{"slug":"masoor-dal-tadka","collection":"michael","is_recipe":true,"visibility":"public","title":"Masoor Dal Tadka","description":"Silky red lentil dal with a spiced onion-tomato masala, finished with a crispy fried garlic and mustard seed tadka poured tableside.","body_md":"\n## Ingredients\n\n### For the Dal\n\n- 190g split red lentils\n- 711ml (3 cups) water, plus more as needed\n- ½ tsp ground turmeric\n- 1 tbsp canola oil or ghee\n- 1 tsp cumin seeds\n- 1 red onion, halved and finely diced\n- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced\n- 1 serrano chili, slit lengthwise\n- 1 plum or roma tomato, diced (with juices)\n- 1 tsp garam masala\n- 1 tsp ground coriander\n- ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder (optional)\n- Salt and black pepper to taste\n\n### For the Crispy Garlic Tadka\n\n- 1 tbsp canola oil or ghee\n- 1 large garlic clove, thinly sliced\n- 1 tsp brown or black mustard seeds (optional)\n\n### To Finish\n\n- 1 handful fresh cilantro, minced\n- 1 lime, for serving\n- Cooked white rice or chapati, for serving\n\n## Instructions\n\n### Make the Dal\n\n1. Rinse the lentils in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear. Transfer to a medium saucepan with the 711ml water and bring to a boil over high heat. Skim off any white foam that rises to the surface.\n\n2. Stir in the turmeric, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 to 25 minutes until the lentils are completely tender and have broken down into a soupy, slightly textured consistency. If the water reduces too much, add up to 120–180ml (½–¾ cup) more.\n\n### Make the Masala (while the lentils simmer)\n\n3. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and cook until they begin to sizzle, about 30 seconds.\n\n4. Add the onion and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes until soft, translucent in the middle, and lightly golden at the edges — not burnt.\n\n5. Add the garlic and chili and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.\n\n6. Add the tomato and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture breaks down into a thick, paste-like consistency, 7 to 8 minutes.\n\n7. Stir in the garam masala, coriander, and Kashmiri chili powder if using. Season generously with salt and pepper — the masala should taste slightly saltier and more intensely spiced than you want the finished dal to be, as the lentils will dilute it.\n\n### Combine and Make the Tadka\n\n8. Add the cooked lentils to the masala pan and stir to combine. Simmer for 1 minute. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and spices.\n\n9. In a small pan, heat the tadka oil over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until pale golden on both sides, about 2 minutes. Add the mustard seeds (if using) and cook until they sizzle and pop, 10 to 15 seconds. Remove from heat immediately.\n\n### Finish\n\n10. Divide the dal into serving bowls. Pour the hot tadka directly over each bowl just before serving — this keeps the garlic crispy. Garnish with cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Serve with rice or chapati.\n\n## Notes\n\n- **Salt generously:** Lentils are bland on their own and need assertive seasoning to shine.\n- **Tadka timing:** Pour the tadka over individual bowls at the table rather than into the pot — it stays crispier longer.\n- **Spice freshness:** Fresh, aromatic spices make a noticeable difference in this recipe. Old spices may need increased quantities.\n\n## Storage\n\nRefrigerate in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat. The tadka won't stay crispy but the dal keeps well — make a fresh tadka when reheating if you want that texture back.\n\n*Source: Karishma Pradhan*\n","draft":false,"servings":"4","prep_time":"20 minutes","cook_time":"45 minutes","total_time":"1 hour 5 minutes","source_name":"Karishma Pradhan","created_at":"2026-03-23T05:00:00Z","categories":["Main"],"tags":["Dal","Gluten-Free","Indian","Lentils","Main Course","Red Lentils","Vegan Adaptable","Vegetarian"],"methods":["Stove-Top"],"themes":["Indian","Vegetarian"],"ingredients":[{"section":"For the Dal","items":["- 190g split red lentils","- 711ml (3 cups) water, plus more as needed","- ½ tsp ground turmeric","- 1 tbsp canola oil or ghee","- 1 tsp cumin seeds","- 1 red onion, halved and finely diced","- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced","- 1 serrano chili, slit lengthwise","- 1 plum or roma tomato, diced (with juices)","- 1 tsp garam masala","- 1 tsp ground coriander","- ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder (optional)","- Salt and black pepper to taste"],"parsed":[{"raw":"- 190g split red lentils","qty":190,"unit":"g","item":"split red lentils"},{"raw":"- 711ml (3 cups) water, plus more as needed","qty":711,"unit":"ml","item":"water","prep":"plus more as needed"},{"raw":"- ½ tsp ground turmeric","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","item":"ground turmeric"},{"raw":"- 1 tbsp canola oil or ghee","qty":1,"unit":"tbsp","item":"canola oil or ghee"},{"raw":"- 1 tsp cumin seeds","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"cumin seeds"},{"raw":"- 1 red onion, halved and finely diced","qty":1,"item":"red onion","prep":"halved and finely diced"},{"raw":"- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced","qty":2,"unit":"clove","item":"garlic","prep":"finely minced"},{"raw":"- 1 serrano chili, slit lengthwise","qty":1,"item":"serrano chili, slit lengthwise"},{"raw":"- 1 plum or roma tomato, diced (with juices)","qty":1,"item":"plum or roma tomato","prep":"diced"},{"raw":"- 1 tsp garam masala","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"garam masala"},{"raw":"- 1 tsp ground coriander","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"ground coriander"},{"raw":"- ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder (optional)","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","item":"Kashmiri chili powder"},{"raw":"- Salt and black pepper to taste","item":"Salt and black pepper to taste"}]},{"section":"For the Crispy Garlic Tadka","items":["- 1 tbsp canola oil or ghee","- 1 large garlic clove, thinly sliced","- 1 tsp brown or black mustard seeds (optional)"],"parsed":[{"raw":"- 1 tbsp canola oil or ghee","qty":1,"unit":"tbsp","item":"canola oil or ghee"},{"raw":"- 1 large garlic clove, thinly sliced","qty":1,"item":"large garlic clove","prep":"thinly sliced"},{"raw":"- 1 tsp brown or black mustard seeds (optional)","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"brown or black mustard seeds"}]},{"section":"To Finish","items":["- 1 handful fresh cilantro, minced","- 1 lime, for serving","- Cooked white rice or chapati, for serving"],"parsed":[{"raw":"- 1 handful fresh cilantro, minced","qty":1,"item":"handful fresh cilantro","prep":"minced"},{"raw":"- 1 lime, for serving","qty":1,"item":"lime","prep":"for serving"},{"raw":"- Cooked white rice or chapati, for serving","item":"Cooked white rice or chapati","prep":"for serving"}]}],"servings_int":4,"qc":{"status":"passed","last_checked_at":"2026-07-30T02:01:50.820749Z","checked_by":"robert@sigler.io","standard_version":"2026-07-29","findings_count":0,"stale":false}}