Easy Lentil Dal Recipes

EASY LENTIL DAL RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in the saucepan and add the finely chopped onion and cook gently for a few minutes.
• Add the garlic, ginger and the chilli (de-seed if you don't want too mch heat) and cook for a few minutes. Stir in all of the spices and cook for another minute.
• Add the washed lentils, coconut milk and the vegetable stock. Give it a good stir.
• Bring it to the boil then put the lid on and leave it to simmer for 10 minutes. Then take the lid off and allow it to cook for a further ten minutes and reduce the sauce slightly.
• Stir from time to time in the last ten minutes of cooking as lentils can catch on the bottom of the saucepan. It should thicken to a nice, creamy consisitency during this time.
• Add the kale a few minutes before the end so that it wilts into the sauce.
• Check the seasoning and add more salt if it is needed. If the dal seems to be too thick for your liking add a little more water. If it seems too, thin then cook it a little longer to thicken up.
• Serve with flatbreads, pitta breads, naans, poppadoms, Indian pickles and an optional sprinkle of fresh coriander leaves.

EASY RED LENTIL DAL (TARKA DAL | INDIAN LENTIL DISH)

Steps:

• Finely chop the tomatoes, onion, and green chili.
• Sort and rinse the lentils. There can be debris in with the lentils, so just make sure to pick that out and any shriveled lentils. Then add them to a large saucepan with the water (or vegetable stock).
• Add the chopped tomatoes, onion, chili, salt, turmeric powder, and chili to the lentils and stir well.
• Cover the saucepan with a lid, and cook over medium-low for 20-25 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.If you find the dhal becomes too thick, add an extra splash of water/veg broth as needed.
• In a small skillet/pan, heat up the oil or ghee over medium to medium-high heat until shimmery.
• Add the minced garlic and ginger and fry (they should sizzle) until the garlic has browned (1-2 minutes).You could also add a pinch of red chili powder or red pepper flakes right at the end for extra flavor/color. Read the "optional add-ins" section for other tarka dal spices - any additions will help make for an even more flavorful dish!
• Finally, serve the red lentil stew and pour the tadka over the lentils. I like to serve it this way, so it looks pretty, but I recommend mixing the tempering into the lentils before eating!You could also optionally garnish the tadka/ tarka daal with a swirl of plain yogurt, crispy onions, and/or some parsley or cilantro. Plus, lemon/lime juice!

DAL MAKHANI (INDIAN LENTILS)

Steps:

• Place lentils and kidney beans in a large bowl; cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain.
• Cook lentils, kidney beans, 5 cups water, and salt in a pot over medium heat until tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and set aside. Keep the lentils, kidney beans, and any excess cooking water in the pot.
• Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook cumin seeds in the hot oil until they begin to pop, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves; cook until bay leaves turn brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low; add ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Stir to coat.
• Stir tomato puree into spice mixture; cook over medium heat until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, coriander, and butter; cook and stir until butter is melted.
• Stir lentils, kidney beans and any leftover cooking water into tomato mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Stir fenugreek into lentil mixture. Cover saucepan and simmer until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Add cream and cook until heated through, 2 to 4 minutes.

LENTIL DAL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, ginger, cumin, turmeric, red peppers, and garlic.
• Saute 2 minutes.
• Add cauliflower and tomatoes; saute 1 minute.
• Stir in water and lentils; bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
• Stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
• Serve 1 cup lentil mixture with 1 cup rice.

SIMPLE LENTIL DAL (DAHL)

Steps:

• Heat the oil with the cinnamon stick in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the cinnamon unfurls, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the cumin, cloves and cardamom and cook, stirring, until the cumin turns a golden brown color, about 1 more minute. Add the lentils, turmeric, water and salt. Bring to a boil and skim well. Turn down the heat and simmer, covered, until the lentils are soft, 20-30 minutes. Add more water during cooking if necessary. Taste for salt and add more if you need to.
• Ladle about 1/2 cup of the lentils into a small bowl and mash them with a spoon (optional). Return the mashed lentils to the pot and give the dal a stir. Continue cooking at a simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes to thicken. If you like a thicker dal, use a whisk to break up the lentils into a puree. If you like a thinner dal, add water. Remove the cinnamon stick (and cardamom pods, if you like).
• For the tempering oil, heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it just begins to brown around the edges, 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic paste, ginger and minced chile and cook just to mellow the raw taste of the garlic, 10-15 *seconds*.
• Stir half of the tempering oil into the dal along with half of the cilantro and all of the lemon or lime juice. Simmer very gently for 5 minutes. Transfer the dal to a serving bowl, pour the remaining tempering oil over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cilantro. Serve hot with additional lemon or lime juice to taste.