Dal Tadka
Learn how to make Dal Tadka (Stove Top Pressure Cooker and Instant Pot Recipe) | Restaurant Style Dal Tadka Recipe
Equipment
- Pressure cooker Indian Pressure Cooker(stove top)
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Knife
- Ladle
- Chopper to chop onions and tomato
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Toor Dal/Arhar Dal Yellow Pigeon Pea
- 1 Medium Onion Finely Chopped
- 2 Medium Tomatoes Finely Chopped
- 1 Finely chopped or minced Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Finely chopped ginger
- 1-2 Green Chillies Finely chopped
- ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
- ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
- ¼ tsp Asafoetida/Hing
- ½ tsp Garam Masala
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp Desi Ghee or or any Vegetable Oil
For Tempering/Tadka
- 1-2 tbsp Desi Ghee or any Vegetable Oil
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1-2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- 4-5 Curry Leaves optional
- 1 tsp Finely chopped or minced Garlic
- ½ Chopped Onion
- 1 Dry Whole Red Chlli optional
- Chopped Coriander /Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Prepare and gather the ingredients
- Wash dal in fresh water 2-3 times and then soak for 15-20 mins. in 1-2 cups of water.1 Cup Toor Dal/Arhar Dal
- Prepared all the other ingredients . Finely chop onion, tomato, garlic, ginger and green chilli.
Cook Dal in Indian Pressure Cooker Stove Top
- When ready to cook, drain the water, transfer dal to pressure cooker and then add 2-3 cups water.
- Switch on the gas, let the dal boil for 2-3 mins. There will be froth collected at the top, discard it.1 Cup Toor Dal/Arhar Dal
- Then add salt, turmeric. Place the lid and seal it.½ tsp Turmeric Powder, Salt to taste
- Let the pressure come and cook dal on HIGH heat for 1-2 whistles.
- After that lower the gas and let the dal cook for 10 mins. Then switch of the gas and let the pressure release naturally.
- Remove the lid, and check the consistency of dal. Add water about 1/4 cup or as required if it is thick.
- Mix and lightly mash the dal using back of the ladle.
Prepare Onion Tomato Masala
- In another pan, heat ghee/oil. Add cumin seeds and asafoetida, once the seeds crackle, add finely chopped green chillies, garlic and ginger.1 Finely chopped or minced Garlic, 1/2 tsp Finely chopped ginger, ½ tsp Cumin Seeds, ¼ tsp Asafoetida/Hing, 1 tbsp Desi Ghee or, 1-2 Green Chillies
- Saute for 1 min. or till the raw smell of garlic goes away.
- Then add finely chopped onions. Saute till it becomes light brown.1 Medium Onion
- Add finely chopped tomatoes now. Cook till soft and mushy. You can cover the pan while tomatoes are cooking.2 Medium Tomatoes
- When tomatoes start leaving oil, add garam masala and cook for few seconds.½ tsp Garam Masala
- Dal is ready.
Prepare Tadka
- When ready to serve, prepare tadka.
- Heat ghee in tadka pan, add cumin seeds and whole red chilli.1 tsp Cumin Seeds, 1 Dry Whole Red Chlli, 1-2 tbsp Desi Ghee
- When seeds crackle, add finely chopped garlic saute till it starts getting light brown.1 tsp Finely chopped or minced Garlic
- Add chopped onions (if using) and curry leaves, saute till onions turn light brown.½ Chopped Onion, 4-5 Curry Leaves
- Add red chilli powder and then transfer the tadka to dal.1-2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- Cover dal for few mins. after adding tadka. Garnish with fresh coriander.Chopped Coriander /Cilantro for garnish
- Serve hot with chapatis or rice.
Cook dal in Open Pan Stove Top
- Soak dal for about 2 hrs. In open pan/pot boil water, add soaked lentils with asafoetida(optional), salt, and turmeric powder and cook till dal is soft. It takes about 30-45 mins depending on the weather and the place. Add water in the ratio 1:3 or 1:4 (dal to water) if dal is takes longer to cook. Add tadka before serving.
Cook Dal in Microwave
- Microwaves also can be used for cooking dal. Soak dal for 2 hrs, then microwave pre-soaked dal for 40 mins HIGH. Add salt, turmeric and water in the ratio 1:3 (dal to water). Add tadka before serving.
Cook Dal in Instant Pot
- Add dal and then set the SAUTE Mode on for 10 mins.
- When the screen shows HOT, add ghee/oil, hen add cumin seeds.
- When the seeds crackle, add curry leaves(optional), chopped ginger garlic, green chillies. Saute for a min.
- Add chopped onions and saute till light brown.
- Then, add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft and mushy.
- Add turmeric powder, garam masala and cook for another 1 min, Keep on stirring and scraping the base so that there is no masala sticking .
- Now drain the water from soaked dal, add it to the onion tomato masala.
- Add about 2-3 cups water, cancel the SAUTE Mode.
- Set the PRESSURE COOK Mode on for 10 mins. Cover and seal the lid.
- When the cooking time is over, wait for another 10 mins and then do the 'Quick Release Pressure'.
- Check the consistency of Dal. If it is too thick then add about 1/4 cup or as required and then cook dal on SAUTE mode for 5 mins. Take care the dal doesn't burn at the bottom.
- Add tadka before serving.
Notes
You can add ¼ Cup any other dal like Yellow Moong dal, Chana Dal or Red Lentils(Dhuli Masoor) along with Toor Dal. Replace these dal with same amount of toor dal. Total quantity of dal for the recipe should be 1 cup.
No onion garlic Dal Tadka, omit onion and garlic. to make masala, only ad chopped tomatoes, ginger and green chillies after adding cumin seeds.
Add chillies and red chilli powder as per your heat tolerance.
Replace Ghee with vegetable oil for Vegans and those who avoid oil in there diet.
Skip Asafoetida or use Gluten-free version, for Gluten-free Dal Recipe.
To cook dal in open pan or microwave, soak dal for about 2 hrs. It will shorten the cooking time and also make the dal soft and buttery.
Did you try the recipe..Share @foodtrails25 or tag me #foodtrails25!
Tried this recipe?Share @foodtrails25 or tag me #foodtrails25!