My simple, fragrant, red lentil and veggie Dal recipe • Offbeat Home & Life (2024)

My simple, fragrant, red lentil and veggie Dal recipe • Offbeat Home & Life (1)

Indian-style Dal is a wonderful, thick, delicious soup that becomes a stew the longer it sits. The warming spices offer a welcome change from the traditional choice of chicken noodle, and the recipe is seriously, ridiculously, easily adaptable. As long as you have a few staple ingredients, you can make it with whatever you have lingering in your freezer or produce drawer and still manage to have something that tastes rich and delicious.

Indian Dal is seriously easy to make. If you know how to cook lentils and have certain spices at the ready, you don’t even need to follow a recipe.

The staple ingredients for Dal include:

  • Lentils (red lentils cook more quickly than green or black, but any lentils will do)
  • Garlic (diced, minced, or my favorite: paste)
  • Ginger (budget friendly ground ginger is just fine)
  • Turmeric
  • Cayenne or chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Salt
  • Garam masala (you can get this at any market with an international section)
  • Water for cooking

That’s everything that you need to make a simple Dal. Even if you do not have garam masala, then cloves, coriander, fennel, and cumin would do fine… but the garam masala does add authenticity to the dish.

From there, there are many different combinations of ingredients for your Dal:

Onion, carrots, potatoes, and peas are all commonly found in Dal recipes. I especially love letting big chunks of yellow or white onion cook to buttery softness in my Dal (and letting their pungency unclog my sinuses). You could also add proteins like chicken or tofu, but Dal is an excellent vegan dish by default.

You really don’t need a recipe for Dal once you know the basics, but I want to share the fragrant red lentil and veggie Dal that I made today. In this recipe, red lentils were mixed with onion, carrots, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes to make the perfect lunch for a sick day or any cold afternoon.

Related PostMy simple, fragrant, red lentil and veggie Dal recipe • Offbeat Home & Life (2)A Megan-simple soup made with beans, veggies, leftover rice, and a TON of cheese

I live in Oregon, and we've officially moved into the COLD COLD SO COLD months. The other day I was rooting around in the kitchen... Read more

It’s also good for sick times!

I’ve come down with a nose-plugging, coughing, exhausting, mind-numbing virus of yuck. If you’re unlucky enough to contract something from all the sickies like me out in the world (sorry!), you may find some solace as I have in this soup.

Mylynda’s sick day red lentil Dal recipe:

Ingredients

I’ll be honest, I don’t usually measure my dry ingredients and spices. It’s why all of my baking projects fail. However, these measurements will give a tasty result…

  • 1 c. red lentils
  • 4 c. water
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • broccoli crowns, chopped, stems discarded
  • 1 c. baby carrots, halved
  • 1 container cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 tbsp. garlic paste*
  • 2 tsp. cayenne pepper*
  • 2 tsp. cumin*
  • 2 tsp. turmeric*
  • 2 tsp. ground ginger*
  • 1 tbsp. garam masala*

Instructions:

  1. Wash your lentils. A fine metal sieve works best. After rinsing, add the lentils and water to a pot, and get it boiling. Once a gentle boil has been achieved, turn down to simmer for 10-15 minutes while you chop your veggies.
  2. Add a generous glug of olive oil or your favorite cooking oil to a large pot. Add the chopped onion and garlic paste. Use a silicone spatula or wooden spoon to stir the onions and garlic for 3-5 minutes.
  3. After the onions have started to soften, add all of the spices. Stir continually for another 2-3 minutes, being sure not to let the mixture burn. If the spices do start to burn in the middle of the pot, add a splash of water or cooking wine and continue stirring.
  4. Now pour the whole pot of lentils and water in to the larger pot with the onion and spice mixture. Add the broccoli, carrots, and cherry tomatoes, making sure they’re covered by the cooking liquid. Let all of the ingredients simmer together on low heat for about 10 minutes. If you want softer vegetables, let the Dal cook until the veggies can be easily pierced with a fork.

Bonus: top your bowl with plain yogurt or greek yogurt and serve with naan, crackers, or bread.

That’s it! Easy-peasy and totally fulfilling.

My simple, fragrant, red lentil and veggie Dal recipe • Offbeat Home & Life (3)

Guest Post By: Mylynda Guthrie

I'm a working lady, and a crafting/cooking/clean eating/diy enthusiast. As in, I'm enthusiastic about the idea of doing those marvelous things.

My simple, fragrant, red lentil and veggie Dal recipe • Offbeat Home & Life (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken Dahl? ›

You can easily thicken the dal by simmering it a bit more (uncovered, of course), or thin it out a bit with some extra water. If you'd like to make it smoother (and the dal is already completely tender), just whisk it a few times. Some recipes tell you to puree the dal in a blender, but I rarely do so.

What is Dahl made from? ›

As an ingredient, dal refers to a split version of legumes like lentils, chickpeas, etc. As a recipe, dal is made by simmering together yellow or red split lentils with warming spices and often coconut milk, tomatoes and broth to create a lovely, super-nutritious meal with a stew-like consistency.

Can you freeze lentil Dahl? ›

Freezer: To freeze, put it in a freezer-safe container or a plastic bag after being completely cooled. Make sure to leave a few inches of space as the dahl could expand as it freezes. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thawing and reheating: Place the frozen dahl in the fridge overnight before reheating it.

How healthy is red lentil Dahl? ›

Dhal is an excellent source of iron and fibre, and a good source of protein, for vegetarians. Red lentil dahl is full of flavour and this version is also packed with vegetables, making it the perfect healthy comfort food.

What are the pros and cons of red lentils? ›

Eating half a cup of cooked lentils gives you lots of essential nutrients and their high fiber content makes you feel full. However, the fiber in lentils can be hard for your body to break down. Eating too many lentils can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.

Why does my dal taste bitter? ›

Be careful how much turmeric you add to your daal, because that's another thing that can make it go bitter. If you are using spinach, it could be bitter too. Taste your raw spinach to check its bitterness. Remove the stalks too.

How do you enhance the taste of dhal? ›

To make the dal flavourful and aromatic, heat mustard oil or 2 spoons of ghee in a tadka pan. Add 1/2 tsp cumin seeds and 1 tsp mustard seeds to it. After the mustard and cumin seeds crackle, add them to the lentils and enjoy the flavourful dal.

Why does my dal taste watery? ›

The amount of water added while pressure cooking the dal determines its texture and taste. If you add too much water, the dal will become too watery which can completely spoil its taste.

What are the side effects of dahl? ›

While masoor dal is largely beneficial, excessive consumption can lead to some adverse effects: 1. Digestive Issues: Overconsumption of masoor dal can lead to gas, bloating, and indigestion due to its high fiber content. People not used to a high-fiber diet might experience these symptoms more intensely.

Can I eat dahl every day? ›

Yes, You can have dal once per day. You can have as part of lunch. Dals are rich in proteins, Essential amino acid, potassium, Iron, Fiber, and Vitamin B1. Helps to lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels.

What is the difference between lentils and dahl? ›

Though often translated as lentils, dals are actually any split pulses (legumes). A pulse refers to the dry, edible seed of the pod. This includes beans, lentils, peas, and other little seeds in lentils or beans. So, any split legume is considered a dal in Indian culture.

What do you eat dahl with? ›

This warming Indian classic brings everyone together at the dinner table. This hearty dhal is a meal in itself but can be served with a little rice or warm naan bread for mopping up the delicious sauce.

Does dahl go bad? ›

Refrigerated leftover dals can survive for 5-6 days only if it is stored correctly. Even if you want to eat some of it, make sure you take out only that portion, rather than re-heating the whole container.

Do red lentils freeze well? ›

Cooked lentils and lentil puree can be frozen and used within three months, or refrigerated for up to one week. Be sure that they are sealed tight in air-tight containers or plastic bags to prevent freezer burn. Is there a cooking time difference between split and whole lentils?

What should you eat Dahl with? ›

In Indian households, we eat our dal with roti, rice, or dosa. With the carb component you have a complete protein and an amazing meal at that. I encourage folks that take my classes to think of dal as a side to bread and/or rice or as a soup.

What do lentils pair well with? ›

If you have a few root vegetables hanging out in your fridge, those are also great with lentils, like in this warm lentil and root vegetable salad with parsnips and carrots. Lentils are particularly nice with cheese, as in this grilled halloumi and lentil salad.

What is dal good with? ›

It is usually served with a variety of accompaniments, such as rice, vegetables, and yogurt or raita. Here are a few suggestions for some common accompaniments that go well with dal roti: Rice: You can serve dal roti with plain white rice or flavored rice, such as jeera rice (cumin rice) or saffron rice.

Do you serve dal with rice? ›

Dal & rice is a staple combo in most Indian homes. It is eaten in almost every region of India and is the main source of protein for majority of Indians. Dal & rice is the first food that most Indians learn to cook.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5824

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.