Bring it together: Pour the hot tadka over the warm dal and stir gently. Taste and add more salt if needed. Finish with cilantro and lime juice. Serve hot with steamed rice.
The dish that taught me presence.
This dal tadka recipe is what I come back to when life feels too loud. When grief lingers, or love is quiet. When I need to cook something sacred, something true.
It’s simple, but when each step is given proper attention, it tastes like home, even if you’ve never had it before.
Ingredients
For the dal:
- •200 g (1 cup) toor dal (split pigeon peas), rinsed
- •½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- •1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
For the tadka (tempering):
- •2 tablespoons ghee (or oil, but ghee is holy)
- •1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- •1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- •2 dried red chilies
- •¼ teaspoon hing (asafoetida)
- •8–10 fresh curry leaves
- •1 small onion, finely chopped
- •4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- •2.5 cm (1 inch) fresh ginger, grated
- •1 green chili, slit (optional)
- •1 medium tomato, chopped
- •½ teaspoon red chili powder
- •Handful fresh cilantro, chopped, for finishing
- •A squeeze of lime (don’t skip it)
- •Hot steamed rice, for serving
Preparation
For the dal: In a medium pot, combine the toor dal, turmeric powder, and salt. Add 720 ml (3 cups) water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and skim off any foam. Cook until very soft and mushy, 25 to 30 minutes. Mash gently with the back of a spoon. The dal should be silky and pourable; add a little hot water as needed to adjust the consistency.
For the tadka: Heat the ghee in a small pan over medium heat. When it shimmers, add the mustard seeds and let them pop. Add the cumin seeds and let them bloom for a few seconds. Add the dried red chilies, hing, and curry leaves (stand back, they may splatter).
Build the flavor: Add the onion and sauté until golden. Add the garlic, ginger, and green chili (if using), and cook until fragrant and lightly browned. Add the tomato and cook until it breaks down. Stir in the red chili powder.