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4.9 from 30 votes

North Indian Arhar Dal Tadka (Toor Dal)

A warm and comforting bowl of aromatic North Indian Arhar Dal Tadka, featuring tender and creamy toor dal simmered with simple classic Indian broth, infused with a blend of fragrant spices, and topped with a sizzling golden garlic and cumin-infused tadka.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 266 kcal
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Arhar dal ingredients
  • 1 Cup toor dal
  • 1 medium tomato diced
  • 1 green chili chopped
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole dried chilies such as Byadgi, Kashmiri, or Arbol
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 cups water or unsalted vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Ingredients for the tadka
  • ¼ cup canola oil vegetable oil, or other neutral-tasting cooking oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 2-3 whole dried red chilies or to taste
  • ⅓ cup finely diced onion
  • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
To garnish
  • fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Soak the toor dal for 20 minutes.
  2. Drain and rinse it under cold running water.
  3. Pick through the dal to ensure it has no pebbles or foreign contaminants hidden amongst it.
  4. Place all of the toor dal, tomato, green chili, turmeric, Kashmiri chili powder, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, dried chilies, lemon juice, water (or broth), cilantro, and salt into a pot or pressure cooker.
  5. If using a pressure cooker, close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook the dal over high heat until the pressure builds up and the steam starts to escape from the vent. Put on the stopcock, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 15 minutes until the dal is soft and cooked through. Turn off the heat and let the pressure release naturally.
  6. If using a pot, bring the contents of the pot up to a boil over a high flame.  Cover the pot and cook the dal on a low flame for 40 minutes until soft and cooked through.
  7. If you want a soupier consistency, mix in a little additional water.
  8. While the dal cooks, prepare the tadka by heating the oil in a separate saucepan over a medium flame.  After 90 seconds when the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds, coriander, and cumin seeds.
  9. After 30 seconds, when the mustard seeds are rapidly popping, stir in the remaining ingredients and lower the flame to a simmer.  Cook the tadka for 10 minutes until the onions are fragrant and lightly golden.
  10. To serve the arhar dal, place it into an attractive serving dish, and top it with the tadka. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.

Notes

  • Add extra water if you would like your dal soupier, or cook a little longer uncovered if you would like your dal thicker.  Make it how YOU love it!

Nutrition Information

Calories 266kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 15g (23%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.1g Sodium 191mg (8%) Potassium 140mg (4%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 334IU (7%) Vitamin C 8mg (9%) Calcium 55mg (6%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 266

% Daily Value*

Calories 266kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 15g 23%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Sodium 191mg 8%
Potassium 140mg 3%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 334IU 7%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 55mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%

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