Easy Basic Daal
An easy basic daal recipe that can be made either like a soup or dry like a stir fry. A hearty and flavourful meal that tastes even better as leftovers.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
Daal
- 1 cup channa daal (split chickpea lentil)
- 1/4 cup moong daal
- 4 cup water (plus more for soaking)
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt
Flavour Base
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1-2 green chillies, diced
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced
Tardka
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
- 2 dried whole red chillies
- 1 tbsp crushed garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1-2 tsp chopped fresh corriander leaves (optional)
Instructions
Daal
- Start by soaking your daal in room temperature water for at least 6 hours (overnight is best) - Just fill a large bowl with your daal and pour enough water over the daal to cover the daal by about 1 inch (a few cm). The daal will absorb a bit of the liquid so you want to be sure you have enough in there so it doesn't dry out.
- When ready to cook your daal, drain and rinse the daal off, then place in a large sauce pan and add 4 cups fresh water. Bring to a boil on high, then turn down the heat to medium low and let it boil for 20-25 minutes to allow the daal to soften.
- While the daal is cooking it might start to build a bit of a foam. This is totally normal. If it starts to boil over you can add a wooden spoon to the pot to prevent it from boiling over.
- You will know the daal is done if you can squish a grain in your fingers easily. Adjust your water level to your liking. If you want the daal to be more like a soup, add a cup or so of water. If you want it to be dryer, turn up the heat and let the liquid cook off for a few minutes.
- When daal is at your desired consistency, turn down the heat and add the 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp turmeric powder. Turn off the heat and set aside and work on the flavour base.
Flavour Base
- In a large saucepan or wok heat some oil, add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Allow to cook for a few minutes till the onions soften.
- Add the diced green chillies and minced garlic and let it cook for a few minutes till the garlic gets fragrant and just starting to brown.
- Add the spices - 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp whole cumin seeds, 1 tsp salt. Cook for a few more minutes till the spices get fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes and stir-fry for 5-10 minutes till the tomatoes give off their liquid and start to look dry.
- Add the cooked daal to this spiced tomato mixture and give it a good stir.
- Set aside and make your tardka.
Tardka
- Heat 3 tbsp oil in a clean dry frying pan.
- Add the 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 whole dried red chilli peppers, 1 tbsp crushed garlic and 1 tsp salt.
- In a few minutes the garlic will start to brown and get nice and fragrant. Carefully pour this flavoured oil over your daal and serve immediately. Top with chopped fresh corriander leaves if you like.