Best Simple Savory Lentils Dal Recipes

DAL RECIPE (INDIAN RED LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils well until the water is clear and drain in colander. Tip: If using other yellow lentils instead of red lentils, then soaking in water for about an hour will help.
• In a medium cooking pot take the drained red lentils, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, sliced garlic, turmeric, water and bring it to a boil.
• Lower the heat and cook it for about 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to cook until most lentils start breaking down, become a bit mushy and turn into a thick sauce like consistency.
• Cook the dal until it reaches a consistency that is thinner than what is desired, because it will thicken further after cooking.

SIMPLE SAVORY LENTILS (DAL)

Steps:

• Soak lentils in water to cover for several hours or overnight. Drain.
• Bring lentils & 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan & stir in salt & turmeric.
• Cover & simmer about 45 minutes or until lentils are tender (but not mushy.).
• Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat & cook onion, cumin & cardamon, stirring, about 3 minutes.
• Add garlic & cook, stirring, another minute.
• Stir onion mixture into lentils.
• Cook uncovered over low heat 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

SAVORY LENTILS

Steps:

• 1. Saute onion and garlic in butter until tender. Bring stock to boil in medium sauce pan. Add lentils, salt, pepper, savory, celery,carrot, tomatoes, and sauted onion and garlic.
• 2. Simmer over low to medium heat 45 minutes or until lentils are tender and thick.

DAL MAKHANI (INDIAN LENTILS)

Steps:

• Place lentils and kidney beans in a large bowl; cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain.
• Cook lentils, kidney beans, 5 cups water, and salt in a pot over medium heat until tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and set aside. Keep the lentils, kidney beans, and any excess cooking water in the pot.
• Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook cumin seeds in the hot oil until they begin to pop, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves; cook until bay leaves turn brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low; add ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Stir to coat.
• Stir tomato puree into spice mixture; cook over medium heat until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, coriander, and butter; cook and stir until butter is melted.
• Stir lentils, kidney beans and any leftover cooking water into tomato mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Stir fenugreek into lentil mixture. Cover saucepan and simmer until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Add cream and cook until heated through, 2 to 4 minutes.

GARLICKY DAL (SAVORY LENTILS)

Steps:

• Pick over dry dal for grit; rinse a couple of times and drain.
• Bring to boil about 3 cups water in a 2-quart saucepan.
• Add dal to hot water.
• Stir in salt and turmeric powder.
• (Water can boil over when dal is added; lower the heat as needed.) Partially cover and simmer on medium heat until dal is tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
• (Add hot water depending on the consistency desired.) Note: Split dal can be cooked in a slow cooker[2 to 3 hours] or in a pressure cooker for about 10 minutes.
• To sauté, heat the oil in a small skillet on medium heat.
• Add cumin seeds; as soon as they change color (few seconds), add garlic and onions.
• Stir, sprinkling little water if needed, until onions are golden brown.
• Add ginger and remaining seasonings (except tomatoes and garam masala); stir for a couple of minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook for another minute.
• 5.
• Mix the sautéed seasonings into the cooked dal and continue cooking on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until dal is thickened.
• Add garam masala.
• 6.
• Serve hot, garnished with green coriander.
• Optionally sprinkle lemon juice.
• Variation 1: Use brown lentils, peeled yellow Mung, peeled light yellow Urad, or split dark yellow Toor (or a mix of them).
• They take about 3 cups of water to 1 cup of dry dal and only 30 to 40 minutes to cook.
• Variation 2: Use whole green Mung, whole black Urad, whole dark brown Masoor, whole yellow brownish Toor, or split yellow Chana (or a mix of them).
• They take 3 to 4 cups of water to 1 cup of dry dal and longer to cook (about 1 hour).
• (Takes 4 to 5 hours in slow cooker, 25 minutes in pressure cooker.) Healthy Alternative: Add some vegetable stock or 3 tablespoons of Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) when dal is half cooked.