Masoor Dal: Red Lentil Curry

When my sister came back home at the beginning of quarantine, she would always be craving Indian food. Naturally, I made it my mission to create some of the dishes that she mentioned, and this one became a family favorite! It’s hearty, healthy, and flavorful, and the entire dish comes together in around half an hour.

What is masoor dal?

Translating to red lentils in Hindi, masoor dal refers to a spicy, warm dish made from red lentils, tomatoes, onions, and spices, and you can add other vegetables if you like!

I prefer to cook the lentils separate from the other ingredients and combine them at the end. This way, the flavors and color of the tomatoes, onions, and spices are retained, making for a much tastier dish.

Masoor Dal: Red Lentil Curry
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 200 g red lentils, rinsed
• 3 cups water
• 1-2 tsp cooking oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 green chili pepper, minced
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• salt to taste
• juice of 1 lemon
• cilantro, to garnish
  
  

Directions

1. In a large pot, bring lentils and water to a boil before reducing to a simmer—they should be fully cooked in 20-30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat cooking oil in a sauté pan. Add cumin seeds and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add onions and green chili and sauté until onions turn translucent, for 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and continue cooking until fragrant for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add tomato, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne to the pan. Cook until the tomatoes soften, adding splashes of water if the mixture begins to stick.
4. Remove from heat and add mixture to simmering lentils—at this point, they should be nearly cooked. Stir through to combine and simmer for 5 minutes to infuse flavors. Add more water to reach desired consistency if too much liquid has evaporated.
5. Once lentils and rice are completely tender, stir in lemon juice and salt to taste.
6. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm with basmati rice, naan, or starch of choice.

Per serving: 234 calories: 38.8 g carbs; 3.2 g fat; 13.9 g protein