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Caramelized Onion Tadka Dal
5 from 66 votes

Caramelized Onion Tadka Dal

Caramelized Onion Tadka Dal combines red and yellow lentils simmered with tomato and fenugreek leaves, finished with two seasoned tadkas involving cumin, black pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, chili, and curry leaves. This layering creates a rich, spiced lentil dish featuring deep onion sweetness and fragrant tempering spices, ideal for a comforting meal.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
17 mins
Total Time
37 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 217 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

For the lentils:
  • 1/2 cup red lentils or masoor dal
  • 1/2 cup yellow lentils or moong dal (or you can use more red lentils, petite
  • 1 tomato chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek leaves optional, dried
  • 3 cups water
For the tadka/ tempering spices:
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
For the first tadka/ tempering:
  • 2 teaspoons neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 inch ginger minced
  • 1/2 green chili minced, I use serrano or Indian or Thai, hot
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 5-6 curry leaves (fresh or dried or frozen)
For the second tadka/tempering:
  • 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
  • The crushed spices from above

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook the lentils; To cook the lentils in the instant pot, wash the lentils really well and drain. Add the to the instant pot with the rest of the ingredients and pressure cook for 7 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then open the lid.
  2. To cook the lentils in a saucepan add the washed and drained lentils with all the ingredients for the lentils to a saucepan, partially covered, and cook (20 mins or longer). You might need to add 1/2 cup more water if the lentils thicken too much. Transfer the lentils to a serving dish.
  3. For the tempering spices; add the cumin seeds and black peppercorns to a mortar and pestle and crush them. You can also use a spice grinder to make them into a coarse mixture and set them aside.
  4. For the first tempering: heat the oil in a medium skillet, once hot, add half of the crushed cumin and peppercorn mixture then add the onion and a good pinch of salt and cook until the onion is translucent.(5-7 mins) Then add the garlic, ginger, green chili, and the rest of the salt and continue to cook until the onion is golden (2-4 mins). Add the garam masala and curry leaves and cook for another half a minute.
  5. Add this caramelized onion mix to the cooked lentils. (Or add cooked lentils to the caramelized onion skillet). Gently stir but don’t mix completely. You want some clusters of caramelized onion throughout the dal.
  6. Make the second tempering: Heat the oil in a small skillet, once hot add the remaining cumin seeds/ peppercorn mixture and cook until the mixture becomes fragrant. Then pour it over the dal/cooked lentils. Garnish it with cilantro and lemon juice.
  7. Store in a closed container for upto 3 days. Freeze for upto a month.To make ahead: keep the tempering separate and heat and add just before serving

Notes

  • If curry leaves are unavailable, substitute with 2 bay leaves and lime juice to maintain flavor balance.
  • To prepare without onion and garlic, use mild vegetables such as peeled zucchini or celery, and add asafetida or dried fenugreek leaves as substitutes.
  • For oil-free cooking, sauté onions in broth and dry toast the cumin and peppercorn mixture separately until fragrant before adding to the dal.

Nutrition Information

Calories 217kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 34g (11%) Protein 13g (26%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 0.3g (2%) Sodium 471mg (20%) Potassium 586mg (12%) Fiber 15g (60%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 330IU (7%) Vitamin C 36mg (40%) Calcium 58mg (6%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 217

% Daily Value*

Calories 217kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 34g 11%
Protein 13g 26%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 0.3g 2%
Sodium 471mg 20%
Potassium 586mg 12%
Fiber 15g 60%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 330IU 7%
Vitamin C 36mg 40%
Calcium 58mg 6%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.