Dal fry Recipe (Ready in 70 Min)

This Indian vegetarian builds toor dal, turmeric and ghee into an easy meal you can have ready in about 70 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.

You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.

How to make it

Wash and soak toor dal in approx. 3 cups of water, for at least one hours. Dal will be double in volume after soaking. Drain the water.
Cook dal with 2-1/2 cups water and add salt, turmeric, on medium high heat, until soft in texture (approximately 30 mins) it should be like thick soup.
In a frying pan, heat the ghee. Add cumin seeds, and mustard seeds. After the seeds crack, add bay leaves, green chili, ginger and chili powder. Stir for a few seconds.
Add tomatoes, salt and sugar stir and cook until tomatoes are tender and mushy.
Add cilantro and garam masala cook for about one minute.
Pour the seasoning over dal mix it well and cook for another minute.
Serve with Naan.

You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan

Tips & common questions

How long does Dal fry take to make?

About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 16 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

Is Dal fry vegetarian?

Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.