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–+ servings
Masoor Dal or brown lentils cooked in onion and tomato mix flavoured with chili powder and garam masala.

Masoor Dal | Indian-Style Brown Lentils

Aruna
Masoor Dal is a delicious dish of brown lentils cooked Indian-style. Also called Sabut Masoor ki Dal or Khadi Masoor Dal, this gluten-free, vegan dish is rich in plant protein.
Serve it with rice or roti and enjoy a nutritious and filling meal.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Accompaniment, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Gluten Free, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings 4 People
Calories 206 kcal
Equipment
  • Bowl - 1/2 Litre Capacity
  • Heavy-bottomed vessel or kadhai
  • Ladle
  • Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
  
  • 1 Cup Whole Masoor Dal
  • 3/4 Cup Tomato (Finely Chopped)
  • 1 Cup Onion (Finely Chopped)
  • 1 tsp Ginger (Grated)
  • 1 tsp Garlic (Minced)
  • 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder (Adjust to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp Garam Masala (Optional; See Notes)
  • 1 tsp Ghee (Oil for the Vegan version)
  • Salt To Taste
Instructions
 
Cooking the Masoor Dal
  • Wash 1 cup Sabut Masoor Dal (whole brown lentils) under running water till the water runs clear.
  • Soak the Masoor Dal in 3 cups water for at least 1 hour.
  • Drain the water the dal is soaked in and add 2 cups of fresh water.
  • Pressure cook the dal till soft. 3 whistles should do the trick as it cooks rather quickly. You can also cook the lentils on an open flame; if you choose to do this, use 3 cups of water.
  • Let the pressure cooker depressurize, and then remove the dal from the cooker.
  • Using a heavy ladle, mix the dal well so it get mashed slightly.
Making the Masoor Dal
  • In a kadhai or heavy bottomed vessel, heat 1 tsp ghee or oil.
  • Add 1 cup finely chopped onion and stir-fry till transparent.
  • Add 1 tsp minced garlic and 1 tsp grated ginger.
  • Stir-fry for a few seconds till the mix is aromatic.
  • Add 1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes and stir-fry till tomato pieces are soft and well-stewed.
  • Add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp chilli powder, an optional 1/2 tsp garam masala, and salt to taste. Mix well.
  • Add the cooked masoor dal and mix well.
  • Add water to adjust to a thick but flowy consistency, and mix well. I added about 1/3 cup water.
  • Let the dal cook in the masala for about 5 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat.
  • Cover and set aside for 10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions for Masoor Dal
  • Serve warm with rotis.
  • Serve rice topped with ghee, and papad.
Notes
  • Do soak the brown lentils before you cook them. This makes them easier to cook AND lends the dal a creamy texture.
  • You can replace the Garam Masala with Goda Masala or Kala Masala to change the flavour profile.
  • You can add the soaked dal to the cooked onion+tomato mix and then pressure cook it. Will save you some more time without compromising on taste or texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 206 kcalCarbohydrates: 34 gProtein: 13 gFat: 2 gSaturated Fat: 1 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.5 gCholesterol: 3 mgSodium: 305 mgPotassium: 601 mgFiber: 16 gSugar: 3 gVitamin A: 401 IUVitamin C: 9 mgCalcium: 42 mgIron: 4 mg
Keyword Brown Lentils, High-protein recipe, Indian Style Brown Lentils, Khadi Masoor Dal, Masoor Dal Khichdi, Plant protein, Plant-based Protein, Sabut Masoor ki Dal
Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!