3 Key Tips to Cooking Masoor Dal
My Go-To Masoor Dal Recipe
When grocery is running low and dinner isn’t planned, Pakistani-style Masoor Dal is to be made. Unlike many other dals, masoor dal requires no pre-soaking and cooks quickly, especially when using an Instant Pot (more on that below). Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, get recipes & tips every week! Originally inspired by Veg Recipes of India’s Masoor Dal, this Authentic Red Lentil Curry has become a favorite over the years. In fact, when I lived in Midland, TX where there weren’t many decent takeout options, I would drive 30 minutes home from work, make this dal, and drive 20 minutes back to night class. To this day, I hastily prepare some version of this recipe whenever I come back from trips and my digestion system needs a break.
What is Masoor Dal?
Masoor dal (or daal, dahl, etc.) is the Hindi/Urdu name for red split lentils (sometimes called pink lentils), which is the seed of the plant Lens culinaris. The tiny brown seeds of the whole masoor dal are hulled and split to yield this more common red lentil. More Lentil and Legume Recipes: Rajma, Chana Masala, Easy Pakistani Haleem and Dahi Bhalla.
Masoor Dal Ingredients
Basic South Asian pantry staples are all you need to make this South Asian Red Split Lentils recipe. Here are a few notes on them:
Masoor Dal (Red Split Lentils) – One of the most common variety of lentils and readily available at most American grocery stores. Spices – This dal recipe calls for simple spices such as coriander, cumin, red chili powder (or cayenne!), and turmeric. Garam masala is optional. Garlic and ginger – Fresh is always ideal. You can also substitute around 1/2 tbsp of paste for each. Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves) – A completely optional ingredient in this case (but essential for recipes like Mixed Vegetable Curry and Butter Chicken), this is the only ingredient that’s not as readily available. If you want to use it, you’ll likely need to find in Indian & Pakistani grocery stores.
How to Make Masoor Dal – 3 Easy Steps
Masoor Dal almost always goes like this:
Step 1 – Cook the Dal
Rinse the lentils well, then drain, put in a deep saucepan, and add specified amount of water. I like to keep the lid ajar since the steam builds up and tends to cause the dal to boil over. If you’re cooking it over the stovetop, remove the foam that rises to the top (if you’d like!). Optional step: Slightly mash the lentils along the sides of the pot with your wooden spoon. This isn’t necessary here because cooking the dal low and slow naturally breaks down the dal to the perfect consistency.
Because red lentils cook so quickly, this recipe is perfect for cooking the dal and its tarka (tempering) concurrently. I usually start the tarka when the dal is almost done cooking.
Step 2 – Make the Tarka
Meanwhile, make the tarka, also called baghar or chonk. Essentially, it’s an infusion of spices and/or aromatics in hot oil or ghee. This is the essential step that adds texture and taste, elevating bland lentils to dal status. In many Masoor dal recipes such as Maryam’s Pakistani-style dal, the tarka is as simple as a small onion. This one goes all out with tomatoes, spices, and a garnishing of lemon & cilantro.
Step 3 – Combine & Garnish
I’ve added the lentils to the tarka but you can also add the tarka to the lentils. Dal tends to thicken as soon as it’s cooled, so keep that in mind when cooking down to your preferred consistency.
Simmer gently, but not too long as it’ll lose the brightness of the garnishing ingredients.
How to store and reheat Masoor Dal
Store in the fridge for 3-4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw and then (ideally) reheat over the stove. Depending on how thick the dal gets, you may need to add more water when reheating.
How to serve Masoor Dal
Masoor Dal goes perfectly with plain basmati rice, roti, paratha, naan, crusty bread, or anything, really. On the side, you can serve:
Fresh, crunchy vegetables chopped up with a bit of salt, pepper, and lemon juice (or kachumber salad if we want to get technical). Yogurt or raita. Achaar (mixed pickle). More lemon or lime!
Complementary Dishes to Serve Alongside
Since this is a wet dal (an example of a dry dal would be Maash ki dal), it would pair well with dryer meat or vegetarian dishes. Examples:
Complementary meat dishes: Beef Curry, Keema Matar, or Chicken Jalfrezi. Complementary vegetarian mains: Mixed Vegetable Curry, Okra Curry, or Aloo Baingan.
More Dal Recipes:
Maash Ki Dal Instant Pot Red Lentils Chana Dal (Restaurant-Style) Whole Masoor Dal (Brown Lentil Curry)
Tried this recipe? If you have a minute, please consider leaving a comment telling me how it was! You can also take a quick picture and upload it directly into the comments. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I truly love hearing from you. Thank you!
