Make Tarka Dal

Tarka or "tadka" is a way of cooking in which spiced butter is used to season a dish. This one is a classic, comforting lentil dish. It's fantastic with fresh coriander leaves and hot naan bread. Try our Tarka Dal recipe.

Ingredients

  • 300 g red dal or lentils
  • 850 ml water
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp ground coriander
  • 30 g butter
  • 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/4 tsp asafoetida
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala
  • 15-20 g of fresh coriander leaves
  • Salt to taste

Steps

  1. Prepare the Lentils. Put 300g of red dal into a sieve, and rinse with cold water under a tap, until the water runs almost clear.
    • Bring 850ml of water to the boil in a non-stick pan, and add the lentils.
    • Immediately, add a teaspoon of turmeric and 1/4 teaspoon of ground coriander. Stir, then leave to bubble gently for 15 to 20 minutes, until the lentils are soft, and the water is frothy. Stir occasionally.
  2. Chop the onion and garlic. Cut the ends off a medium onion, and chop finely. Crush 2 cloves of garlic, remove the skin, and chop them finely.
  3. Spice the butter. Over a medium heat, melt 30g of butter in a non-stick frying pan. Then, add 1/4 teaspoon of cumin seeds, and about a 1/4 teaspoon of asafoetida.
  4. Add onions and garlic. Add the chopped onion and garlic to the frying pan, and fry until the onion starts to brown. This will take about 6 minutes.
  5. Add more spice. Sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of chilli powder and desired amount of salt. Keep stirring.
  6. Add the Lentils. Add the boiled lentils to the pan and keep frying for another 3-4 minutes. The lentils will absorb the flavours of the butter and spices.
  7. Add Garam Masala to give it a more spicy look. Add half a teaspoon of Garam Masala, and stir. Take the pan off the heat.
  8. Serve it and enjoy. Top the dal with a knob of butter, and scatter some fresh chopped coriander leaves to garnish.
  9. Finished.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 frying pan
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 sharp knife
  • 1 teaspoon

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Sources and Citations

  • VideoJugOriginal source of content. Shared with permission.

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