Daal tadka (tempered lentils)

Lentils and rice has always been an inevitable part of Indian cuisine.There are various types of lentils and every one has an individual identity and taste of it's own.lentils are a rich source of protein and it's very good for health.This restaurant style daal tadka is not only mouth watering but it's also dead simple. Daal tadka or tempered lentils is a hugely popular dish served in various Indian restaurants all over the world.The spices or masala's used in this dish is usually readily available in every Indian Household.This dish compliments every kind of Indian flat breads like nan,roti,parathas and it also tastes amazing with rice.It is very similar to the recipe "dal fry" but with little variations here and there.Daal tadka can be prepared in various ways but this is my take on it.

Ingredients Serves-2 people

For the gravy:-

• 1/4th cup of yellow pigeon peas(arhar daal) soaked in water for atleast 2 hours
• 1/4th cup of gram daal(chana daal) soaked in water for atleast 2 hours
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes finely chopped
• An inch of ginger grated
• 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp of red chilly powder
• 1 tsp of coriander chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp of oil
• salt to taste

For the tempering:-

• 2 tbsp of clarified butter (ghee) or oil
• 1/4th tsp of mustard seeds
• 1/4th tsp of cumin seeds
• 4 cloves of garlic chopped
• 2 dried read chillies

Method

1. Boil the lentils in a pressure cooker up to 2-3 whistles.
   
2. Heat oil in a pan.Once hot add in the mustard and cumin seeds.Let the mustard seeds crackle and the cumin seeds releases aroma.
   
3. Add in the onions.Cook till the onions start sweating a bit.
   
4. Add in the tomatoes.Cook till the tomatoes gets soft.
   
5. Once that done add in the coriander and grated ginger.Mix everything well and cook for a while.
   
6. Mix in the salt,red chilly and turmeric powder.Mix everything completely.
   
7. Add in the pressure cooked lentils.I have even added the water in which i had boiled the lentils.
   
8. Meanwhile,heat up another pan and add in the ghee.Once hot add in the mustard seeds,cumin seeds,red chilies and the garlic.Temper the spices(tempering or tadka is basically cooking the spices on hot oil to release its full flavours).
   
9. Once the mixture leaves the aroma quickly pour it into the daal.Give a quick stir.Add in the garam masala.Mix well and switch off the gas.Serve the daal with your favorite accompaniment (i like a dry version of this daal if you want you can keep the fluid consistency by adding more water) and Eat it up!:)