Dal Tadka Recipe (Restaurant Style & Home Style)

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Dal Tadka is a popular Indian lentil dish made with arhar dal (husked & split pigeon pea lentils) or masoor dal (husked & split red lentils). This Dal Tadka recipe gives you a delicious creamy dal with smoked flavors.

dal tadka garnished with cilantro and a topped with fried red chilli with some fried cumin and some red colored oil in a small brass bucket on a light brown jute mat with a bowl of steamed rice kept above on the top-right.

In this post I am sharing 2 versions of the recipe.

  • Restaurant Style Dal Tadka – Made on Stovetop with an optional smoking method.
  • Home Style Dal Tadka – Made in the Instant Pot.

Both the recipes are easy and taste good. You can make either of them as per your preference. For making homestyle dal tadka on stovetop, check the notes section in the recipe card of instant pot dal tadka recipe.

About this Recipe

Dal Tadka is one of the most popular lentil dish served in Indian restaurants. Basically, dal tadka is cooked lentils which are tempered with oil or ghee fried spices & herbs.

I have to admit that I simply love the dal tadka that is served at the restaurants even though we hardly eat out.

So I try to recreate the restaurant magic in most of the food that I make at home. Here the restaurant style flavors come from smoking the dal using a red-hot charcoal.

Trust me, this simple method of smoking makes the dal so much flavorful and tasty. In Hindi language we also call this smoking technique as dhungar.

This Dal Tadka recipe is more of a North Indian style recipe.

What does Dal Tadka mean?

  • Dal is the Hindi term for lentils.
  • Tadka or Chaunk is the Hindi term for tempering and is a commonly employed cooking technique in the Indian cuisine.
  • Tempering method has the spices & herbs fried in oil. The frying of the spices and herbs release their essential oils, aroma and flavor in the hot oil. This fried spices, herbs, oil mixture is added to prepared lentils or cooked rice or steamed vegetables and it greatly changes the flavor, aroma and taste of the dish. Tempering is very much a part of cooking Indian food and we use this method while making dal, vegetable dishes or chutneys.

Lentils added

  1. Tuvar dal – Generally dal tadka is made with tuvar dal or arhar dal also known as split pigeon pea lentils. In this post, I have shared the dal recipe made with tuvar dal.
  2. Moong dal – Even moong lentils can be used to make the recipe. At times I make this recipe both with tuvar dal and moong dal. The recipe can also be made with a mix of masoor dal (red lentils) and pigeon pea lentils. If you want to use moong dal then you can refer this post – Moong Dal Tadka.
dal tadka garnished with cilantro and a topped with fried red chilli with some fried cumin and some red colored oil in a small brass bucket on a light brown jute mat
Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Dal Tadka

1. Rinse 1 cup tuvar dal or arhar dal (split & husked pigeon pea lentils) for a couple of times in water. Add them to a 3 litre pressure cooker.

You can also cook the lentils in a pot. Soak the lentils for an hour or two before you cook them in a pot. The method on cooking lentils in a pot is mentioned in the notes section of the recipe card below.

rinsed lentils added in a stove pressure cooker

2. Add ½ cup chopped onions, 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes, 1 or 2 green chilies (1 teaspoon of chopped Anaheim pepper or Serrano pepper can be subbed for green chillies) and 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger.

chopped onions, ginger, tomatoes and green chillies added to the lentils in the pressure cooker

3. Pour 2.5 cups of water. If cooking in a pot, then about 4 to 4.5 cups of water can be added.

water being added in the pressure cooker

4. Add ½ turmeric powder and 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing). If you do not have asafoetida, then skip it.

turmeric powder and asafoetida (hing) added in the pressure cooker

5. Mix well.

all the ingredients in the pressure cooker have been mixed well

6. Pressure cook the lentils for about 7 to 8 whistles or more till they become soft and creamy. Mash the cooked lentils with a wired whisk or with a spoon and keep aside.

If the consistency looks thick, then add some water. About ½ cup to 1 cup water (depending on the thickness) to get a medium consistency. Simmer dal for 3 to 4 minutes. Consistency of the lentils in the below photo.

lentils have been cooked and the consistency of cooked lentils shown in a large spoon

7. Once the desired consistency is reached, add 1 to 2 tablespoons low-fat cream (optional), ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) and salt as per paste. Switch off the the heat.

chopped cilantro (coriander leaves), salt, garam masala powder and cream added to the cooked lentils

8. Mix well so that everything combines uniformly. Check the salt before you add the tempering. If the salt is less than add more salt to the dal.

the ingredients mixed very well with the cooked lentils

9. The final consistency of the cooked dal.

consistency of the lentils or dal being shown with a large spoon

Optional – smoking or dhungar method

10. Next is the dhungar method of flavoring dal tadka with the smoky fumes of burnt charcoal. For this with the help of tongs or on a grill pan like shown in the photo below, place a small piece of charcoal.

Burn the charcoal till it becomes red hot. Please use natural charcoal for this method. Note that this is an optional step and you can proceed directly to the tempering method.

a small piece of charcoal kept on a wired pan and being burnt on a gas-stove flame

11. Place the red hot charcoal in a small steel bowl. You can also use onion layers or a halved hollow onion for the same.

red hot charcoal kept in a small steel bowl

12. Pour about ¼ tsp of oil or ghee on the charcoal. You will see fumes emanating as soon as you pour oil or ghee on the hot charcoal.

oil drizzled on the red hot charcoal has led to fumes emanating from the charcoal

13. Place this bowl on the dal.

the bowl with the charcoal and the fumes emanating from it has been kept on the dal in the pressure cooker

14. Cover the cooker or the pot with a lid and let the dal get infused with the charcoal smoke. Just keep for 1 to 2 minutes.

Do not keep for a long time as then the dal can taste bitter. Remove the bowl carefully with the help of tongs and cover the cooker with a lid. Set aside.

the pressure cooker has been covered with a lid for the dal to absorb the smoke from the charcoal

Making tempering or tadka

15. Next heat 3 tablespoons oil or ghee (clarified butter) in a small pan. First, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and crackle them. The cumin should get fried and not be raw, but don’t burn them.

cumin seeds being fried in oil in a small round pan

16. Now add 2 to 3 dry red chilies, a generous pinch of asafoetida and 5 to 6 medium sized garlic cloves which have been finely chopped. Let the garlic brown and the red chilies change color. Do not burn the garlic.

dry red chillies, finely chopped garlic and asafoetida (hing) added in the pan

17. Lastly add 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi and ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper. Mix and switch off the stove. Make sure to fry the tempering ingredients at a low flame, so that you don’t burn them.

dry fenugreek leaves and red chilli powder added in the pan

18. Pour entire tempering along with the oil or ghee into the dal.

fried tempering ingredient added to the dal

19. You can mix the dal with tempering or serve the dal tadka with the tempering on top it. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve it hot with steamed basmati rice, cumin rice or with Indian flatbread like roti or paratha or chapati or naan.

dal tadka garnished with cilantro and a topped with fried red chilli with some fried cumin and some red colored oil in a small brass bucket on a light brown jute mat with a bowl of steamed rice kept above on the top-right.

Serving Suggestions

The tempering adds a lot of flavor, aroma and thus the dal tadka gets paired beautifully with steamed rice or jeera rice (cumin flavored pilaf).

Dal tadka can be also be served with roti or naan or dinner rolls or paratha.

Tips

Expert Tips

  1. Preparation: First, cook the lentils and then lastly temper it just before serving. You can also cook the lentils first and keep in the fridge. Before serving reheat the lentils and then temper it. Serve immediately. However for best taste always prepare the lentils fresh. It not only tastes good but also a healthier choice.
  2. Type of Lentils: You can make it with any yellow dal (split lentils). I make it sometimes with Tuvar dal (split pigeon pea lentils) and Masoor dal (split pink lentils) and sometimes only with Tuvar dal.
  3. Tomatoes: I have added tomatoes and it gives a nice tang. If you do not have tomatoes, then add ½ to 1 teaspoon of lemon juice when the lentils are cooked.
  4. Tempering: You can temper or fry the spices and herbs in either ghee or oil. In the recipe I have used sunflower oil but ghee (clarified butter) also gives a good flavor. You can even use peanut oil or any neutral flavored oil.
  5. Dhungar Method: In the step by stepwise photos below, I have illustrated the charcoal smoking method as it gives a really good smoky flavor to the lentils. You can easily skip this method if you don’t have charcoal. Another alternative to get that smoky flavor is to add smoked paprika instead of red chilli powder or cayenne pepper.
  6. Consistency: The consistency of the cooked dal is neither thick nor thin but medium. But if you prefer you can opt for a slightly thick or thin dal consistency.
  7. Soaking Lentils: You can also soak the lentils for 30 to 40 minutes before cooking them. This helps in cooking the lentils faster and a recommended step.

Dal is a staple in Indian food. India has so many varieties of dal recipes. Each region, each state having their own delicious recipes.

More Popular Dal Recipes

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

dal tadka garnished with cilantro and a topped with fried red chilli with some fried cumin and some red colored oil in a small brass bucket on a light brown jute mat

Restaurant Style Dal Tadka Recipe

This restaurant style Dal Tadka recipe is of a smooth and creamy dal made with pigeon pea lentils (tur dal), onions, tomatoes, herbs and spices having a smoky charcoal flavor. Best served with steamed basmati rice or relished with roti or naan.
4.95 from 170 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine North Indian
Course Main Course
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 4
Units

Ingredients

for cooking lentils

  • 1 cup tuvar dal (arhar dal or split pigeon pea lentils) or 200 grams or ½ cup tuvar dal + ½ cup masoor dal (split pink lentils)
  • 1 to 2 green chilies or serrano peppers – chopped or slit lengthwise
  • ½ cup chopped onions or 1 medium sized onion
  • 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes or 2 medium sized tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger or 1 inch ginger, peeled and finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) – optional
  • 2.5 cups water – for pressure cooking
  • 1 or 2 tablespoon low-fat cream – optional
  • 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
  • salt as required

for tempering or tadka

  • 3 tablespoon oil or 3 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 5 to 6 medium garlic cloves – finely chopped
  • 2 to 3 dry red chilies – broken and seeds removed
  • a generous pinch of asafoetida (hing) – optional
  • 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) – optional
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper or paprika

for garnish

  • 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)

for dhungar method

  • a small piece of charcoal
  • ¼ teaspoon oil or ghee (clarified butter)

Instructions
 

1. cook lentils

  • 1. Thoroughly rinse 1 cup tuvar dal (arhar dal, or split & husked pigeon pea lentils) in water. Add them to a 3-litre pressure cooker.
    No pressure cooker? You can also cook the lentils in a pot. Soak the lentils for an hour or two before you cook them in a pot.
  • 2. Add ½ cup chopped onions, 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes, 1 or 2 green chilies (1 teaspoon of chopped Anaheim pepper or Serrano pepper can be subbed for green chillies) and 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger.
  • 3. Pour 2.5 cups of water into the pressure cooker.
    If cooking in a pot, then about 4 to 4.5 cups of water can be added.
  • 4. Add ½ turmeric powder and 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing). If you do not have asafoetida, then skip it.
    5. Mix well.
  • 6. Pressure cook the lentils for about 7-8 whistles, or until they become soft and creamy.
    Mash the cooked lentils with a wired whisk or with a spoon and keep aside. If the consistency looks thick, then add about ½ – 1 cup water (depending on the thickness) to get a medium consistency. Simmer dal for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • 7. Once the desired consistency is reached, add 1-2 tablespoons low-fat cream (optional), ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) and salt to taste. Switch off the the heat.
  • 8. Mix well so that everything combines uniformly. Taste and adjust salt before adding tadka.

2. Smoke lentils using dhungar method (optional)

  • 10. To get the smoky fumes of burnt charcoal like you would in a restaurant, you'll want to follow the dhungar method. Using tongs, place a small piece of charcoal on a grill pan like shown in the photo below. Burn the charcoal till it becomes red hot.
    Please be sure to use natural charcoal for this method, avoiding anything that has a flame accelerant added.
    Note that this is an optional step – you can proceed directly to the tempering method.
  • 11. Place the red hot charcoal in a small steel bowl. You can also use a halved hollow onion instead of the bowl.
  • 12. Pour about ¼ tsp of oil or ghee on the charcoal. You will see fumes emanating as soon as you pour oil or ghee on the hot charcoal.
  • 13. Place this bowl on the dal.
  • 14. Cover the cooker or pot with a lid and let the dal get infused. Only smoke for 1-2 minutes. Do not keep for a long time, or you'll risk making the dal taste bitter.
    Remove the bowl carefully with the help of tongs and cover the cooker with a lid. Set aside.

make the tempering (tadka or chaunk)

  • 15. Next, heat 3 tablespoons oil or ghee (clarified butter) in a small pan over low-medium heat. First, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and crackle them. The cumin should get fried and not be raw, but be careful not burn them.
  • 16. Now add 2 to 3 dry red chilies, a generous pinch of asafoetida, and 5-6 medium sized garlic cloves which have been finely chopped. Let the garlic brown lightly and the red chilies change color. Do not burn the garlic.
  • 17. Lastly, add 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (fenugreek seeds) and ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper. Mix well and turn off the stove.
  • 18. Pour entire tempering along with the oil or ghee into the dal.
  • 19. You can either mix the dal with tempering, or serve the dal tadka with the tempering on top it. I personally like the aesthetic of having the tadka floating on top. Garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy!
  • Serving Suggestion: Serve dal tadka hot with steamed basmati rice or jeera rice (cumin rice), or with roti, naan or paratha.

Video

Notes

  • Type of Lentils: You can make the recipe with any yellow dal (split lentils). I make it sometimes with Tuvar dal (split pigeon pea lentils) and Masoor dal (split & husked red lentils) and sometimes only with Tuvar dal. You can even add an equal mix of tuvar dal and moong dal. 
  • Soaking Lentils: You can also soak the lentils for 30 to 40 minutes before cooking them.
  • Tomatoes: I have added tomatoes and it gives a nice tang. If you do not have tomatoes, then add ½ to 1 teaspoon of lemon juice when the lentils are cooked.
  • Tempering: You can temper or fry the spices and herbs in either ghee or oil. In the recipe I have used sunflower oil but ghee (clarified butter) also gives a good flavor. You can even use peanut oil or any neutral flavored oil.
  • Dhungar Method: You can easily skip the charcoal smoking method if you don’t have charcoal. Another alternative to get that smoky flavor is to add smoked paprika instead of red chilli powder or cayenne pepper.
  • Consistency: The consistency of the cooked dal is neither thick nor thin but medium. But if you prefer you can opt for a slightly thick or thin dal consistency.
  • Soaking Lentils: You can also soak the lentils for 30 to 40 minutes before cooking them. This helps in cooking the lentils faster and a recommended step.
For cooking the lentils in a pot
  1. Soak the lentils for about 1 to 2 hours. Drain and rinse then well in water.
  2. In a deep pot, add 4 to 5 cups water added to the lentils. Add the rest of the ingredients mentioned in the recipe.
  3. Cover and cook the lentils. If the water begins to froth and bubble, then remove the lid or cover it partly and continue to cook the lentils till they become soft and creamy.
  4. If the water becomes less, then add some hot water.
  5. Once the lentils are cooked (takes from 45 minutes to an hour or sometimes more (depends on the quality and age of the lentils). Then follow the recipe further.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Restaurant Style Dal Tadka Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 213 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 60mg3%
Potassium 303mg9%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 630IU13%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 5mg33%
Vitamin K 5µg5%
Calcium 50mg5%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 56µg14%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 29mg7%
Phosphorus 77mg8%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

About Instant Pot Dal Tadka

Dal is a staple at home and I make them in different varieties. What I am sharing in this post, is a version that has been made for decades and is still being made.

A family recipe and one which I make often. A comforting and nourishing dal recipe which I hope you enjoy as much as we do. This is a vegan recipe and can be made gluten-free by skipping asafoetida.

instant pot dal tadka served in a brass pot with a brass spoon inside the brass pot

There are many variations of making dal tadka. This instant pot recipe is a home-style version and tastes good like an everyday home cooked food.

After getting the instant pot, I have been making dal in it. I have stopped using the stove-top pressure cooker completely. Thus I have updated this post with the instant pot method also. I have included the stovetop method of this homestyle dal tadka in the recipe card.

At times I even cook the rice along with the dal. I usually serve this dal tadka with roti (Indian flatbread) or steamed rice. So when making rice, I cook the rice and dal together in the IP.

It is best served with some steamed basmati rice. You can also serve with chapati or roti or dinner rolls.

instant pot dal tadka served in a brass pot on a jute fabric on a brown wooden table
Step-by-Step Guide

Step by Step Instant Pot Dal

1. Take ½ cup arhar dal (tuvar dal or pigeon pea lentils) in a bowl or colander.

tuvar dal (lentils) in a bowl

2. Rinse a couple of times and add the rinsed dal in the instant pot steel insert.

adding tuvar dal (lentils) in instant pot

3. Add ⅓ heaped cup sliced onions, ⅓ cup chopped tomatoes, 2 green chillies or serrano peppers (sliced, slit or chopped).

added chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies in instant pot

4. Add ½ tsp turmeric powder,  ½ tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder and a pinch of asafoetida (hing).

ground spice powders and asafoetida (hing) added to instant pot

5. Pour 1.5 cup water. Mix well.

water added to instant pot

6. Mix very well. At this step if you plan to cook rice, then place a tall trivet and add rice+water in a steaming pan. Place the pan on the trivet.

mixed all the ingredients in instant pot

7. Switch on the IP. Secure the lid and position the steam release handle to sealing. Press the pressure cook button and set the timer for 15 minutes on high pressure.

Depending on the quality and age of lentils, it can take 10 to 15 minutes. I prefer the dal to be cooked really well and mushy without any separate grains visible, so I cook the lentils for 15 minutes.

At times I have even cooked the lentils for 20 minutes. So depending on the quality of dal, you can decide upon the timing. Anyways, even if the lentils are undercooked, you can always pressure cook for some more minutes later.

pressure cooking lentils in instant pot

8. Give NPR (natural pressure release) after 10 minutes. Release the pressure after 10 minutes and open the IP lid. The lentils have to be cooked very well and become soft and mushy.

If the consistency of dal looks thick, then add some hot water to thin it. If dal looks thin, then use the sauté option and simmer dal for a few minutes.

cooked lentils in instant pot

9. With a spoon lightly mash the dal. If the dal looks thick, you can add some hot water.

mash the cooked lentils in instant pot

10. Season with salt as per taste and stir very well. Cover the cooked dal with the IP lid and begin with the tempering

adding salt in instant pot

Preparing tempering (tadka)

11. In a small pan or tadka pan, heat 2 tablespoon oil. Keep the flame to low or medium-low. Add ½ teaspoon small mustard seeds.

mustard seeds being added to hot oil

12. Let the mustard seeds crackle.

crackle mustard seeds

13. Then add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds.

add cumin seeds to oil

14. The cumin seeds will crackle as soon as you add them in oil. Let them change their color.

crackle cumin seeds

15. Then add 4 to 5 medium garlic cloves, crushed lightly with their peels on. You can also slice or chop the garlic. Fry for some seconds stirring often. The garlic can be a light golden but do not brown them or burn them.

garlic cloves added to oil

16. Add 1 to 2 dry red chilies (broken and deseeded).

added 1 to 2 dry red chilies

17. Add 9 to 10 curry leaves.  fry for a few seconds till the red chilies change color and the curry leaves become crisp.

curry leaves for tempering

18. Pour the entire tempering mixture in the dal.

pour the entire tempering mixture in the dal

19. Mix very well.

mix tempering with dal

20. Lastly, add 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)

garnishing with coriander leaves

21. Stir and instant pot dal tadka with steamed rice or roti. You can garnish with some coriander leaves while serving.

instant pot dal tadka served in a brass pot on a jute fabric on a brown wooden table
instant pot dal tadka

Instant Pot Dal Tadka

Delicious home-style dal tadka in the instant pot. Dal is a staple in Indian homes. It is a lentil preparation where cooked lentils are tempered with spices.
4.93 from 98 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine North Indian
Course Main Course
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

main ingredients

  • ½ cup arhar dal or 100 grams arhar dal (tuvar dal or split pigeon pea lentils)
  • cup chopped onions or 1 small medium-sized onion or 50 grams onion – chopped or sliced
  • cup chopped tomatoes or 1 medium-sized tomato or 65 grams tomatoes – chopped
  • 1 to 2 green chillis or serrano peppers – sliced, slit or chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or paprika
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) – optional
  • 1.5 cups water
  • salt as required
  • 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) – for garnish

for tempering

  • 2 tablespoon oil – ghee can be substituted in place of oil. use either sunflower or any neutral tasting oil
  • ½ teaspoon small mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 4 to 5 medium-sized garlic cloves – sliced or chopped or crushed lightly with their peels on
  • 1 sprig curry leaf or 9 to 10 curry leaves
  • 1 to 2 dry red chilies – broken and deseeded

Instructions
 

pressure cooking dal

  • Take the lentils in a bowl or colander.
  • Rinse a couple of times and add the rinsed dal in the ip steel insert.
  • Add sliced onions, chopped tomatoes, green chilies (sliced, slit or chopped), turmeric powder, red chilli powder and a pinch of asafoetida.
  • Pour water. Mix well. Secure the lid and position the steam release handle to sealing.
  • Press the pressure cook button and set the timer for 15 minutes on high pressure.
  • Give npr (natural pressure release) of 10 minutes.
  • Release the pressure after 10 minutes and open the ip lid. The lentils have to be cooked very well and become soft and mushy. With a spoon lightly mash the dal mixture.
  • If the dal looks thick, you can add some hot water.
  • Then season with salt as per taste and mix.
  • Cover the cooked dal with the ip lid and begin with the tempering.

tempering (tadka)

  • In a small pan or tadka pan, heat oil. Add the mustard seeds.
  • Let the mustard seeds crackle. Then add the cumin seeds. The cumin seeds will also crackle and brown when you add them.
  • Add 4 to 5 medium garlic cloves, crushed lightly with peels. You can also slice or chop the garlic. Fry for some seconds. Do not brown or burn the garlic.
  • Add the dry red chilies (broken and deseeded), curry leaves. Fry till the red chillies change color and the curry leaves become crisp.
  • Pour the entire tempering mixture in the dal. Mix very well.
  • Lastly add chopped coriander leaves.
  • Mix again and serve the dal tadka with steamed rice or roti. You can garnish with some coriander leaves while serving. 

Notes

Tips for instant pot dal tadka:
  1. Depending on the quality and age of lentils, the cooking time can vary from 10 to 15 minutes. I prefer the dal to be cooked really well and mushy without any separate grains visible, so I cook the lentils for 15 minutes. Thus depending on the quality of dal, you can decide upon the timing. Even if the lentils are undercooked, you can always pressure cook for some more minutes later.
  2. Asaofoetida can be skipped.
  3. To make a spicy dal, add more green chillies. 
  4. If the dal has a thick consistency, add some hot water to thin it.
  5. If the dal consistency looks thin, press the sauté button and simmer for a few minutes. 
Making this home style dal tadka on stovetop:
  • Add the rinsed lentils, chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chilli powder in a 2-litre pressure cooker.
  • Add 2 cups water.
  • Pressure cook the dal for 8 to 9 whistles or 14 to 15 minutes. When the pressure comes down on its own, in the cooker, check the dal. The lentils have to be cooked very well and become soft and mushy.
  • With a spoon lightly mash the dal mixture.
  • Then add ½ to 1 cup water to the dal. You can add water as required depending on the consistency you want. For a thicker dal, add less water and for a thin dal, add slightly more water. 
  • Stir very well. Season with salt as per taste.
  • Keep the dal on stove top and simmer for some minutes till you get the desired consistency. Do stir the dal at intervals so that the dal does not get browned or burnt from the base. Cover and keep aside.
  • Later fry the spices and herbs in the oil and add to the dal. 
  • Add coriander leaves. Mix and serve. 
For cooking the dal (lentils) in a pot or pan:
  1. Soak the lentils for about 1 to 2 hours. Drain and rinse them well in water.
  2. In a deep pot, add 4 to 5 cups water added to the lentils. Add the rest of the ingredients mentioned in the recipe. Cover and cook the lentils.
  3. If the water begins to froth and bubble, then remove the lid or cover it partly and continue to cook the lentils till they become soft and creamy.
  4. If the water becomes less, then add some hot water. Once the lentils are cooked (takes from 45 mins to an hour or sometimes more. Depends on the quality of the lentils). Then follow the recipe further as mentioned above. 

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Dal Tadka
Amount Per Serving
Calories 193 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 473mg21%
Potassium 93mg3%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 469IU9%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 38mg190%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 73mg88%
Vitamin E 4mg27%
Vitamin K 3µg3%
Calcium 48mg5%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 398µg100%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 8mg2%
Phosphorus 19mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe post is from the archives (July 2012) and has been republished and updated on 4 June 2020.

This post contains amazon affiliate links.

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384 Comments

  1. Hi, Dassana
    Have always wanted to try the smoked version. But never know where to buy charcoal from. Which shops keep them?
    Your recipe looks yummy! Would definitely want to try it after buying the charcoal.

    1. thanks chandrakala. you will have to ask locally or ask the people who iron clothes. shop which sells only pooja material can also help you.

  2. Finally tried the “smoked” version, and it was delicious! (It’s great without as well)!5 stars

  3. Very yummy. Thanks a ton for this recipe. Me and my husband loved it . I am yet to try to the smoked version but without it also the dal came out great .
    Also loved the picturization and the presentation of your recipes.
    Thank you . 🙂5 stars

    1. welcome richa. glad to know that both of you liked the dal tadka. thanks for sharing positive feedback.

  4. I have no words for your recipes….
    For me…ur blog is like my mom who is far but (near) in my kitchen….

    You make me good cook.

  5. I HAVE TRIED YOUR DAL FRY,PANEER BUTTER MASALA,SAMBAR DAL,TAWA PANEER MASALA,LACCHA PARATHA AND MANY OTHER!!!ALL ARE JUST AWESOME MADE WITH EASILY AVAILABLE INGREDIENTS AND EASY TO COOK!!JUST LOVE THIS SITE5 stars

  6. Yummy not only taste but even reading the recipe you can tell it is a knock out want to make it all the time

  7. Hiii!! Thanks for the recipie.about to try it fr lunch today.but I don’t have a small pan as I just shifted in.i just have the normal size pan with me as of now. How can I go ahead with the tadka now?????

  8. I must tell you…this charcoal infusion method is a super hit trick at my home and the seniors loved it…nostalgia at its peaks….but it did not go well with the kids….I loved it too…all kudos to you 🙂 🙂5 stars

    1. thanks priya for sharing your experience. yes, kids may not like it because the smoky flavor may not go well with kids.

  9. Been good fun reading your blog and people’s comments et al.
    Why would anybody need to go to a restaurant with somebody cooking the way you do at home?
    Reminds me of my mother and of what we consider traditional Indian homes, north, south, east, west, anywhere.
    Thanks for everything: you, your blog and the simple honesty and clarity of it all. Best wishes. Have no idea how old you are, or would have added blessings as well.

    1. thanks namit for this sweet and encouraging feedback. nice to know that you like the way recipes are presented. as a general rule women stop growing older once they turn 16 🙂

  10. It looks so yummy…….. I cannot resist myself going to try it today………Keep up the good work

    Sanjukta

  11. Thanks for the recipe. Can I add the chopped ginger along with the garlic in the tadka ? Or should it be added while cooking the dal itself for it to get the right taste ?

  12. Hello,
    I made this tadka dal today for dinner,I have tried many recipes for tadka dal but your recipe was awesome,dal came out exactly
    Like we get in Indian restaurants,I can’t wait to try your other recipes I love cooking but unfortunately after working whole day
    It’s hard to come up with new ideas everyday so my kids and husband will get enough proteins and veggies from home cooked
    meal,your recipe was very easy to follow and I loved step by step pictures you show,keep up good work and keep posting awesome recipes for us working moms
    Reena

    1. thanks reena for your positive feedback. glad to know that the dal tadka turned out good. since you have experience in making dal tadka many times… so felt good after reading this.