Indian · Dinner · All year
Dal Tadka
4.6 · community
10m
Prep
40m
Cook
Easy
Level
340
Energy
Everyday dal elevated by the tadka: spices and curry leaves crackled in hot ghee, poured over at the table with an audible sizzle.
What you need
Ingredients
Servings
4
Before you start
Mise en place
Equipment
Large skillet
Chef's knife
Cutting board
Prep checklist
Toor Dal — or moong dal, rinsed
Tomato — chopped
Red Chili — slit
Garlic — sliced
3 steps
Method
1
Simmer the dal with turmeric and salt in 900 ml water until collapsing, 30–35 minutes; mash lightly, add tomatoes for 5 more.
38 min — timer available in cooking mode
2
The tadka: heat ghee until shimmering; add mustard seeds (they pop), cumin, garlic, chilies, curry leaves, and asafoetida — 45 loud seconds.
1 min — timer available in cooking mode
Why this works
The tadka is finished when the kitchen suddenly smells like a different country. Pour immediately — it fades by the minute.
3
Pour the sizzling tadka over the dal at the table. Cilantro, rice, done.
From the pass
Chef's notes
Taste before serving and adjust salt and acid — the last 30 seconds of seasoning matter more than any single ingredient.
Afterwards
Keep, reheat & pair
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of water.
Freezing
Freezes well up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat gently: covered in a 160°C oven for 15 minutes, or in a pan over medium-low with a splash of water or stock. The microwave works at 50% power in short bursts — full blast toughens proteins.
Make ahead
Most braises and sauces improve overnight. Sear-and-serve dishes: do every step up to the final cook, then finish fresh.
Wine pairing
Match the weight of the dish — ask the AI Chef for a specific bottle.
Beer pairing
Match intensity: lagers for delicate dishes, amber ales for roasted flavors, stouts for the rich and braised.
On the plate
Serve it with
Sides
Crusty bread or buttered rice
A sharp green salad
Roasted seasonal vegetables
Garnish
Fresh herbs added off the heat
A squeeze of lemon
Flaky salt
Taste map
Flavour profile
Sweet
1
Salty
3
Sour
1
Bitter
0
Umami
4
Heat
1
Per serving
Nutrition
340
kcal
18g
protein
48g
carbs
10g
fat
3g
fiber
520mg
sodium
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Your notes
Understand it
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