HOME        |        ABOUT        |        COPYRIGHT        |        CONTACT        |         RECIPE INDEX        |         INDIAN THAALIS        |         MILLET RECIPES        |        EVENTS' ROUNDUP        

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Delicious Dals ~ Dal Tadka / Tadka Dal / Tarka Dal

D for Dal Tadka

(Dal is the Hindi term used for both dried and cooked legumes.)
A meal of dal and rice spells comfort to most Indians regardless of where they have come from. Legumes play a significant role in both vegetarian and non vegetarian homes of India and a simple, nutritious dal is the most essential part of everyday cooking. The variety of legumes used, the cooking techniques applied or the ingredients that go into the preparation may vary regionally but dal is a part of the rich, culinary tradition of Indian sub continent.  
Dal tadka is one such simple, heartwarming legume preparations from the northern parts of India. Chana dal / toor dal / moong cooked until creamy, flavored with a ghee tadka and served with rice / dal sounds so heavenly. 

Ingredients (4 - 6 servings):
1 cup chana dal / yellow split peas (or substitute with toor dal)
1 Tbsp oil / ghee
1 tsp ginger grated
1 tsp cumin seeds
5 - 6 Serrano peppers, sliced lengthwise or any other variety green chillies as needed
A pinch of asafoetida
1/8 tsp turmeric powder
1 onion, chopped fine
2 tomatoes, chopped fine
Salt to taste
Chopped cilantro to garnish
Crisp fried onions to garnish (optional but recommended)
(Use garlic if you prefer it. Some add spice powders too to this dish but I keep it to this basic version which is appealing to both my eyes and tummy.)


Method:
* Soak chana dal ahead, for about 1 - 2hours. Cook chana dal in a pressure cooker until the dal reaches break apart stage. You can further whisk it or mash it with the back of a ladle.
* Heat oil in a pan and add ginger. Fry until it turns brown and crisp and then add the cumin seeds. When it starts to brown, add chillies, turmeric and asafoetida. Fry for few seconds, add the onions and keep frying on low flame until it turns translucent. Later add the tomatoes and cook until mushy.
* Add chana dal and salt to the onion - tomato mixture and simmer for a couple of minutes.
* Garnish with cilantro and fried onions.
* Serve with warm rotis / rice.

20 comments:

anjana said...

Delicious and so creamy daal..nice recipe

chef and her kitchen said...

I hv a version in my drafts too..would post soon..very comfortable food

Tina said...

Really so colourful and delicious...Nice clicks too..

lubnakarim06 said...

One of my favorites...goes well with jeera rice too....dal tadka looks creamy and yum....

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Simple and fabulous dhal! Great accompaniment to Roti.

FewMinute Wonders said...

Varitations of dal is welcome.

Priya Suresh said...

Wat a comforting food,simply love this dal..btw regarding ur qn about oats paruppu podi,yep its tastes like the regular ones.

Chef Mireille said...

so comforting and tasty!!

Nalini's Kitchen said...

Comforting Dhal...looks delicious.

Unknown said...

Always love tadka dal, with anything and anytime or just a bowl by itself. Great, tempting pic Sumagaru.

shruti said...

dal is my all time favorite ! the crisp fried onions on top look yumm

Srivalli said...

Nice and comforting..

Harini R said...

as you said, comforting and heavenly!!

Vardhini said...

Comforting dal.

Vardhini
CooksJoy

Champa said...

Close up picture is just awesome.

The Pumpkin Farm said...

the last pictures is so beautiful...want to have the dal right now

Aarthi said...

that dal looks so good..lovely clicks

Kalyani said...

lovely clicks. I love the serving pan in the lat pic, especially :)


Kalyani
Sizzling Tastebuds
Event : Pickles & Preserves Fest + Giveaway
Event : CWS - Oats

chickpeas exporter said...

Nice looking. It is looking awesome. This is mostly consumed by us. It is easy to cook & green fresh grated coriander leaves sprinkled on it makes it mouth watering. Thanks for this sharing.

Anonymous said...

I every time spent my half an hour to read this web site's articles or reviews every day along with a cup of coffee.
My homepage ; saffron extract satiereal