Masoor Dal Recipe | Indian Red Lentils Recipe
User Reviews
4.9
183 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
15 mins
-
Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
162 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Indian
Masoor Dal Recipe | Indian Red Lentils Recipe
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Masoor Dal is a spiced lentil dish that's delicious to enjoy over rice. This Red Lentils recipe is made with husked and split pink lentils or red lentils cooked with onions, tomatoes and lots of rich and savory spices.
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Ingredients
For stovetop pressure cooking
- ½ cup masoor dal or red lentils (husked and split)
- 1.5 to 1.75 cups water for pressure cooking dal
For making masoor dal
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ⅓ cup chopped onions or 1 medium-sized
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves (small to medium-sized), crushed or finely chopped
- 1 inch ginger finely chopped or 1 teaspoon
- 1 to 2 green chillies chopped or slit or ½ to 1 teaspoon
- 1 to 2 dry red chilies - broken and seeds removed, optional
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes or 1 medium-sized
- ¼ or ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
- 1 generous pinch asafoetida (hing)
- ¼ or ½ teaspoon garam masala (homemade garam masala powder can be just ¼ teaspoon)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
- 1 to 1.5 cups water or add as required
- salt as required
- 1 teaspoon dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) - crushed, optional
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
- ½ or 1 teaspoon lemon juice or as required
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves for garnish, optional
Instructions
Cooking Lentils
- Pick and rinse the red lentils (masoor dal) a few times in water.
- Drain the water and add the lentils to a 3-litre stovetop pressure cooker. Also add 1.5 to 1.75 cups water to the lentils in the cooker.
- Pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles on medium heat until the lentils become soft and mushy.
- Let the pressure drop naturally in the cooker, and then only open the lid.
- When the lentils are softened and cooked well, mash lightly with a wooden spoon or whisk lightly with a wired whisk.
- Keep the cooked red lentils aside. If lentils are undercooked, then add some more water and pressure cook for a few minutes more.
Making onion-tomato masala
- In another pan or pot, heat oil. Keep the heat to a low. Add cumin seeds and fry the cumin seeds till they crackle.
- Then add onions and sauté stirring often till they are light golden on low to medium-low heat.
- Add chopped ginger and garlic. Stir and fry for 10 to 15 seconds or till the raw aroma of ginger and garlic goes away.
- Add green chilies and red chilies. Stir to mix.
- Add all the ground spices - turmeric powder, red chilli powder or cayenne pepper, garam masala powder one by one including asafoetida (hing) and stir to mix on a low heat.
- Add the finely chopped tomatoes and sauté on medium-low heat till the oil separates and the tomatoes become mushy and soft.
Making Masoor Dal
- Add the cooked and lightly mashed red lentils. Pour 1 to 1.5 cups water depending on the consistency you prefer. So you can adjust the quantity of water as required and add bit by bit as you go on mixing.
- Add salt as required and stir again. Simmer for 6 to 7 minutes more on a low to medium heat till you get the desired consistency in the dal.
- Masoor dal is neither thick nor thin and has a medium consistency.
- Add crushed dry fenugreek leaves and simmer for 1 minute.
- Lastly add lemon juice and 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) and stir to mix. Switch off the heat.
- You can also garnish the Masoor Dal with coriander leaves while serving. Serve the Red Lentils hot with steamed basmati rice or roti or chapati.
Notes
- The red lentils can also be cooked in a pot or pan. Just soak the dal for 30 to 40 minutes, so that they cook faster if cooking in a pot. Adjust the quantity of water as required.
- Add less or more of the spices and seasonings in masoor dal according to your taste preferences.
- If you have the Instant Pot, then cook the red lentils in it adding water as needed.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
162kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
18g
(6%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
Sodium
342mg
(14%)
Potassium
309mg
(9%)
Fiber
8g
(32%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
228IU
(5%)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
0.2mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
0.1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
1mg
Vitamin B6
0.2mg
Vitamin C
7mg
(8%)
Vitamin E
3mg
Vitamin K
4µg
Calcium
32mg
(3%)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
114µg
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Magnesium
36mg
Phosphorus
116mg
Zinc
1mg
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 162 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 162kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Sodium | 342mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 309mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 8g | 32% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 228IU | 5% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.2mg | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.1mg | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.2mg | |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Vitamin E | 3mg | |
| Vitamin K | 4µg | |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 114µg | |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
| Magnesium | 36mg | 9% |
| Phosphorus | 116mg | |
| Zinc | 1mg |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
183 reviews
Excellent
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