Whole Masoor Dal

Dal curries are a traditional Indian dish with numerous variations, such as this masoor dal curry, urad dal, tadka dal, and many more.

I absolutely adore dal. It is one of my favourite types of curries to make. Dal gets a lot of unnecessary hate, but it truly is delicious if made right. 

Dal is an Indian term, and it refers to any legume or bean. For this particular dal recipe, I have used brown lentils. 

Brown lentils, like many other lentils, are extremely beneficial to the body. They are extremely high in fibre, making them ideal for those with digestive issues.

They are also excellent protein substitutes for vegans and vegetarians due to their high protein content. In addition to this they contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.

This brown lentil curry is prepared differently depending on which recipe you use. Some recipes call for boiling the brown lentils in a separate pot, then adding the tadka in a separate frying pan to create the flavour. 

Tadka is a simple infused oil that adds a variety of flavours to dishes, which is what I use in my tadka dal recipe.

Other recipes make the base masala, and the soaked lentils are then combined in a single pot before being cooked in the one pot. Both methods and techniques are excellent, and either will be delicious.

It is always best to use fresh ingredients in any curry recipe. The garlic and ginger paste can be purchased in jars from the store, but it is so simple to make at home that there is no need.

Simply use a pestle and mortar to crush the required amount of garlic and ginger. Grind into a paste with a splash of water. This will give you a fresh paste that will help to enhance the flavour of the curry.

The consistency of this lentil curry can be adjusted to suit individual tastes. Simply cook for longer to achieve a thicker consistency. More water can be added to achieve a thinner consistency.

This brown lentil curry recipe is delicious as a soup or served over steamed basmati rice. It is the epitome of true homey Indian comfort food.

Check out these recipes

Here are some more recipes for you to enjoy! If you like them don’t forget to rate and leave a comment.

• Red Lentil Curry
• Tadka Dal
• Palak Chana
• Rajma Curry
• Lentil Soup

If you have any recipe suggestions, please do not hesitate to ask me. A great way to stay in contact with me is through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Don’t forget to tag me @cookwithnabeela in your recipe photos!

Whole Masoor Dal

by Nabeela Kauser

Whole masoor dal is comfort food at its finest. Lightly spiced, warming, and so comforting, you will not be able to stop eating this delicious recipe. Add on top of a bowl of steamed rice and enjoy this delicious meal.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Indian, Pakistani

Servings 4

Calories 161 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 200 g Whole Masoor Dal Brown lentils
• ▢ 400 ml Water
• ▢ 1 tsp Salt
• ▢ 1 tsp Chilli Powder
• ▢ 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
• ▢ 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• ▢ 1 tsp Coriander Powder
• ▢ 1 handful Coriander Finely chopped

Tadka

• ▢ 50 g Butter
• ▢ 3 cloves Garlic Finely chopped
• ▢ 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• ▢ 1 tsp Chilli Powder

Instructions

• In a large pan, bring the water to a boil.
• Rinse the brown lentils thoroughly then add the lentils and spices to the water, and cook for 30 minutes until lentils are tender, on low heat.
• Allow to simmer until the curry has thickened to your personal preference
• For the tadka in a separate pan add the butter and allow it to melt completely
• Add the chopped garlic, chilli powder, and cumin seeds then sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Add the tadka to the lentil curry – tadka can also be added upon serving if preferred.
• Garnish with finely chopped coriander and enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional facts:

The provision of nutritional information is done so merely as a courtesy and should not be taken as a guarantee.

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 687mgPotassium: 258mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 693IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Cheap, Comfort Food, Dal, Food, Healthy, Lentils, Recipe, Vegan, Vegetarian

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