Dal Tadka50m$3.97

Dal Tadka

Soft red lentils simmered with turmeric, yellow onion, and tomato, finished with sizzling cumin-garlic ghee, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh cilantro.

10 min prep40 min cook4 servingsmedium

Shopping options

Ghee

3 Tablespoon

Simple Truth Organic® Grass Fed Ghee Clarified Butter Spread

Simple Truth Organic•14 oz
$12.29
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$1.30

11%

Estimated

Crushed red pepper flakes

0.25 Teaspoon

Kroger® Crushed Red Pepper Shaker

Kroger•4.25 oz
$5.99
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.02

0%

Estimated

Ground turmeric

0.5 Teaspoon

Kroger® Ground Turmeric Shaker

Kroger•1.5 oz
$3.59
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.08

2%

Estimated

Dried red lentils (masoor dal)

1 Cup

Kroger® Red Lentils

Kroger•16 oz
$3.29
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$1.02

31%

Estimated

Ground cumin

1 Teaspoon

McCormick Ground Cumin

McCormick•1.5 oz
$3.29
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.15

5%

Estimated

Garlic, thinly sliced

4 Each

Kroger® Peeled Garlic

Kroger•6 oz
$2.99
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.21

7%

Estimated

Fine salt

0.75 Teaspoon

Morton Plain Table Salt, Non-Iodized Salt, 26 oz

Morton•26 oz
$1.99
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.01

1%

Estimated

Tomato, finely diced

1 Cup

Fresh Roma Tomato

Fresh Tomatoes•1 lb
$1.29
Buy 2
Ingredient Cost$0.51

83%

Estimated

Yellow onion, finely diced

1 Cup

Jumbo Yellow Onions

Fresh Onions•1 lb
$1.19
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.42

71%

Estimated

Fresh cilantro, chopped

0.25 Cup

Cilantro

1 ct
$0.99
Buy 1
Ingredient Cost$0.25

25%

Estimated

Water

Common item
Not selected

3.5 Cup

Tap water

$0.00
Ingredient Cost$0.00

0%

Cost Summary

Availability unavailable
$3.97

· only what you use

$0.99

per serving · 4 servings

You pay at checkout$35.64
11% used in this recipe$31.67 left over for future meals

1 common item not selected — staples start unchecked; select them above to include them.

Cook this recipe

  • Water-3.5 cups
  • Dried red lentils (masoor dal)-1 cup
  • Yellow onion-1 cup
  • Tomato-1 cup
  • Fresh cilantro-0.25 cups
  • Ghee-3 tablespoons
  • Ground cumin-1 teaspoon
  • Garlic cloves-4 each
  • Fine salt-0.75 teaspoons
  • Ground turmeric-0.5 teaspoons
  • Crushed red pepper flakes-0.25 teaspoons
1
Prepare the vegetables and lentils
Knife
Cutting Board
Strainer

Wash your hands with soap and water. Rinse the tomato and cilantro under running water, remove any damaged areas, and dry. Peel and finely dice the onion, dice the tomato, peel and thinly slice the garlic, and chop the cilantro. Pick through the lentils for debris, then rinse them in a fine-mesh strainer until the water runs mostly clear.

1 Cup red lentils
1 Cup onion
1 Cup tomato
4 Each garlic
1/4 Cup cilantro
2
Simmer the lentils with turmeric
Saucepan
Spoon

Place the lentils, 3 cups water, and turmeric in the saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Partially cover and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are very soft and beginning to break down. Reduce the heat if the lentils foam toward the rim.

Reduce the heat if the lentils foam toward the rim to prevent boil-over.

1 Cup red lentils
3 Cup Water
1/2 Teaspoon turmeric
3
Cook the onion and tomato
Skillet
Spoon

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon ghee in the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 7–9 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened and lightly golden at the edges. Add the tomato and salt. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring and pressing the tomato with the spoon, until it collapses into a thick, softened mixture.

1 Tablespoon ghee
1 Cup onion
1 Cup tomato
3/4 Teaspoon salt
4
Combine and thicken the dal
Saucepan
Spoon

Stir the onion-tomato mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup water into the softened lentils. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Press some lentils against the side of the saucepan to create a creamy, spoonable texture. Keep warm over very low heat while you prepare the tempering.

1/2 Cup Water
5
Gently toast the garlic in ghee
Saucepan
Skillet
Spoon

Scrape any remaining vegetable mixture from the skillet into the lentils, then wipe the skillet clean and dry. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee and the sliced garlic. Set over medium-low heat and cook for 2–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the garlic is lightly golden, not brown.

Make sure the skillet is clean and dry before adding the ghee to reduce splattering.

2 Tablespoon ghee
4 Each garlic
6
Bloom the ground spices
Skillet
Spoon

Reduce the skillet heat to low. Add the ground cumin and crushed red pepper flakes and stir for 10–15 seconds, just until fragrant and sizzling. Immediately remove from the heat so the ground spices do not scorch.

1 Teaspoon cumin
1/4 Teaspoon red pepper flakes
7
Finish with tempering and cilantro
Saucepan
Skillet
Spoon

Carefully pour all the hot tempering over the lentils; it may sputter. Gently stir to distribute the garlic and spices while leaving a little fragrant ghee on the surface. Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the full 1/4 cup cilantro, and divide the dal among four servings.

Pour the hot tempering carefully and away from your face; it may sputter.

1/4 Cup cilantro
8

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