Soak Arhar dal in water for an hour or so.
I always prefer to cook dal in pressure cooker add dal and put it in the cooker along with 3 cups water salt and red chilli powder. Cover the lid and cook until three whistles.
Remove from heat and let the dal cook in its steam for 10 minutes before you open the lid of pressure cooker.
If you do not have pressure cooker add 2 more cups of water and cook covered till dal is cooked through and still you can make out shape of dal.
Keep it aside and prepare tempering for Arhar dal.
Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a tadka pan. Add bay leaves and grated ginger followed by pinch of asafoetida powder in few seconds add cumin seeds too. When seeds start sizzling your tempering is ready and add this tempering to cooked dal and serve hot with steamed rice or as my daughter likes it with Kulcha bread.