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Dal Tadka

Yellow toor dal finished with a sizzling tempering of ghee, garlic, cumin and red chilli — dhaba style.

Ingredients

• 1 cup toor dal
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 dry red chillies
• ¼ tsp asafoetida (hing)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 green chillies, chopped
• ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• 2 tbsp coriander leaves
• salt to taste

Method

1. Wash the dal and pressure cook with 3 cups water, turmeric and salt for 4 whistles. Whisk till smooth.
2. Heat 1 tbsp ghee, fry the onion till golden, then add tomato and green chillies. Cook till soft.
3. Pour in the dal with ½ cup water and simmer 5 minutes.
4. For the tadka, heat the remaining ghee. Add cumin, garlic and dry red chillies, fry till the garlic turns golden.
5. Switch off, add hing and chilli powder, and pour the sizzling tadka over the dal.
6. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice or roti.

Tip: Pour the tadka just before serving and cover for a minute to trap the aroma.