## Ingredients (serves 4)
- 1 cup **Toor Dal** (Dhaara Foods), rinsed
- 3 cups water (pressure cooker/Instant Pot) or 4 cups (saucepan)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- ½ tsp turmeric, ½–1 tsp salt
### Tadka (tempering)
- 2 tbsp ghee or oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2–3 dried red chillies
- 1 tsp sliced garlic; 1 tsp grated ginger
- Pinch asafoetida (hing)
- Fresh coriander to finish
## Method
1. **Cook dal:** Pressure cooker 7–8 whistles, or Instant Pot **8 min High** + **10 min** natural release. Saucepan: simmer 35–40 min until soft. Mash lightly.
2. **Base:** In a pan, sauté onion (if using) 3–4 min. Add tomato + turmeric + salt; cook to a soft mash.
3. Stir in cooked dal, adjust thickness with hot water. Simmer 3 min.
4. **Tadka:** Heat ghee. Add cumin, chillies, garlic, ginger, hing — sizzle 30–40 sec. Pour over dal; garnish with coriander.
### Notes
- No onion/garlic version: skip them and add ½ tsp garam masala at the end.
- Serve with Sona Masoori rice or chapati.
### Allergen note (UK)
Packed/handled in facilities that also process **peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, mustard, milk, soya, gluten-containing cereals (e.g., wheat, barley), celery, lupin, sulphur dioxide/sulphites**; trace amounts may be present.
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**Shop the ingredients:** [Toor Dal 2 kg](/products/toor-dal-2kg) · [Ghee](/products/ghee)
**Related recipes:** [Perfect Sona Masoori Rice](/blogs/recipes/sona-masoori-rice)
