Methi Dal Tadka | Yellow lentil curry with fresh fenugreek
Methi dal tadka is a simple Indian lentil curry made with yellow lentils and fresh fenugreek leaves. Fenugreek adds a beautiful freshness & aroma to the simple curry. You can add any fresh greens to the recipe.
1cuptoor dalsplit pigeon peas lentil*, washed and soaked for at least 15 mins
2cupsfresh fenugreek leaveswashed and chopped
2tbspmustard oilor use ghee or any other cooking oil
1pinchasafoetida(hing)
1tspcumin seeds
2clovesgarlicor use 3-4 stalks of garlic greens
1inchfresh ginger rootchopped
1green chilichopped
1onionchopped
2 tomatoespuréed
1tspturmeric
1tspred pepper powder
salt to taste
1tspjaggery powder
1tbsplime juice
Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
Put a pressure cooker on heat. Drain the soaked dal and add to the cooker with 2½ cups water, 1 tsp oil, salt and turmeric. Close and pressure cook the dal for 2 whistles. Remove from heat but open only after all the steam has escaped on its own. Toor dal cooks very quickly.**
Heat the remaining oil in a kadhai or wok. When the oil starts to smoke, reduce heat and add asafoetida, cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, and green chillies. Mix and sauté for a minute.
Add the chopped onions. Mix and sauté for 4-5 minutes till the onions start to turn soft.
Add tomato purée and all the spices. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes. Add fresh fenugreek leaves and cook for another 2 minutes.***
Add the cooked dal and jaggery. Give everything a good mix and cook covered for another 2 mins.
Remove from heat, add lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning for salt, pepper, and lime.
*I have used split pigeon peas lentil in this recipe but methi dal can also be made with yellow moong dal (split green gram) or chana dal (Bengal gram/ split chickpeas).
**We normally cook our dals in pressure cooker but you can also cook them covered in a stock pot till soft and mushy.
***If you are using dried fenugreek leaves, add them in the end after the cooked dal and cook for just a minute. Nutritional Information is approximate information for 1 of 4 servings.