Moong Dal Tadka

Tadka moong dal (split yellow moong beans) is an everyday comfort food in most Indian households. It is nutritious on it's own like a soup or with rice as a side dish.

• Difficulty: Medium
• Category: Soups & Dal, Vegetarian Recipes
• Cuisine: Indian, North Indian, Punjabi

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup yellow moong dal
• 1/2 onion
• 2 green chillies
• 1 inch ginger
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 tsp. red chilli pd.
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric pd.
• 1/2 tsp. whole cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• a pinch asafoetida
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• a little fresh coriander leaves for garnish
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon/lime juice (juice of 1/2 a lemon/lime)

Instructions

1. Wash and soak moong dal in water for 30 minutes.
2. Drain and add 2 cups water, turmeric, salt, tomato (cut into 4 quarters) and pressure cook it for 3 whistles. Then let it cool. Alternatively, you can use an Instant Pot and set the pressure cook mode for 15 minutes.
3. Finely chop onions, green chillies, ginger and garlic.
4. For the tadka, heat some ghee in a frying pan and add the mustard and cumin seeds. When the seeds splutter, add a pinch of asafoetida, ginger, garlic and green chillies. Saute for a minute. Then add in the finely chopped onion. Keep stirring for a minute, taking care so as not to burn the tadka (tempering). Add in a tbsp. of water if necessary.
5. Now add in this tempering (tadka) to the pressure cooked pan (Or Instant Pot) and let the dal simmer for a few minutes.
6. Now turn off the gas/IP and garnish the dal with some lemon juice and freshly chopped coriander leaves (cilantro).