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5.0 from 102 votes

Arhar dal Recipe | How to make Arhar Dal

A simple, easy arhar dal recipe that uses very few common ingredients and is ready within 20 minutes.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 3 people
Course: Side Dish , Lunch
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

For Cooking the Dal
  • ½ cup arhar dal/split pigeon peas
  • 1 ½ cup water
  • 2 medium-sized tomatoes chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder/haldi
  • salt as required
  • 2-3 drops oil (if cooking in a pressure cooker)
For Tempering/Tadka
  • 1 tablespoon oil (I have used sunflower oil)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
  • 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1-2 green or red chilies chopped
Others
  • 1 tablespoon ghee/clarified butter (optional)
  • 2-3 tablespoon fresh coriander/cilantro finely chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Wash and soak toor dal for at least 20 minutes unless you are in a hurry.
  2. Add soaked dal in the pressure cooker with water, add turmeric powder, salt, and 2-3 drops of oil. Pressure cook over medium flame for 5 to 6 whistles or until soft and mushy.
  3. Then beat lightly with a spoon or whisk and set aside.
  4. Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, followed by chopped garlic, chopped green chilies. Saute until the garlic turns golden. Immediately pour the tempering over dal. Stir to mix.
  5. Add chopped coriander leaves and ghee if adding.
  6. Stir to mix and serve hot.

Notes

  • Soaking the lentils before cooking helps in fastening the cooking process and eases digestion. I would suggest soaking the dal in water for at least 20 minutes before cooking unless you are in a hurry.
  • Do add 2-3 drops of oil while pressure cooking. It prevents the dal from frothing while it cooks.