Tarka dal

Tarka dal

Servings:	Serves 4
Calories per serving:	330
Ready in:	15 minutes
Prep. time:	5 minutes
Cook time:	15 minutes
Difficulty:
Recipe author:	Chef
First published:	16th March 2026

Best recipe review Creamy and comforting 4.5/5 Easy to make in the pressure cooker - make loads and freeze some for later! Jeremy

This simple recipe for tarka dal is now my go-to favourite, mainly since I discovered Sapna Ginger & garlic paste.

I prefer to cook this with green lentils and cook them in the pressure cooker as this reduces the cooking time down to 15 minutes. Without the pressure cooker it would take 45 minutes with green lentils.

Ingredients

Printable 🖨 shopping 🛒 list & 👩‍🍳 method for this recipe

daal (the lentils)

• 160g green lentils
• 1 medium onion, very finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon Sapna Ginger & garlic paste
• 1 dried cassia leaf

tarka (garlic oil)

• 40ml vegetable oil
• 3 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
• ½ a small onion, finely chopped

Mise en place

• Rinse the lentils under running cold water for a minute

Method

1. Add the dal ingredients to the pressure cooker trivet or pan.
2. Pressure cook for 15 minutes and allow the pressure to reduce naturally.
3. Meanwhile make the tarka.
4. Add the chopped onions and garlic together with 100ml of vegetable oil to a small pan
5. Heat until the onions and garlic begin to brown.
6. Do not allow the garlic to burn or it will become bitter.
7. Stir the garlic oil (tarka) into the hot dal and serve.

Serving suggestions

Serve with chopped fresh coriander

Variations

Use red lentils and simmer for just 15 minutes.

red lentils won't need blitzing.

Chef's notes

If you prefer a smooth tarka dal then run the dal through the blender before mixing in the tarka.

Red lentils will break up naturally wheras the green lentils stay quite firm.

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