Dal Tadka - Lentil curry with Onion and Tomato

Dal  tadka with step by step photos

Dal Tadka is a north Indian curry which can be consumed with both roti and rice. We have one Kerala version for this and most of us preparing this very often. It is nothing but a lentil curry with tomato and onion which is later seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves and cumin seeds. Tadka is the seasoning method which we called thalikkal in malayalam.  You can add a pinch of asafoetida also.  A very easy preparation for our daily menu. Try this and hope you will like this.

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Dal Tadka | Curry for Idli | Side dish for Idli

Tasty lentil curry

Preparation time:10 minutes | Cooking time: 20 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup toor dal + 1/2 cup masoor dal or 1 cup toor dal
• 3 cups of water
• 1 medium onion
• 1 small tomato
• 1 small ginger
• 3 garlic
• 3 green chilies
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 chili powder
• Coriander leaves
• Salt as needed

For tempering or for Tadka

• 3 tablespoons of oil
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds / Jeerakam
• 2 dried red chilies
• 1 spring curry leaves

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Dal tadka with step by step photos

1. Take pinkish-red lentil (masoor dal or masoor parippu) and split pigeon (toor dal or tuvara parippu)peas in a pressure cooker
   
2. Add enough water and pressure cook it till turn soft. 
   
3. Heat oil in a pan. Crackle mustard seeds.
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4. Add 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds and  two dried red chillies and saute for a minute
   
5. Add some curry leaves. Wait till the sputtering stops. This is Tadka. You can do this step at the end also. As I don't want to consume more oil, I usually follow this method.
   
6. To this add chopped onion, garlic, ginger and green chilies. Saute till the onions turn translucent. 
   
7. Reduce the flame to low and add chili powder and turmeric powder. Saute immediately to avoid burning. 
   
8. Add in the chopped tomatoes and saute till tomatoes turn soft.
   
9. To this add the cooked lentil along with water if any.
   
10. Add about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water depending on the consistency you want and mix well.
    
11. Mix salt to taste.
    
12. Cook on high flame till the gravy thickens and the all the spices and lentil combine well.
    
13. Serve hot with chapathi, jeera rice or with steamed rice.
    

Tips

1. You can use either a single variety of lentil and a combination of lentil for this dish. Both are equally delicious. 
2. You can add some asafoetida, ginger and garlic while tempering.