One of our local takeaways does the most amazing side dish called Tarka Dhal and it is the most wonderful dish made up of lentils, garlic and spices. Over the last year I have been experimenting with different dhal recipes and different combinations of ingredients and I have finally come up with a recipe that I love. I prepare this with fresh naan breads and this makes a wonderfully warm and comforting dish which is easy to prepare and easy on the purse. I make a large quantity and it lasts two days but you can easily halve the amount. You can also add a finely chopped chilli if you want a little more heat in the dish, I prefer it without. This recipe can easily serve 6 – 8 people or less if you prefer larger portions.
Baked Dhal Recipe
Recipe Type: Main Meal
Cuisine: Indian
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or crushed
- 4 tsp ground coriander
- 4 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp mustard seeds
- 4 tsp ground or chopped ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 8 cardamom seeds. extracted and crushed
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 400ml coconut milk
- 500g red lentils
- 1 litre vegetable stock
- salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180c
- Wash the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear
- Cook the chopped onion in the sunflower oil on a low heat for around 8 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic and cook gently for a further two minutes
- Add all of the spices and turn the heat to high. Cook on high for one minute, stirring continuously
- Add the tomato purée and stir in
- Add the lentils and coat with the spice mixture
- Add the stock and the coconut milk and stir until well combined
- Bring to the boil, season and transfer to an oven proof dish
- Bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes
- Enjoy
I like that you can get this one ready in advance and then put if in the oven for the last bit. I do like a good dhal.
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Mmmm – I love dhal. In fact, I craved it when I was pregnant – all 3 times. I think my body wanted the iron in those lentils. I’ve never tried to make my own, but this looks like something I could manage. Thank you!
Very nice,
Beats standing stirring over the stove.
I used a jar of curry paste and coriander root, instead of spices.
Love recipes that you can use to clean out the fridge.