Dal Indian Lentil Curry Food

DAL RECIPE (INDIAN RED LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils well until the water is clear and drain in colander. Tip: If using other yellow lentils instead of red lentils, then soaking in water for about an hour will help.
• In a medium cooking pot take the drained red lentils, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, sliced garlic, turmeric, water and bring it to a boil.
• Lower the heat and cook it for about 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to cook until most lentils start breaking down, become a bit mushy and turn into a thick sauce like consistency.
• Cook the dal until it reaches a consistency that is thinner than what is desired, because it will thicken further after cooking.

DAL (INDIAN LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Soak Lentils: Rinse lentils and leave to soak in plenty of water for 1 hour. Drain in colander.
• Heat ghee/oil in a heavy based saucepan over high heat. Add green chillies and fry for a minute until starting to blister.
• Add onions and fry until softened.
• Lower heat to medium, add garlic, ginger and curry leaves. Cook for 1 minute until garlic starts to turn golden and smells amazing.
• Add tomatoes and cumin, cook until tomatoes start to break down and thicken to a paste - about 2 minutes.
• Add lentils, water, tumeric and salt. Stir, bring to simmer, cover and simmer gently for 1 hour. Stir two or three times during the hour.
• Remove lid and simmer gently for 30 minutes to thicken, stirring every now and then. The dal is ready when it has a consistency like porridge - some lentils should be intact but some have broken down to thicken the sauce.
• Stir through garam masala at the end. Adjust salt if desired.
• Pour over Tadka, if using, and stir through.
• Serve Dal over rice, garnished with a sprig of coriander if desired.

CAROL'S DAL CURRY (CURRIED LENTILS)

Steps:

• Cover bottom of saucepan with vegetable oil.
• Fry onion about 5 minutes, add cilantro and continue frying over medium heat, until onion is golden.
• Add tomato and let get a little soft.
• Add rest of ingredients, including spices (add spices according to your taste!) and let simmer for about 30 minutes.

VEGAN DAL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lentils, tomatoes and 3 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the curry powder, curry paste, garam masala, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, turmeric and some salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the coconut milk.
• Serve with the basmati rice, lime wedges and cilantro.

DAL - LENTILS WITH CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and saute until almost tender, then add garlic and ginger, stirring until fragrant.
• Add curry powder and stir for one minute.
• Add lentils and stir, then add stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to lowest setting and simmer for 20 to 45 minutes, until lentils are very soft, adding more stock if necessary. Watch carefully and stir, so it doesn't burn on the bottom. Lentils should be mushy.
• Add salt and pepper and cilantro,if using, and enjoy.
• To serve as a soup add additional stock and other cooked vegetables such as peas and carrots. Cooked chicken may also be added.

DAHI DAL (YOGURT LENTIL CURRY WITH SPINACH)

Steps:

• Put the moong dal in a pan with the measured boiling water, salt, turmeric and ginger. Bring to the boil, then cover and cook over a low to medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the spinach, cover again and cook for another 5 minutes until the lentils are soft and the spinach has wilted.
• Meanwhile, heat the ghee in a frying pan, add the onions and cook over a low to medium heat for 10 minutes until golden, then stir in the chile powder. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Once the lentils are ready, blitz to a purée with a hand blender or in a blender or food processor. Return to the pan, if necessary, and bring to the boil. Then take off the heat, add the yogurt and mix well. Transfer the dal to a serving bowl, top with the fried onions and serve.