish served in Indian restaurants. In Cooked lentils ghee fried spices & herbs known as tadka is added to make most flavourful, creamy, spicy and delicious dhaba style Dal.
What is Dal Tadka?
Dal Tadka means lentils (Dal) with a tempering(tadka). Tadka is also known as chaunk in Hindi. Tadka is a cooking technique in which a dish is tempered with spices, chilli garlic which is fried in hot ghee or oil.
That is why it is also known as Dal fry. This is one recipe that every person who loves Indian food must try. Dal and rice is one combination that is comforting and tastes super delicious.
Dals Used in Dal Tadka
For making this popular lentil dish Dal tadka usually arhar dal(skinned & split pigeon pea lentils) is used. Some people use a mix of dals. I like to use a mix of lentils. Sometimes I make a combination of Arhar dal and moong dal(skinned & split yellow moong) or moong and masoor dal (Pink lentils).
Use any of these lentils this Dal tadka recipe will make a creamy delicious dal with smoky and spicy flavour. This dal recipe is incredibly delicious and so simple and easy to make that even beginner cooks can make it.
Jump to:
- What is Dal Tadka?
- Dals Used in Dal Tadka
- About This Dal Tadka
- Ingredients Required
- Dal Tadka Recipe
- Dal Recipe
- Khatti Dal Fry Recipe Video - Hyderabad Style
- Recipe Notes & Pro tips
- How to Make Restaurant Style Smoky Dal
- What To serve with Dal Tadka?
- How To Store Leftover Dal?
- More Such Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- Making Tadka For Dal
About This Dal Tadka
- Tastes just like restaurant-style dal.
- You can make it smoky just like dhaba dal with coal and tempering.
- A simple, quick and easy to cook dal recipe that is bursting with flavours.
- Tadka adds a lot of aroma and flavour to the dish.
- A nutritious and wholesome dish packed with proteins and healthy dietary fibers.
Ingredients Required
- Lentils: Arhar dal/Split Pigeon peas, moong dal(skinned moong dal) or masoor dal(pink lentils.
- Spices & Seasonings: Salt, red chilli powder, turmeric.
- Fresh: ginger paste, green chilli, coriander leaves, lime juice.
- Tomato Onion Masala:
- Tomato: fresh tomato
- For Tadka: Ghee, cumin seeds, asafoetida, whole red chillies, red chilli powder, green chillies.
Dal Tadka Recipe
In this post, I am sharing 2 versions of the recipe.
- Khatti Dal Fry on Stovetop
- Instant Pot Dal Fry Recipe
It is a staple lentil dish that is a popular dish of Indian restaurants and most have their version of this dal.
I combine two dals (Arhar+ yellow moong) and cook them with Onion tomato masala, basic spices, ginger and water till lentils are well cooked.
Sometimes I make this in a pressure cooker on the stovetop and sometimes I cook dal in the instant pot.
Once Dal is cooked nicely Dal is tempered with tadka of spices and ghee. Tadka imparts it a nice smoky and nutty flavour.
Dal Recipe
Wash and rinse 1cup Tuvar dal ¼cup moong dal for 3-4 times in water. Add dal in the pressure cooker along with 3 cups of water. I am also sharing the instant pot method in the next section.
Also add ¼ cup onion tomato masala, salt, red chilli powder, ginger paste, turmeric powder, finely chopped tomatoes and pressure cook for 5-6 whistles. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Dal consistency should be creamy. If it is thick you can add some water to make it as per your preferred consistency.
If dal is thin, simmer it on slow heat to thicken it. Mix dal with a ladle uniformly to make a smooth and creamy consistency.
Next, add tadka for dal fry.
Heat 3 tablespoons of oil or ghee in a tadka pan (small pan). Reduce the heat and too hot ghee add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and allow them to pop. Add a pinch of asafoetida and also add slit green chillies and whole red chillis with ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder.
Immediately pour this tadka overpressure cooked dal and mix it. Add chopped coriander and squeeze the juice of lime before serving. Enjoy this warm bowl of dal with roti rice or paratha.
Khatti Dal Fry Recipe Video - Hyderabad Style
Recipe Notes & Pro tips
Onion tomato masala is perfect for making dals. You can cut short cooking time considerably if you have prepared masala in your fridge. This gives dal an authentic dhaba like the taste.
If you do not have onion tomato masala you can add ¼ cup chopped onions, 2 chopped tomatoes while pressure cooking dal. Another way is to have double tadka as I have shown in the video recipe of dal tadka.
Use fresh and good quality spices for the best aromatic flavour.
How to Make Restaurant Style Smoky Dal
An extra step of Dhungar can take dal to next level by adding a smoky flavour to it.
For that heat a piece of coal and place that in a bowl. Pour a teaspoon of ghee over coal and immediately place this bowl in the cooked dal and cover with a lid of 5 minutes.
After that remove the bowl from the pot and pour the final tadka.
What To serve with Dal Tadka?
Dal chawal is one of the best healthy and satisfying meal combinations you can serve tadka Dal Fry with Basmati rice or jeera rice.
Dal also tastes best with flatbreads like Garlic Naan, Butter Naan, laccha Paratha , masala paratha or tandoori roti.
How To Store Leftover Dal?
You can store leftover dal fry in the fridge for 2-3 days. I mostly make an extra batch. You can also easily freeze dal makhani. Store it in a ziplock bag or a freezer safe container. You can freeze it upto 10-12 weeks in freezer
More Such Recipes
-
Slow cooked Dal Makhani in Pressure cooker
-
Healthy Stove Top Dal Makhani
-
Rajma Masala
-
Green Moong Dal
-
Chana Masala
-
Lagar Wali Dal
-
Punjabi Dal Palak
-
Sabut Masoor Dal
-
Gujarati Dal Recipe
-
Dal Fry Recipe
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📖 Recipe
Dal Tadka - Dal Fry Recipe
Equipment
- pressure cooker
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
For Dal
- 1 cup Split Pigeon pea tuvar dal
- ¼ cup moong dal
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red chilli
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
For Tadka
- 2 tablespoon Ghee
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ⅕ teaspoon asafoetida
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 green chillies
- 2 dried Red chillies
- ½ teaspoon red chilli
For Garnish
- 1 lime cut into slices
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves/cilantro
Instructions
Cooking Dal - Stove Top Method
- Wash and rinse 1cup Tuvar dal ¼cup moong dal for 3-4 times in water. Add dal in the pressure cooker along with 3 cups of water. I am also sharing the instant pot method in the next section.
- Also add ¼ cup onion tomato masala, salt, red chilli powder, ginger paste, turmeric powder, finely chopped tomatoes.
- Pressure cook for 5-6 whistles. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Dal consistency should be creamy. If it is thick you can add some water to make it as per your preferred consistency.
- If dal is thin, simmer it on slow heat to thicken it. Mix dal with a ladle uniformly to make a smooth and creamy consistency.
Making Dal Tadka
- Next, add tadka for dal fry.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee in a tadka pan (small pan). Reduce the heat before it becomes too hot.
- Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and allow them to pop. Add a pinch of asafoetida and also add slit green chillies and whole red chillis with ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder.
- Pour this hot tadka over dal and mix well.
- Add chopped coriander and again mix Dal well to make this most delicious Dal fry.
Dal Tadka in Instant Pot
- Wash and rinse 1cup Tuvar dal ¼cup moong dal for 3-4 times in water.
- Add dals in the inner pot of the Instant pot along with 3 cups of water.
- Put ¼ cup onion tomato masala, salt, red chilli powder, ginger paste, turmeric powder, finely chopped tomatoes in the Instant pot.
- Set the Instant pot on high pressure setting and the timer to 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 7 minutes.
- After that force release the pressure by turning pressure valve to venting position and once all pressure is released open the lid.
- Dal consistency should be creamy. If it is thick you can add some boiling water to make it as per your preferred consistency. If dal is too thin you can turn the saute mode on instant pot and cook dal for few minutes.
For Tadka
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee in a tadka pan (small pan).
- Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and allow them to pop. Add a pinch of asafoetida and also add slit green chillies and whole red chillis with ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder.
- Immediately pour this tadka over simmering dal. Mix and then add chopped cilantro.
- Serve this dal tadka with steaming hot rice and finish with lime juice and Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Dal Tadka in Instant Pot - Step by Step
-
Wash and rinse 1cup Tuvar dal ¼cup moong dal for 3-4 times in water.
-
Add dals in the inner pot of the Instant pot.
-
Put ¼ cup onion tomato masala, salt, red chilli powder, ginger paste, turmeric powder, finely chopped tomatoes in the Instant pot.
- Add 3 cups of water.
-
Set the Instant pot on high pressure setting and the timer to 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 7 minutes.
-
After that force release the pressure by turning pressure valve to venting position and once all pressure is released open the lid.
-
Dal consistency should be creamy. If it is thick you can add some boiling water to make it as per your preferred consistency. If dal is too thin you can turn the saute mode on instant pot and cook dal for few minutes.
Making Tadka For Dal
-
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee in a tadka pan (small pan).
-
Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and allow them to pop.
-
Add a pinch of asafoetida.
- add slit green chillies.
-
whole red chillis.
-
¼ teaspoon red chilli powder.
-
Immediately pour this tadka over simmering dal.
-
Mix and then add chopped cilantro.
-
Serve this dal tadka with steaming hot rice and finish with lime juice and Enjoy!
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