No onion no garlic dal fry with simple ingredients and easy procedure perfect for beginners. Step by step photos for easy understanding.
Popular comfort food that goes well with steamed rice and some have it with roti/ phulkas too.
Like most of the north Indian dishes, I learnt this recipe from my friend Sangeeta. Perfect for lunch or dinner with roti.
Do check out my restaurant style version and goes well with this easy kadai paneer recipe.
Ingredients
There are different varieties of dal (lentils) available. I have used toor dal (split pigeon pea) in this recipe and it is a no onion no garlic dal fry recipe.
Make sure to source a good quality toor dal, as otherwise it won't get cooked softly.
You can also use masoor dal or moong dal along with root dal for a creamy and homogenous texture.
Other ingredients added differ from recipe to recipe. What I have shared is no onion no garlic version.
My notes
My understanding on difference between dal fry and dal tadka is in dal fry, cooked dal is 'fried' (cooked along) with the tempering/ tomato masala spices.
While in tadka, we add the tempering on top. You can also add a tadka on top to this dal fry. Usually cumin and spice powders are tempered in ghee and topped.
Check out my Lasooni dal tadka recipe.
Variations
- Use any type of dal or combination of dals. Moong dal, chana dal, masoor dal are best options.
- Add Garlic, onion in this recipe.
Step by step photos
- Pressure cook dal firstly with enough water (I used 1 & ½ cups water), a drop of ghee, ginger, asafoetida and turmeric for 5 whistles. (I soak the dal if quality is not good, cook in medium flame after first whistle). Once done, just mash it little to make it creamy.
- Then heat a kadai/pan with ghee and temper with cumin seeds. After that add finely chopped tomato, salt, green chilli slit and cook till soft.
- Once soft, add red chilli powder, crushed kasoori methi. Add a cup of water and let it boil furthermore.
- Add the cooked dal and mix well.
- Let it simmer for 5 minutes until the dal is creamy. It thickens as it cools down, so switch off accordingly. Garnish with coriander leaves finally.
Garnish with lots of chopped coriander leaves for a great flavor, Serve with hot steamed basmati rice or roti.
Recipe card
No onion no garlic Dal fry
Ingredients
- ½ cup Toor dal
- 2 Tomato
- ½ inch Ginger
- 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafoetida
- 2 Green chillies
- 1 teaspoon Kasoori methi
- 1 tablespoon Ghee or oil
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- Salt - As needed
- Lemon Juice to squeeze on top before serving optional
Instructions
- Wash and pressure cook dal firstly with 1 & ½ cups water and ¼ teaspoon ghee, ginger asafoetida and turmeric for 5 whistles.
- I soak the dal 30 mins prior cooking if quality is not good, cook in medium flame after first whistle.
- Once done, just mash it little to make it creamy.
- Heat a kadai / pan with ghee and temper with cumin seeds.
- Add finely chopped tomato, salt, green chilli slit and cook till soft.
- Once soft, add red chilli powder, crushed kasoori methi.
- Add a cup of water and let it boil.
- After that in goes the cooked dal and mix well.
- Let it simmer for 5 minutes until the dal is creamy.
- It thickens as it cools down, so switch off accordingly. Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice if adding.
Notes
- I never make dal fry when I am out of lemons, I like the lemon squeeze the best in it 😉 If you like it you can add too.
Suhaina
Super duper daal dear.Wonderfully done and very well presented. U have become very very professional now.. Love this curry very much.
Very well explained.
notyet100
drooling looking at the platter,..:-)
sangeetaskitchen
hi raji
the dal fry looks very very tempting, can i cum over for lunch 🙂 the whole lunch looks gr8
Nithya
Oh so the kasturi methi makes it special is it. 🙂 wow.. will try it out soon. 🙂 I did something else last night and called it dal tadka 😉
Nithya
I really like that little bucket that you have used. Looks too cute 🙂
sangeetaskitchen
sorry forget to tell u, cute bucket i too want to buy it now
Prathibha
Lovely bucket dearie...
recent trip purchase kya??
Dal tadka is infact my favorit too...I just love it...Yours too luck yummy
Shama Nagarajan
dal tadka is delicious..cute presentation
Nags
i prefer this too, compared to makhni 🙂
Sayantani
I often make a less rich version of this dal tadka for dinner. thats my favourite too. love the Kadhai paneer too.
Kanchan
Lovely.. refreshing snap.
Loved the small Bucket style Kadai.. Perfect.
G.Pavani
Hi Raji,first here u have nice blog and dry fry is colouful and yummy
shanthi
This is colourful and love the chilli powder tadka.
Happy Cook
I love dal and rice one of my fav comfort food.
I must send your blog link to my sis she has been asking me to send as i told her you have lots of tragitional sweets here.
Chitra
Dal looks very nice.. will try once 🙂
Sharmilee! :)
Simple and easy comfort dhal...will try soon. Look tempting
Sreelekha Sumesh
wow..great pic .simple and healthy recipe:)
jayasree
I love that bucket... delcious dal fry
தக்குடுபாண்டி
பாக்கர்துக்கே பிரமாதமா இருக்கு....!
Sandhya Hariharan
Great serving set! I make it quite similar..I use onions too occasionally
Lovely click
Satya
hi raks
dal fry looks soo delicious ...its my favorite too ...lovely presentation with nice click...btw thanks for visiting my space n for ur lovely comments ...
Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com
Premalatha Aravindhan
Such a delicious recipe dear,luks very tempting...Too gud pics.
Sush
My family always love to eat dal tadka.., that bucket is beautiful. Where did you get it from?
jeyashrisuresh
dal looks very nice.The bucket looks very cute.I make it in the similar way but the tadka i make in the beginning.Nice colur
Pari
Hi Raji, love the bucket and surely the dal with the tadka in it.
Ambika
Beautiful pictures!!! I love dal fry too 🙂
VineelaSiva
Hai Rak the dal looks very yummy and u presented very well.
Hari Chandana
Wowwwwwwwwwww.... Amzing snaps dear.. looks very inviting and delicious.. I love all your recipes and snaps.. Awesome job !! 🙂
Swathi
Dal Fry looks delicious Raji. My hubby loves dal.
Sailaja Damodaran
A very quick recipe...Excellent with roti too.
PranisKitchen
what a delicious dal curry .. liked the toppingsespecially red chili giving very nice color.. and sure taste heaven
RV
Look at that dish, you have made a simple dal fry look Royal. Lovely presentation Raks and I agree it is such a comforting dish with piping hot rice or rotis
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
Wow, that looks great, I love tadka on dal, beautiful pic.
Sayali
Simply wonderful..........lovely pics 🙂 superb presentation 🙂
PriyaVaasu
Dal Fry is so Tempting!!!! Serving bucket superb!!! Appadiya eduthukalama!!!!
PALATABLE
Simple and delicious dal, great snap too....
http://treatntrick.blogspot.com
Anonymous
FAntstic photo. Esp the vessel.
Priya
Such a fabulous click and droolworthy dal...superaa irruku Raji..
RAKS KITCHEN
sush,I bought that bucket in jyothi stores
aipi
delish looking daal.. lovely lovely presentation n awesome clicks.. loved the cute balti server.. first time here.. you have such a wonderful space with awesome recipes.. book marked many of them.. glad 2 find you 🙂
Aruna Manikandan
Looks delicious dear!!!!!!!!
Sushma Mallya
I love dal fry , and your pics are very tempting raks,looks too good...
Sadhana
Wow!!! Veryyyyyyyyyyyy nice presentation dear...beautiful clicks.....looks delicious,....keep rocking....
Pavithra
My fav one too raji,, the bucket is tooo cute and lovely and comforting meal together... yummy!!!!
SpicyTasty
This is a lovely dish. Looks nice and delicious.
Srimathi
Your pictures of dhal fry have inspired me to make some soon. I loved your last photo.Had to meditate on it for some time. I promise you that I will try it out in a couple of days.
Parita
Lovely and tasty dal dear, love that kadhai!
Anonymous
yesterday i tried this recipe.it came very nice.simple and delicious.
lissie
yummy and perfect dhal fry! my children love this...
SpicyTasty
I love that vessel. Dal looks very inviting and awesome recipe.
Shabitha Karthikeyan
Delicious Dal and cute little serve wares..
Mahi
colourful dal and the presentation is lovely! We too always order this dal fry in the restaurants.yummmmmy!
Anukampa
wow..Daal looks really delicious. I too love tadka daal with Fulka's or tandoori roti.
Anu
RAKS KITCHEN
Thanks a lot san for the feedback 🙂
Priti
New template is cool dear...looks very gud and so the pics ...
AM
Hi, delurking, tried your mix veg kurma, and it turned out so good. I tried cauliflower and peas gravy yesterday, and it was a hit too. I am not a pro and whenever I try something from a foodblog most of the time it is a miss but not yours. Your pics r awesome, which make is ur camera. Ur pics r so drool worthy and makes me want to eat all the time which is not good for me..hehe. Keep up the good work.
Preeti Kashyap
This looks super delicious Raks, I love Dal fry too! Me and my hubby tried but no pop ups came. I have asked others..lets see.
Thanks a lot for letting me know.
n33ma
Lovely pic and Im sure the food was even better.
Preeti Kashyap
Hey, I fixed it. It was one of the widgets I had installed. Thanks for letting me know.
RAKS KITCHEN
AM, thanks for the comments!! I use Nikon D40X
Inji
What beautiful pictures! I make the same dal but without the kasuri methi. That seems like an interesting touch.
PK
Made this on Saturday - should have made a double, or even triple batch, because it was SO good and I was SO SAD when we'd eaten it all!
sunjula
Jus made it and had a finger licking dinner!!!thanks a ton!!
Aswathy Dinesh
Hai..
Both the recipes came out really well for me.Thankyou.
Aishwarya Sampath
Hi Raji,
I just finished making this recipe and I must tell you its better than the one made in restaurants. It would be great if you could post the recipe for the curry in the picture(the one with the potato,cauliflower,capsicum & tomato). Thanks in advance.
Aishwarya Sampath
Hello, I just made this recipe and I must tell you its tastes great. I'm just curious to know recipe of the curry(the one with the potato and cauliflower) you had along with this recipe.Thanks in advance
Jeya
hai ,
How r u? I saw ur recipes its looking great i need a recipe which u have posted in dal tadka, i.e aloo gobi mutter subzi recipe it looks mouth watering, plz post his subzi i really needed
Also post Stir fry north indian subzi. Thank u
rani reddy
Hi Raji, I have tried many recipes of yours. I love your presentation.
Kishore kumar k
Thank uuuuuu 4 such a wonderful website...// i never see a page like this before,,with detailed presentation..//
Bharathi Ranganathan
Hi raks.. Tried this recipe recently 🙂 turned out so delicious.. Never knew dal can be made so nice without onion:) loved it.. Had a hearty meal 🙂 thank you 🙂
Sandhya Venkatesh
Tried the recipe. A simple and easy dish. Turned out very good.
Raks Anand
Thank you so much for taking time to leave your feedback 🙂