Toor Dal Recipe
Quick & tasty North Indian Toor Dal recipe. Learn to make this hearty split pigeon pea dish with simple steps & spices. Perfect with rice!
Recipe Source Link:https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/toor-dal-tadka/
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Prep Time = 10 minutes
Cook Time = 20 minutes
Total Time = 30 minutes
Category = Sides
Cuisine = Indian
Serves = 4
Nutrition Info = 135 calories
Serving Size = 1
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
» For Toor Dal Fry:
- 1 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)
- water 3 cups or as needed
- 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
- 1 bay leaf (tej patta)
- 1 inch cinnamon stick (dalchini)
- 4 cloves (laung)
- 1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped or grated
- 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
- 1 medium-sized tomato, chopped
- 1/4 green chili, slit
- 1 teaspoon kashmiri or regular red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
- salt as per taste
- 1 tablespoon cilantro (coriander) leaves
» For Tadka (Tempering):
- 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
- 1 pinch of asafetida
- 1 teaspoon cumin jeera
- 1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1/4 green chili, slit
- 1 tablespoon cilantro (coriander) leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon kashmiri or regular red chili powder
» For serving:
- 1/2 lemon
RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
» How to Make Toor Dal In Instant Pot:
- Rinse Toor dal 3-4 times or until water runs clear and set it aside.
- Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat ghee in it.
- Once the ghee is hot, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and cloves to it.
- Saute for a few seconds and add the onions and green chili.
- Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes, chopped ginger, and chopped garlic to it.
- Saute for 3-4 minutes or till mushy.
- Now add rinsed dal and give it a mix.
- Add the red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well.
- Add 3 cups of water and mix well.
- Cancel the SAUTE mode. Close the lid, and set the valve to sealing.
- Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode at high pressure for 8 minutes.
- NPR (Natural pressure release). Once the pin drops, open the lid.
- Press the cancel button and then press the saute button. Mix well and mash dal lightly using the back of a spoon.
- Add 1 tablespoon of coriander leaves and garam masala powder.
- Mix well and boil for 5 minutes. Toor Dal Fry is ready.
» How to make Toor Dal in Stovetop Pressure Cooker:
- Rinse Toor dal 3-4 times and set it aside.
- Heat ghee/oil in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
- Once the ghee is hot, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and cloves to it.
- Saute for a few seconds and add the onions and green chili.
- Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes, chopped ginger, and chopped garlic to it.
- Saute for 3-4 minutes or till soft.
- Now add rinsed dal and give it a mix.
- Add the red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well.
- Add 3 cups of water and mix well.
- Close the lid, and pressure cook on high for 3 whistles. Let the pressure go down completely before opening the lid.
- Once the pin drops, open the lid. Mix well and mash dal lightly using with the back of a spoon.
- Add 1 tablespoon of coriander leaves and garam masala powder. Mix well and boil for 5 minutes. Toor Dal Fry is ready.
» How To Make Tadka (Tempering) For Toor Dal:
- Heat ghee in a tadka pan over medium heat.
- Add asafetida, and cumin seeds and let them crackle.
- Add chopped garlic cloves saute until garlic turns light brown.
- Add dried red chilies, green chilies and cook for a few seconds.
- Add coriander leaves, Kashmiri red chili powder and stir it.
- Fry for few seconds and remove from heat.
» How To Serve Toor Dal Tadka:
- Transfer cooked toor dal fry to a serving bowl.
- Pour the prepared tadka and garnish with coriander leaves. Drizzle with some lemon juice. Serve toor dal hot with chapati and rice.
RECIPE NOTES
- This dal thickens as it cools, I have made this dal semi-thin. You can easily change the consistency of Toor Dal by adding more or less water according to your taste and preference.
- I prefer to add Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder to this day as it is mildly spicy and adds a nice color to the dal. You can also use regular hot chili powder for this recipe.
- If you want onion garlic free dal, then remove onion and garlic from the recipe and follow the same recipe.
- If you want to make Toor Dal Fry then skip the tadka part.
- I love cooking Toor Dal in ghee because it lends a delicious aroma and enhances the taste of this dal. But if you don't like adding ghee then you can also use vegetable oil.
- This dal can be made without any soaking. But if you are not comfortable making it without soaking, then soak it for 30 minutes and then pressure cook for about 6 minutes.
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