Dal Tadka Recipe – Punjabi Dhaba Style

Dal Tadka Recipe | Yellow Tarka Dal Recipe Punjabi Dhaba Style with detailed photo and video recipe. An extremely simple and easy lentil-based curry recipe made with a combination of pigeon pea and moong dal. It is a staple food of many Indians which is typically served with either rice or chapati bread for lunch and dinner. There are myriad ways to prepare this curry but this recipe post is dedicated to a simple pressure cooker-based recipe method for quick and easy results.

Dal Tadka Recipe | Yellow Tarka Dal Recipe Punjabi Dhaba Style with step-by-step photo and video recipe. Lentil or dal-based curry recipe is a staple food prepared for day-to-day lunch and dinner. There are different types of lentils and each has its own of preparing this simple and easy recipe with a combination of spices, ingredients, and vegetables. One such easy and simple lentil-based dhaba style curry is dal tadka recipe made with a combination of toor dal and moong dal.

I am a big fan of simple and pressure cooker-based recipes. Generally, for any dal-based recipes, it is typically pressure cooked to make it a tender and creamy texture. Later it is tempered with spices and basic vegetables like onion and tomato for a masala taste. Well this is not a complex procedure, but certainly can be made more efficiently and quickly. Basically, instead of using 2-3 utensils, you can make this dhaba-style tarka dal in just one pressure cooker. I have added all the veggies, spices, and lentil combinations to the cooker for the pressure-cooking process. This is later just tempered with basic spices for the color and spiciness of the curry. As a matter of fact you may skip it to make the simple dal fry, but to justify the name of the curry I have added additional tempering. Do try this way and I am certain that you would save a lot of cooking time.

Furthermore, some more related and additional tips, suggestions, and variants to dal tadka recipe. Firstly, in this recipe, I have used a combination of moong and toor dal to prepare this tarka dal. While it is not mandatory to use both and you can use either one of them to prepare. Yet I would recommend preparing the authentic dhaba style with a 1:1 ratio of toor and moong dal. Secondly, you can also use an instant pot as a replacement for a pressure cooker to cook dal and veggies in it. You may use the rice or lentil preset option in your instant pot to cook lentils. Lastly, add 1 tsp of oil or ghee before pressure cooking so that it does not overflow or ooze out from the whistle. Also, you may skip the tempering if you like to keep it simple dal fry.

Finally, do visit my other related Dal Recipes Collection with this post of a yellow Punjabi dhaba style dal tadka recipe. It mainly includes my other related recipes like Dal Makhani Recipe – Restaurant Style in Pressure Cooker, Butter Dal Fry Recipe, instant dal premix, panchmel dal, maa ki dal, langar dal, dal tadka, keerai kootu, tomato pappu, pesara pappu charu. Further to these I would also like to add some more related recipe categories like,

• Curry Recipes
• Rice Recipes
• Breakfast Recipes

About Dal Tadka:

It is an easy and simple lentil curry made with an equal proportion of moong dal and toor dal with a spiced ghee tempering. It is a popular North Indian cuisine staple food which is typically served with either roti or flavored rice. The word tadka or tarka means seasoning or tempering which adds a unique flavor to the cooked dal. Adding tadka or seasoning is not mandatory but gives uniqueness to this lentil curry. Moreover, the tadka or seasoning is given using ghee, but using any cooking oil should give the same taste.

Cooking dal or lentil curry is an easy affair and follows the same pressure cooking followed by seasoning with veggies and spices. However, this recipe post explains a much more easy and simpler way of cooking in less time and more efficiently. In other words, all the ingredients and vegetables are added and pressure cooked with only optional tadka with spices in it. This recipe follows the unique dhaba style tadka which makes it very special and unique.

Video Recipe:

Recipe Card for Tarka Dal – Dhaba style:

How to make Dal Tadka with step-by-step photos:

1. firstly, in a pressure cooker take 1 cup toor dal and ½ cup moong dal. make sure to rinse the dal well.
   
2. add 2 tomato, 1 onion, 10 cloves garlic, 1 bay leaf, 1 black cardamom, ½ tsp turmeric, and 1 tsp salt.
   
3. also, add 2 tsp ghee and 4 cup water.
   
4. cover and pressure cook for 5 whistles or until the dal is cooked well.
   
5. mash the dal slightly and adjust consistency as required.
   
6. to prepare the tempering, heat 2 tbsp ghee.
   
7. add 4 cloves garlic and fry for a minute.
   
8. also add 1 tsp cumin, 2 tsp kasuri methi, 1 tsp chilli powder, pinch hing.
   
9. splutter the tempering and pour over the dal.
   
10. add in 2 tbsp coriander and mix well.
    
11. finally, enjoy cooker dal tadka with jeera rice.
    

Notes:

• Firstly, make sure to add moong dal to get a nice creamy consistency dal.
• Also, you can add ginger along with garlic for enhanced flavor.
• Additionally, pressure cook on medium flame, else the dal may not cook well.
• Finally, cooker dal tadka recipe tastes great when spicy tadka is added on top.

Faqs:

What is Dal Tadka?

It is a lentil-based curry with a blend of spices and herbs in it. Once the dal is cooked, it is seasoned with ghee and spices which makes it flavoured and appealing.

What lentils are used in Dal Tadka?

Typically a combination of lentils or dal is used to prepare the tarka dal. The most common combination is toor and moong dal, but you may also use the toor and channa dal too.

What is the tempering process in Dal Tadka?

It is a seasoning of spices like chilli powder, garam masala, cumin, and whole red chilies in hot and fried ghee. Once the spices are fried (not burned), it is added to the cooked dal would eventually give the smoky flavor to the dal recipe.

Is Dal Tadka vegan?

Typically the tarka is either prepared with ghee or butter which is not a vegan ingredient. Yet you can make it vegan with ghee alternatives like cooking or olive oil seasoning.

Can I customize the spice level in Dal Tadka?

Yes the spice level can be easily customized as per the individual preferences. You may increase or decrease as per individual spice appetite. Additionally, you may also add green chilies to make it more flavored and authentic.

What are the health benefits of Dal Tadka?

Dal tadka or a combination of lentil curry is a good source of protein and fiber in it. It is an ideal curry for vegetarians for a balanced diet, especially when served with rice. In addition, it is also low in calories and fat, hence making it an ideal choice for weight watchers.

Can I use other types of lentils in Dal Tadka?

Yes certainly, the other types of dal can be used to make dal tadka. You may use moong dal, channa dal, masoor dal, black urad dal. However, you may have to consider the cooking time as each may have different boiling times.

What are some variations of Dal Tadka?

There are myriad variations to the simple dal tadka recipe. You may add other vegetables like peas, spinach, and carrots with tomato and onion. Also, you may add other spices like curry powder or even cream to make it rich. However, the simple dal tarka with basic spices is always a popular choice and recommended option.

Can I make Dal Tadka ahead of time?

Well, you may prepare it and refrigerate it for future use. It should be ideal to consume for 3-4 days easily. However, the best option is to just pressure cook the dal and freeze it. Whenever you need the dal, you have to just boil it and add seasoning to it.

What are some common accompaniments to Dal Tadka?

Generally, dal tadka is served with rice, flavored rice, roti, and naan. Alternatively, you may serve it as just soup without any sides to make it a complete meal.

Is Dal Tadka gluten-free?

Yes dal tadka is a gluten-free recipe as it does not contain wheat or gluten in it. However, if you are buying the packaged lentil combination from a store, you may have to check the contents and ingredients before buying it.