Masoor Daal - Indian Red Lentils
photo by Annacia
- Ready In:
- 1hr 15mins
- Ingredients:
- 14
- Serves:
-
6-8
ingredients
- 1⁄2 lb red lentil
- water, as needed
- 2 tablespoons ghee or 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoons dried red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cardamom seed
- 6 inches cinnamon sticks, broken
- 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
- 2 cups plain low-fat yogurt or 14 ounces light coconut milk
directions
- Wash the lentils well, and then put them into a sauce pan. Add 4 - 6 cups of salted water to cover the lentils.
- Bring lentils to a boil then reduce heat, cover and allow to simmer until they are soft. Keep the water level above the lentils.
- While the lentils are simmering, grind the spices together then toast them over low heat in a dry sauté pan until you have released their aromas. Set spices aside.
- Using the same sauté pan, heat ghee or oil over low to medium heat. Add onions and sauté until they are soft. Add garlic, sauté another 3-4 minutes. Do not burn the onions or garlic. Add spice mixture; continue to cook for 2 minutes.
- Once the lentils have become soft, add them and their cooking liquid to the onion and spice mixture (add more water or broth if lentil are too thick). Stir and scrape up any bit from the bottom. Stir in lemon juice, adjust salt and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
- Just before serving add yogurt and heat through. Serve with a wheat flat bread such as roti.
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Reviews
-
Great and cheap and copious. I used a packet of dry coconut milk powder and only the water left from cooking the lentil. 400 gr dry red lentils and about 5 cups water. Toasting the spices is essential and you can use more if you like. I had only powdered versions of all the spices but I still used the mortar and pestle on them and toasted them. I think the lemon juice is also necessary and I almost forgot it at the end, it really adds something. Served with basmati, roast chicken pieces and sweet mango chutney. The house smells terrific.
-
Mine turned out a bit too runny, so I think if I were to make it again I would have to use less water (I am new to cooking lentils). The flavour was really nice though, I also only had powdered spices, but I still ground them and still toasted them and the flavour was still great. The lemon juice is definately needed for the acidity. I used yoghurt, but it didn't blend well, so I would also use a more creamy, greek style yoghurt (without artificial thickeners) so it doesn't curdle. I ate it with rice and roti bread, which was yummy.
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