Masoor Daal - Indian Red Lentils

"These cute legumes are SO yummy! I made this for my nutrition class and it was a huge hit! Options for the vegan version are listed."
 
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photo by Annacia photo by Annacia
photo by Annacia
Ready In:
1hr 15mins
Ingredients:
14
Serves:
6
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ingredients

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directions

  • Wash the lentils well, and then put them into a sauce pan. Add 4 - 6 cups of salted water to cover the lentils.
  • Bring lentils to a boil then reduce heat, cover and allow to simmer until they are soft. Keep the water level above the lentils.
  • While the lentils are simmering, grind the spices together then toast them over low heat in a dry sauté pan until you have released their aromas. Set spices aside.
  • Using the same sauté pan, heat ghee or oil over low to medium heat. Add onions and sauté until they are soft. Add garlic, sauté another 3-4 minutes. Do not burn the onions or garlic. Add spice mixture; continue to cook for 2 minutes.
  • Once the lentils have become soft, add them and their cooking liquid to the onion and spice mixture (add more water or broth if lentil are too thick). Stir and scrape up any bit from the bottom. Stir in lemon juice, adjust salt and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
  • Just before serving add yogurt and heat through. Serve with a wheat flat bread such as roti.

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Reviews

  1. Great and cheap and copious. I used a packet of dry coconut milk powder and only the water left from cooking the lentil. 400 gr dry red lentils and about 5 cups water. Toasting the spices is essential and you can use more if you like. I had only powdered versions of all the spices but I still used the mortar and pestle on them and toasted them. I think the lemon juice is also necessary and I almost forgot it at the end, it really adds something. Served with basmati, roast chicken pieces and sweet mango chutney. The house smells terrific.
     
  2. Yummy... Kinda glad I accidentally doubled the recipe now :)
     
  3. I followed this recipe exactly as written using tamarind concentrate instead of paste. Way too much cinnamon, it overpowed the entire dish. I will try using maybe half the cinnamon.
     
  4. Excellent seasoning and flavor here. The lemon is vital to this recipe and really "finishes" the flavor profile. It made a great lunch and I would certainly make this again.
     
  5. Mine turned out a bit too runny, so I think if I were to make it again I would have to use less water (I am new to cooking lentils). The flavour was really nice though, I also only had powdered spices, but I still ground them and still toasted them and the flavour was still great. The lemon juice is definately needed for the acidity. I used yoghurt, but it didn't blend well, so I would also use a more creamy, greek style yoghurt (without artificial thickeners) so it doesn't curdle. I ate it with rice and roti bread, which was yummy.
     
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