Lentils are nutritious and can be great addition to regular healthy diet. Also, they taste delicious and one can try variety of recipes. One such simple and yummy recipe is ‘Masoor Dal‘. As name suggests; this dal is prepared with masoor or red lentils. Recipe is simple yet healthy and delicious. This earthy and lightly spiced dal makes a perfect weekday meal.

Masoor or red lentils doesn’t require overnight soaking unlike other lentils and can be easily cooked. For this recipe, I soaked masoor for about 1 hour and then cooked along with other ingredients. Earthy taste of lentil is perfectly balanced by spices with garlicky notes which tastes amazing. Add little extra salt which strengthen the flavour of masoor dal. Pair this warm and comforting dal with plain rice or goes well with chapati or paratha too.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup masoor or red lentils

1 small onion

1 tomato

1-2 green chillies

3-4 cloves garlic

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp garam masala

Salt as per taste

Fresh coriander for garnish

Water for cooking

Method:

Wash and soak lentils in water for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Once lentils are soaked enough, take a pan over high heat.

Pour oil into the pan. Once oil is hot, add cumin seeds into it. Let it splutter for few seconds.

Tip in finely chopped onion, garlic and green chillies into the hot pan.

Turn heat to medium and mix everything together until onions are softened.

Add spices ie, turmeric, coriander and kashmiri red chilli powders along with salt into hot pan.

Gently mix everything until raw smell of spices goes off. (If required, add some water to deglaze the pan.)

Meanwhile, garlic and chillies will be cooked perfectly over medium heat.

Next add diced tomatoes into the pan. Stir fry tomatoes for few seconds and then add water.

Cover the pan and allow it to cook over medium heat until tomatoes are softened.

Once tomatoes are soft and mushy; add soaked red lentils into the pan.

Combine everything together and add more water.

Finally add garam masala, cover the pan and continue to cook over high-medium heat.

Lentils will turn soft and cook thoroughly in another 10-15 minutes.

Simmer it over medium heat for another 5 minutes. Adjust the consistency as desired; I prefer thick dal, so cooked it until its thick and dense.

Taste the dal and adjust the salt if required.

Turn off the heat and garnish with freshly chopped coriander.

Our warm and hearty Masoor Dal is ready to serve. Enjoy is with chapati or plain steamed rice with little drizzle of lime juice.

If you enjoyed this recipe then do check out my other recipes here. If there are any suggestions, questions or feedback then do let me know in comments.

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Recipe