Tomato Dal Fry

Dal fry is a very popular lentil recipe, made with a single or combination of lentils like toor dal, chana dal, moong dal and masoor dal. For making dal fry, the lentils are first pressure cooked and then combined with a mixture of onion, tomato, garlic, ginger and spices sauteed in ghee. It is usually served with roti/phulka, jeera rice and plain rice.

This tomato dal fry is a slight variation of our regular dal fry. Tomatoes and lentils are cooked together and onion, ginger, garlic and spices are sauteed in butter instead of ghee. I make this dal often for guests and parties, as it takes very less time to put together and the butter adds a rich flavor and aroma to the dal. Serve this dal with phulkas or rice.

Tomato Dal Fry

Tomato and mixed lentils with ginger, garlic, onion and spices

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Servings 3

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

For the dal

• ½ cup masoor dal
• ¼ cup toor dal
• ¼ cup chana dal
• 2 large tomato chopped
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 ½ cup water

For the masala

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds / jeera
• Pinch of asafoetida / hing
• 2-3 dry red chillies
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 3-4 garlic cloves grated
• 1 inch ginger grated
• 2-3 green chillies finely chopped
• 1 small-sized onion finely chopped
• ½ tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves to garnish

Instructions

• Wash the 3 dals together and add tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt and water. Pressure cook for 3 whistles or until soft. Set aside.
• In a kadai, heat oil and butter. Add mustard seeds and when it crackles add red chillies, asafoetida, cinnamon and jeera.
• Add garlic, ginger and green chillies and fry in low heat for a minute. Then turn the heat to medium and add onion. Fry till onions turn light golden.
• Add garam masala, kasuri methi, salt and give a mix. Add the cooked dal and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and add chopped coriander leaves.

Notes

• I have used butter and oil here but you can substitute with ghee and oil or just use oil alone.
• The dal is not very spicy. If you want little spicy dal, add more green chillies or red chilly powder.
• I like my dal fry with medium thick consistency. If you want thinner dal, add water after adding the dal and adjust the consistency.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Side Dish for Rice, Side Dish for Roti