Masoor Dal
Red lentil curry
Ingredients
- 200 g Masoor dal (red lentils)
- 1 Tomato
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- ½ tsp Red chili powder
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 240 g Basmati rice
- 3 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Rinse the basmati rice until the water runs clear, then cook it in twice its volume of water, covered, until tender and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Rinse the masoor dal under cold water until it runs clear.
- Chop the tomato and thinly slice the garlic.
- Simmer the dal with the tomato, turmeric, salt, and plenty of water until the lentils are soft and collapsing.
- Heat the oil in a small pan and sizzle the cumin seeds and garlic until the garlic is golden, then take off the heat and stir in the chili powder.
- Pour the sizzling spiced oil over the dal and stir it through.
- Scatter cilantro over the dal and serve with rice.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Masoor Dal
Masoor dal is the quick, everyday lentil curry of the Indian kitchen, made from split red lentils that cook faster and softer than almost any other pulse. Simmered with tomato, turmeric and salt, they collapse into a loose, comforting porridge in a fraction of the time heartier dals demand, which is exactly why this one earns its place on busy nights. The base flavor is mild, earthy and a little tart from the tomato, a gentle canvas that the finishing step then transforms.
That finish is the tadka, a technique at the heart of Indian dal-making: cumin seeds and sliced garlic are sizzled in hot oil until golden, chili powder is stirred in off the heat, and the whole aromatic pour is tipped over the dal and stirred through. It adds a rush of toasted, garlicky, gently spicy depth that raw simmering can't produce. Vegan and rich in both protein and fiber, masoor dal is traditionally eaten with rice or flatbread and a scatter of cilantro, and it makes a nourishing one-pot meal that comes together in around twenty-five minutes.
Masoor Dal: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Masoor Dal?
A serving has about 481 calories — 17.2g protein, 83.2g carbs, 9g fat, 7.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Masoor Dal gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Masoor Dal has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Masoor Dal take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 9 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Masoor Dal?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cilantro — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Masoor Dal make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.