Simple Dal Tadka
A classic, comforting, and frugal Indian lentil soup. Easy to make and very nutritious.
Dal tadka is a base recipe more than a single fixed dish. Once the dal is soft, the final taste comes from the tempering, the thickness, and what you serve it with.
Use this as a dependable protein-and-fiber side. Make it thinner for rice, thicker for roti, and more vegetable-heavy when you want a fuller bowl.
Nutrition
Per 1 bowl (about one-third recipe)
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fiber
- 6 g
Dietary
plant based · gluten free
Protein sources
moong dal
Ingredients
- 11 cup Yellow Moong Dal (split yellow lentils)
- 23 cups Water
- 31/2 tsp Turmeric
- 41 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 52 Garlic cloves, minced (optional)
- 61 tbsp Oil or Butter
- 7Salt to taste
- 8Coriander leaves
Instructions
- 1
Wash the dal thoroughly. Boil the dal in water with turmeric and salt until soft and mushy (about 15-20 minutes).
Moong dal cooks quickly and feels light. Masoor, toor, or mixed dal also work; just adjust water and cooking time.
- 2
In a small pan, heat oil. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
Use mustard seeds, curry leaves, dried red chilli, or hing here if that suits your kitchen.
- 3
Add minced garlic (if using) and saute until golden.
Skip garlic for a Jain-style or no-onion/no-garlic version. Ginger, hing, cumin, and tomato can still give plenty of flavor.
- 4
Pour this tadka (tempering) over the cooked dal.
Simmer for a minute after adding tadka if you want the flavor to blend through the dal.
- 5
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice or roti.
For a complete meal, pair with rice or roti plus a vegetable sabzi, salad, or pickle.
Thickness and serving style
- For rice, keep the dal pourable and slightly thinner.
- For roti, simmer longer so the dal is thicker and easier to scoop.
- For soup, add more water, vegetables, lemon, and black pepper.
Flavor variations
- Tomato dal: cook chopped tomato with the tadka before adding it to dal.
- Spinach dal: add chopped spinach in the last few minutes of simmering.
- Richer dal: finish with tahini, cashew paste, or a small amount of coconut milk instead of ghee.
Used in diet plans
This recipe can fill a meal slot in these day plans.
- High-Protein Diet — Muscle gain / high protein
- Muscle Gain Diet — Calorie surplus for training
- Budget Diet — Affordable balanced eating
- Simple Beginner Plan — Build consistent eating habits
- North Indian Plan — North Indian staples with protein focus
- No Onion/No Garlic Plan — Simple sattvic-style protein meals