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Dal Tarka
Dal tarka, or simmered lentils finished with spice-infused butter, is a ubiquitous Indian dish, though some versions are more elaborate than others. Different varieties of lentils can be used to make dal, but we opted for split yellow lentils (toor dal) to recreate the dal tarka we had in Mumbai. (Note: Yellow lentils and yellow split peas are not the same.) If you’re able to find ghee, a type of clarified butter, we highly recommend using it to make the tarka because its full, round, slightly nutty flavor lends depth to the dish. If ghee is not available, salted butter works well.
4
Servings
Tip
Don’t forget to stir the lentils more frequently as they begin to thicken, and make sure to scrape along the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking or scorching. Also, don’t make the tarka, or infused butter, in advance; the flavor compounds are volatile and dissipate as the mixture cools. It’s best to make the tarka only after the lentils have finished cooking.
1¼ hours
20 minutes active
Ingredients
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1
cup split yellow lentils, rinsed and drained
-
2
teaspoons ground turmeric, divided
Directions
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01In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils, 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 5½ cups water. Bring to a boil, then cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat to maintain a simmer, until the lentils are thick and have broken down, 1 to 1¼ hours; stir more often as the mixture thickens. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt; cover to keep warm and set aside.
Reviews
December 16, 2025
Wow, really good
I’ve been looking for a good dal recipe for quite some time but was always disappointed by the lack of flavor and depth. This one really hit the mark. Easy to make and easy to clean with a wonderfully full and satisfying flavor. Based on the previous reviews, I reduced the cumin to 1 teaspoon and was happy with the result.
October 16, 2022
Very good, needs a few tweaks
Great recipe. I'd turn down the amount of cumin used as it was overpowering IMO. Also, I used red lentils since my grocery didn't have yellow on hand, as a result the cooking time needed to be reduced to about 40mins. The fresh tomatoes add a layer of depth that can only be described as happiness. Recipes like this will make going (temporarily) vegetarian easy.
June 22, 2022
delicious and easy!
Tastes amazing and easy to make, definitely a keeper
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This turned out great. Thought the lentles would be boring but when I added salt at the end they came to life. I'm always amazed at how nice lentils taste when done right. I didn't have yellow lentils readily available so used green french and it turned out wonderfully. Great recipe and one that is a real hit for those looking for a very flavorful dish without a lot of heat.