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Urad Dal

Serves 4
25 mins
210 Kcal
In the recipe for Urad Dal Tadka, first soak the urad dal for a soft, creamy consistency and accelerate cooking. Add water, turmeric, and salt after soaking, then pressure cook until dal becomes tender. Meanwhile, in a pan, saut onions, tomatoes, ginger-garlic paste, and masala mix to make an aromatic masala. Then, mix it well with the cooked dal so that all flavours are harmonious. It is sweet, with a strong, earthy flavour and a creamy texture. This form of urad dal or split black gram forms the basis of this delightful and soothing North Indian meal called Urad Dal Tadka. The magic behind this recipe lies in the "tadka", or tempering, that gives this dal a burst of flavour with a punch of spices. A very common recipe across Indian families, urad dal tadka is a filling and healthy dish that is best served with steaming rice or chapati. But in this recipe of Urad Dal Tadka, the ultimate tempering or tadka gives the meal its peculiar flavour. Add a mixture of ghee or oil in a separate pan and add cumin seeds, dry red chillies, and a small tsp full of asafoetida in. And pouring this sizzling hot tadka over the dal provides a luxurious, aromatic explosion to the meal. This meal is best savored hot and is served sprinkled with fresh coriander leaves. This Urad Dal recipe is mouthwatering and very easy to make so that it can be a good choice for dinner. Rich in protein and slightly warm with Indian spices, this dish is perfect for daily meals and special occasions. Tadka urad dal is fulfilling and cosy with roti or rice.

Ingredients required for Urad Dal

  1. 200 gms urad dal
  2. 1/2 tbsp turmeric powder
  3. 2 tbsp oil
  4. 2 tomato
  5. 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
  6. 1/4 tsp garam masala
  7. 1 onion
  8. 1 tbsp ghee

Cooking steps for Urad Dal

  1. 1
    Clean 200 gms of urad dal in running water first; it helps clean the dust and other impurities. Then, soak the dal in water for at least half an hour. This soaking method makes the dal cook through a lot faster and uniformly.
  2. 2
    Now, it is time to cook the dal after soaking. Add one litre of water to the pressure cooker of the soaked urad dal. Mix in 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder and salt to taste for flavour and colour enhancement. Turmeric is not only good for health, but it also gives a nice golden colour to the dal.
  3. 3
    Cover and cook the dal on a medium flame for three to four whistles. Remove and open the lid. The dal must be tender and should be well cooked.
  4. 4
    While the dal is cooking, prepare the delicious tempering. First, heat two tbsp of oil or ghee in a pan on medium heat. You can also replace clarified butter or ghee with a lighter oil if required.
  5. 5
    Now add to the hot ghee 1 tsp cumin seeds. Let them sputter and release that nutty aroma. When these crackle, cumin seeds will turn brown and release a fragrant aroma.
  6. 6
    Add one tsp of ginger-garlic paste to the pan when the onions turn golden in colour. Saut for about a minute until the raw smell of ginger and garlic vanishes, and their flavours mingle with the flavour of onions.
  7. 7
    Add one diced tomato now and simmer till it gets mushy and soft. The tomatoes add acidity and sweetness that balance the richness of the dal.
  8. 8
    Add 1/4 tsp of garam masala, 1/2 tsp of coriander powder, and 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder to the saut ed tomato-onion mixture.
  9. 9
    Mix the spices well and saut for about two minutes. This step is very important as it helps release the flavours and gets rid of the rawness of the spices.
  10. 10
    Add the cooked urad dal, tomato, and onion mixture into the pan and mix well.
  11. 11
    Add everything together and stir to combine. If the dal is too thick, add more water at this stage for desired consistency. Let it simmer and reduce a little longer if you want your dal to be thicker; otherwise, vice versa; if you like it more soup-like in consistency, till the desired thickness is reached, add water little by little.
  12. 12
    Let the flavours blend together in the dal by simmering it on low heat for five to seven minutes.
  13. 13
    Stir occasionally to prevent the dal from burning onto the bottom of the pan.
  14. 14
    Meanwhile, the dal cooks prepare the tadka, which makes this meal stand out in terms of flavour.
  15. 15
    Heat 1 tbsp of ghee in a small pan. Add half a tsp of cumin seeds to it and let them sizzle after heating.
  16. 16
    Add two to three dry red chillies followed by a pinch of asafoetida. Be careful not to burn the chillies and saut for a few seconds till they slightly change colour.
  17. 17
    This finally provides a dal with a burst of taste.
  18. 18
    Stir well when adding hot tempering to the boiling dal; sprinkle a few freshly chopped coriander leaves on top.
  19. 19
    This recipe of Urad dal tadka can be relished with roti, naan, or steamed basmati rice.

Shop Ingredients

Red Chilli Powder (1/2 Tsp)
600
1
300
1
Urad Dal (200 gms)
159
1
98
1
110
1
230
1
149
1
88
1
114
1
177
1
107
1
86
1
Tomato (2)
41
1
15
1
36
1
47
1
12
1
Oil (2 Tbsp)
175
1
172
1
161
1
137
1
148
1
150
1
291
1
141
1
730
1
241
1
Onion (1)
49
1
37
1
39
1
43
1
92
1
62
1
132
1
61
1
Garam Masala (1/4 Tsp)
96
1
79
1
31
1
88
1
63
1
52
1
90
1
108
1
82
1
82
1
Ghee (1 tbsp)
384
1
585
1
297
1
540
1
148
1
635
1
658
1
549
1
701
1
129
1
Turmeric Powder (1/2 Tbsp)
65
1
113
1
220
1

FAQs

What is Urad Dal Tadka?

Urad Dal tadka is a traditional Indian meal that involves cooked urad dal, or split black gram, tempered and making a flavoursome sauce generally known as tadka. Tempering typically contains garlic, asafoetida, cumin seeds, and dry red chillies. These spices are saut ed in ghee or oil and added to the cooked dal. Rich and creamy, it goes well with chapati or rice.

How to make the Perfect Urad Dal Tadka Recipe?

To make the perfect recipe of Urad Dal Tadka, soak the dal first to make it softer; then, do the pressure cooking with salt and turmeric. Then, after caramelising the onions, a saut of tomatoes and spices forms an aromatic masala; mix it in with the boiled dal. Heat some ghee or oil and pour over the dal as the final tadka, sprinkling a little more asafoetida, cumin seeds, and dry red chillies. Fresh coriander can be sprinkled on top for extra flavour. With ingredients-fresh and ghee being of good quality, the best taste is assured.

Can oil be used instead of ghee for tempering Urad Dal Tadka?

Yes, you can make Urad Dal Tadka without ghee by using oil as its substitute. You can use oil as a lighter version over ghee, which is normally used in moderation for its rich, buttery flavour. Yes, you can make a delicious dal with mustard, sunflower, or even olive oil, but ghee infuses an authentic richness into dal that enhances its flavour.