Dal tadka is not just food in an Indian home — it’s comfort in a bowl. This dal tadka recipe comes straight from my grandmother’s kitchen, where dal was cooked slowly and tadka was always added at the very end. She believed the aroma of ghee, garlic, and cumin should welcome everyone to the dining table.
This recipe is simple, homestyle, and perfect for everyday meals.
Why This Dal Tadka Recipe Is Special
This dal tadka recipe uses basic pantry ingredients but delivers deep flavor. The slow-cooked dal combined with hot ghee tadka makes it light, nourishing, and satisfying. It’s beginner-friendly and doesn’t require any fancy techniques.
Ingredients for Dal Tadka
- Toor dal (arhar dal) – 1 cup
- Water – 3 cups
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Salt – to taste
For Tadka
- Ghee – 2 tbsp
- Garlic – 5–6 cloves (sliced)
- Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
- Dry red chilli – 1–2
- Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch
How to Make Dal Tadka
Wash and pressure cook dal with turmeric and salt until soft. Mash lightly and keep aside.
Heat ghee in a small pan. Add cumin seeds, garlic, dry red chilli, and hing. Cook until garlic turns golden and aromatic. Pour this hot tadka directly over the cooked dal and mix gently.
My grandmother always said: dal should be calm, tadka should be bold.
Tips from My Grandmother
- Always add tadka after dal is cooked
- Use ghee for authentic taste
- Don’t overcook garlic — it turns bitter
Serving Suggestions
Serve this dal tadka recipe with steamed rice, jeera rice, or roti. It pairs beautifully with Aloo Jeera Recipe and completes a meal with Vegetable Pulao Recipe.
Final Thoughts
This humble dal tadka recipe proves that simple Indian food can be deeply satisfying. Warm, nourishing, and timeless — just the way my grandmother made it.
đź“Ś Zaika Studio
www.zaikastudio.com ❤️
👉 Share this recipe with your friends