Arahar dal recipe with step-by-step photos: Arhar dal, toor dal, or tuvar dal is a popular lentil-based vegetarian dish prepared in Indian homes. Learn to make a simple and quick arhar dal recipe with minimal ingredients.
What is Dal
The word ‘dal’ is a generic term which means the split dried lentils or peas as well as the thick gruel like dish made with these lentils. Dal is one such food in Indian cuisine that every Indian can connect to.
A bowl of dal accompanied by rice is comforting to the stomach and satisfying to the soul.
The initial cooking process of all dals is almost the same. However, the tempering/tadka and seasoning spices vary from region to region.
More dal recipes:
What is Arhar Dal
This dish is made with split pigeon peas. Also known as red gram, toor dal, tuvar dal, thuvaram paruppu, kandhi pappu in India. Arhar dal is skinned, split, and has a yellow color. It is full of protein and many nutrients. Hence adding it to the daily diet is a great way to eat healthier.
About This Recipe
This is an easy, simple, nutritious yet tasty everyday dal made with split pigeon peas. A basic toor dal that uses very few common ingredients and is ready within 20 minutes.
The dal is cooked and then tempered with oil, cumin seeds, garlic, and green chili. In addition, I have added a tbsp of ghee in the final steps. Which definitely enhances the taste but it is completely optional.
I have used a pressure cooker to save time. You can even cook the dal in a pan or even instant pot if you like.
I cook dal almost everyday and this dal is one among those.
Serve this dal with steamed rice with a side of any choice of sabzi, salad, papad, and a pickle to have a complete Indian meal.
Step by Step Preparations
- Wash and soak toor dal for at least 20 minutes unless you are in a hurry.
- Add soaked dal in the pressure cooker with water, add turmeric powder, salt, and 2-3 drops of oil. Pressure cook over medium flame for 5 to 6 whistles or until soft and mushy.
- Then beat lightly with a spoon or whisk and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, followed by chopped garlic, chopped green chilies. Saute until the garlic turns golden. Immediately pour the tempering over dal. Stir to mix.
- Add chopped coriander leaves and ghee if adding.
- Stir to mix and serve hot.
Notes
- Soaking the lentils before cooking helps in fastening the cooking process and eases digestion. I would suggest soaking the dal in water for at least 20 minutes before cooking unless you are in a hurry.
- Do add 2-3 drops of oil while pressure cooking. It prevents the dal from frothing while it cooks.
If you try this recipe, please leave a feedback and rating. You can also tag me @spoonofflavor on Instagram.
Arhar dal Recipe | How to make Arhar Dal
INGREDIENTS ( 1 CUP = 250 ML )
For Cooking the Dal
- ½ cup arhar dal/split pigeon peas
- 1 ½ cup water
- 2 medium-sized tomatoes chopped
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
- Salt as required
- 2-3 drops oil (if cooking in a pressure cooker)
For Tempering/Tadka
- 1 tbsp oil (I have used sunflower oil)
- ½ tsp cumin seeds/jeera
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1-2 green or red chilies chopped
Others
- 1 tbsp ghee/clarified butter (optional)
- 2-3 tbsp fresh coriander/cilantro finely chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash and soak toor dal for at least 20 minutes unless you are in a hurry.
- Add soaked dal in the pressure cooker with water, add turmeric powder, salt, and 2-3 drops of oil. Pressure cook over medium flame for 5 to 6 whistles or until soft and mushy.
- Then beat lightly with a spoon or whisk and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, followed by chopped garlic, chopped green chilies. Saute until the garlic turns golden. Immediately pour the tempering over dal. Stir to mix.
- Add chopped coriander leaves and ghee if adding.
- Stir to mix and serve hot.
Notes
- Soaking the lentils before cooking helps in fastening the cooking process and eases digestion. I would suggest soaking the dal in water for at least 20 minutes before cooking unless you are in a hurry.
- Do add 2-3 drops of oil while pressure cooking. It prevents the dal from frothing while it cooks.
Azlin Bloor
I am a huge fan of all sorts of dals, I know that I would just love this. Such a delicious recipe!
Geetanjali
Thank you, Azlin! Glad to know. I am sure you will love this. 🙂
Rose
Question: can you make this dal without a pressure cooker?
Geetanjali
Hi Rose! Yeah, you can make this without a pressure cooker as well. like any other dals, you can use an instant pot, slow cooker, or make this on the stovetop using a saucepan. Later will also update this post with other methods for you.