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Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal)

Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal)

40 min Easy 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 40 min · Prep 10 min · Cook 30 min

Photo: Miansari66 / CC0 (Public Domain)

Quick-cooking red lentils (masoor) simmered until soft and finished with a sizzling garlic-cumin tarka. A simple, everyday Pakistani daal for rice or roti.

Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Red lentils, Turmeric, Tomato, Garlic · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

  • 200 g 1 cup Red lentils
  • 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 pc 1 pc Tomato
  • 4 clove 4 clove Garlic
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp Cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp Red chilli powder
  • 3 tbsp 3 tbsp Cooking oil
  • to taste to taste Salt
  • 1 pc 1 pc Onion (Optional)

Steps

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  1. Rinse the masoor until the water runs clear. No soaking is needed.
  2. Boil the daal with 3 cups of water, turmeric, chopped tomato and salt, skimming the foam, for 20 minutes until completely soft. Whisk lightly to blend.
    ⏱ Boiling · 20 min
  3. For the tarka, heat oil, fry the sliced onion (optional) until golden, then add garlic, cumin and chilli for 30 seconds.
    ⏱ Tempering · 5 min
  4. Pour the tarka over the daal, cover for 2 minutes and serve hot.
    ⏱ Resting · 2 min

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal) take?

40 minutes in total: about 10 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.

Is Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal) hard to make?

Degchi rates it easy. The method has 4 steps, and 3 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal) serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal) halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal)?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, red chilli powder, cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: cumin seeds. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: tomato, garlic. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: red lentils.

Any tips for making Masoor Daal (Red Lentil Daal)?

Add hot water if the daal thickens as it stands; red lentils absorb a lot. A squeeze of lemon at the end brightens the flavour.

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