Dal tadka is one of the most popular Indian dal recipes that is served in Indian restaurants. This classic Dal Tadka is thick, creamy and loaded with a lot of flavours which is enough to give you instant cravings. Dal Tadka with Jeera rice is a classic combination you can serve along with the curry and chapati.
Dal is a staple food in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Tadka dal with some rice and a dollop of ghee is the ultimate comfort food for most Indians. It is made from a different combination of pulses and is a rich source of protein. Before moving further, I suggest checking this basic pulses guide If you are new to Indian cooking.
Brief History of indian dals
Dal is one of the oldest recipes in the world. There is a mention of dals in “Yajurveda”. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Indian dal made its first appearance in the Indus Valley Civilization, where lentils – of all kinds – were a staple food.
How to make Restaurant styleTadka Dal Recipe?
To make this dal tadka, the mix of Moong dal, Masoor dal and Arhar Dal are to be cooked in a pressure cooker with turmeric powder and water until the dal cooks well. Then some ghee and oil is heated in a pan, to which masala is prepared.
As it’s frying, we add cooked dal into the masala and season them with red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. The final tadka or tempering is made by heating oil and frying cumins.
What to serve with dal tadka?
As I have said, Dal Tadka goes best with jeera rice but this is a versatile recipe which tastes good with plain rice and roti too.
and finally our favourite part of this dal tadka recipe(reasons to love),
- super delicious ( we are a HUGE fan of dal tadka)
- rich and creamy
- loaded with a lot of flavours (my favourite reason)
- protein-rich recipe
- perfect party recipe
- easy one-pot recipe( when served with rice)
- ingredients are easily available(in any Indian store)
so, Let’s make delicious restaurant-style dal tadka recipe
Wash your lentils thoroughly and transfer the washed lentils in a pressure cooker. Add water into it.
add turmeric powder and a little bit of oil (oil will help to reduce the emerging process while pressure cooking dal)
heat oil and ghee in a pan( ghee is used to give a distinct flavor to the recipe). Add cumin and curry leaves.
add garlic, ginger and green chilli. Saute for a while. Add onions and tomatoes.
Also, add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and a pinch of garam masala.
cook the mixture for 5 mins Or until soften.
add boiled dal and mix. Cook the mixture for 10 to 15 mins on medium flame.
preparing tadka,
Heat oil in tadka pan. Add a pinch of cumin. When they crackle add dry red chillies and a pinch of red chilli powder.
pour this tadka on the top of the dal.
serve hot with rice or roti.
more dal recipes on the blog,
- Dal makhani recipe
- varan recipe
- sabut masoor ki dal recipe
- amti dal recipe
- panchmel dal recipe
- tomato dal recipe
Restaurant style dal tadka recipe
Equipment
- Pressure cooker
- Tadka pan
- deep pan
Ingredients
to pressure cook dal
- ½ cup toor dal /pigeon peas split
- 1 tbsp green moong dal
- ¼ cup masoor dal / red lentils
- ½ tsp turmeric powder, to pressure cook dal
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp oil, to pressure cook dal
to prepare dal
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp ghee / clarified butter
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp garlic , minced
- 3 to 5 curry leaves, optional
- 1 to 2 green chillies, chopped
- 1 tsp ginger, paste or grated
- 1 to 2 chopped onions , small to medium
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp garam masala
- fresh coriander for garnishing
- salt to taste
to prepare Tadka/tempering
- 1 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 2 dry red chillies
- ¼ tsp red chili powder
Instructions
Preparing dal
- Wash your lentils thoroughly and transfer the washed lentils in a pressure cooker. Add water into it.
- add turmeric powder and a little bit of oil (oil will help to reduce the emerging process while pressure cooking dal)
- heat oil and ghee in a pan( ghee is used to give a distinct flavor to the recipe). Add cumin and curry leaves.
- add garlic, ginger and green chilli. Saute for a while. Add onions and tomatoes.
- Also, add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and a pinch of garam masala.
- cook the mixture for 5 mins Or until soften.
- add boiled dal and mix. Cook the mixture for 10 to 15 mins on medium flame.
preparing tadka,
- Heat oil in tadka pan. Add a pinch of cumin. When they crackle add dry red chillies and a pinch of red chilli powder.
- pour this tadka on the top of the dal.
- serve hot with rice or roti.
Video
have a nice day!
The pressure cooker makes this recipe a quick and easy way to get a delicious meal on your table fast. My boys would like the tadka as they love it spicy!
thank you dear 🙂
yum, this sounds more flavorful than any dal i’ve made! love the drizzle of chili oil on top too (:
thank you dear 🙂
Pryia, this dal tadka looks so wonderful! It’s always a favorite of mine. Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thank you so much kelly:)
Absolute comfort food is tadka daal with chawal, achaar and papad 🙂
totally agree 🙂