Easy Red Lentil Dal
This red lentil dal is full of flavor and easy to make! Packed with spices, hearty red lentils and juicy tomatoes, it's oh-so-comforting and perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Servings: 6
Calories: 254kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 3 cups water, plus more if needed
- 1 ½ cups split red lentils
- 1 (14 ounce/400 gram) can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste (I use 1 ½ teaspoons)
Optional Accompaniments
- Cooked basmati rice
- Vegan naan
- Fresh cilantro
- Roasted cashews
Instructions
- Coat the bottom of a large pot with the oil and place it over medium heat.
- Give the oil a minute to heat up, then add the onion. Sweat the onion until it becomes very soft, about 8 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Stir in the garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin seeds, ground cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Sauté the mixture for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until it becomes very fragrant.
- Stir in the water and lentils. Raise the heat and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Lower the heat and allow the mixture to simmer until the lentils are soft, about 20 minutes. You can add a splash of water if it reduces too much.
- Stir in the tomatoes and coconut milk. Continue simmering the dal for about 10 minutes, until it is thick and creamy.
- Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the salt, adjusting the amount to suit your taste.
- Serve the dal with basmati rice or naan, optionally topping each portion with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and roasted cashews.
Notes
Nutrition information does not include accompaniments.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup (⅙ of recipe) | Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 33.3g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 8.6g | Saturated Fat: 3.4g | Sodium: 398mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 6.3g | Sugar: 2.4g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 4mg