Arhar Dal (Toor Dal) – Simple Indian Recipe
A healthy, easy and beginner-friendly recipe for Arhar Dal (toor dal) that’s protein-rich and perfect with rice or roti.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash the toor dal thoroughly and soak it in water for 15–30 minutes. Drain before cooking.
- Transfer soaked dal to a pressure cooker. Add 2 cups water, turmeric powder and salt. Mix gently.
- Pressure cook on medium flame for 2 whistles (or until dal is soft). Then let the steam release naturally.
- Open the cooker. If dal is too thick, add a little hot water to reach desired consistency and stir well.
- In a small pan, heat oil or ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. If using green chili, add it now and sauté for a few seconds.
- Pour this tempering (tadka) over cooked dal. Stir. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
- Cover the dal and simmer on low heat for 2–3 minutes to let flavours blend. Then serve hot with rice or rotis.
Notes
Soaking dal helps reduce cooking time and improves digestibility. You can skip green chili for a kid-friendly version. For richer taste, use ghee instead of oil.