Name: Restaurant style dal fry recipe,how to make dal fry
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup split pigeon peas/toor dal/thuvaram paruppu; water (as required); pinch salt; 3 teaspoon oil or butter; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; 2 slit green chillies; 2 dried red chillies; 1 large onion (sliced); 1 large tomato (finely chopped); 1/2 teaspoon crushed ginger (OR ginger-garlic paste); 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder; 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder; 2 teaspoons cilantro leaves (chopped); 1/2 tablespoons kasuri methi; 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

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Last updated on July 8th, 2020

Dal fry recipe is the popular Indian dish of lentils cooked with spices. There are so many varieties of dal fry like lasooni dal but this recipe of dal is the most basic one.

You can make this simple dal recipe with just toor or arhar dal or a mix of toor and chana dal. Serve dal fry with piping hot rice, potato fry and salad for most comforting meal. This simple dal recipe also goes very well with jeera rice, peas pulao.

Dal Fry Recipe- Quintessential Indian Lentils Recipe

If there is one food that is so common and made in almost all Indian in one form or other it has to be dal recipe. Right from south Indian sambar, idli sambar to Andra pappu to Gujarati dal to dhaba dal, dal or lentils has such an important place in Indian kitchens.

This easy dal fry is delicious, flavorful with the right texture and healthy too. All you need are a pressure cooker, a small pan and few basic ingredients easily found in the kitchen to make this dal recipe.

I make this dal recipe at least once a week. Lentils are one of the primary source of protein for vegetarians. So I do include any one variety of lentils in our meal everyday like sambar, chole, palak dal, kali dal, dal makhani etc.

On days when I am pressed for time and want to make quick main dish this dal fry or dal tadka it would be. It practically takes just 15 minutes to whip this up.

I use a pressure cooker so, while the lentils cook I chop onions, tomatoes and make the masala. This flavorful and wholesome dal goes well with rice, curd and a simple salad.

You can also serve dal fry with paratha, tandoori roti or mild pulao like corn pulao, jeera rice etc.

This Dal Fry Is

Easy, Simple & Quick

Restaurant style & very flavorful

Delicious, comforting & satiating

Vegan & gluten free

Healthy & wholesome especially for toddlers and kids

Versatile dish that goes well with rice or roti.

Basic dal fry is made with arhar dal or toor dal (Split pigeon peas). However you can make this recipe with moong dal, channa dal and massor dal also. You can also a mix of assorted dals to make this dish more protein rich.

I mostly use a mix of arhar and moong dal for this recipe and sometimes I also add some chana dal.

What Goes In The Masala Of Dal Fry?

This dal recipe mostly gets its flavor from the simple and quick masala. You basically saute finely onion and tomatoes with a hint of spices. Add the well cooked lentils and mix well.

You will need whole spices like cumin seeds, dried red chilies for this recipe. Also a pinch of garam masala powder, coriander powder are added. I sometimes also add a pinch of roasted cumin powder for flavor.

How Is Dal Fry Made

To make Punjabi dal fry first of all pressure cook toor dal thoroughly. While the lentils are cooking saute the finely chopped onions and tomatoes with spice powders.

Then mix the cooked dal and simmer for few minutes so that the flavors develop. Finally garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

What Is The Difference Between Dal Fry and Dal Tadka?

Dal tadka and dal fry are two staple dal recipes in north India. Though the ingredients used are mostly same the two dishes are different in flavor and taste.

In dal tadka recipe dal is boiled or pressure cooked along with onions, tomatoes and green chilies. Finally a simple tadka or tempering of cumin seeds, dried chili is made in ghee and added to the cooked dal.

Whereas here you saute the onion and tomatoes along with spices and finally add the cooked dal. The consistency of fry is slightly thicker than dal tadka.

Tips For Making Best Dal Fry

Cooking the lentils- The key for delicious and smooth dal fry is to cook the lentils very well. You need to thoroughly cook and mash the lentils until smooth.

You can cook the lentils in pressure cooker or instant pot. You can cook lentils directly on stove top in a pan but it will take around 45 minutes for toor dal to cook well.

Once the lentils are cooked, mash them well with the back of ladle or potato masher until smooth. Also once the dal is cooked strain all the water and then mash the dal.

You can use the dal cooked water for adjusting consistency or make rasam or shorba with it.

Spices Used- This dal fry needs minimum spices and seasoning. Do not season this dish heavily as it will totally change the flavor. You can make this dhaba dal if you prefer more spicy and seasoned dal.

Ghee or Oil For Tempering?– Traditionally ghee or butter is used for this recipe. Ghee goes well any lentil recipe. Vegans can however use oil.

Also check checkout my small video on how to make dal fry in the recipe card below.