Indian Moong Dal
This vegetarian builds moong dal (split yellow lentils), turmeric powder and ghee into a comforting meal you can have ready in about 65 minutes. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
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.
What you'll need
Shopping list (6)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Rinse the moong dal in several changes of cold water until the water runs clear, then drain.
- Place the dal in a pot with the water and turmeric, bring to a boil, then skim off any foam, lower the heat, and simmer partly covered for 20 to 25 minutes until the lentils are completely soft and break down easily; stir in salt near the end.
- Lightly mash the cooked dal with the back of a spoon to your preferred consistency, adding a splash of hot water if it is too thick.
- In a small pan, heat the ghee over medium heat and add the cumin seeds, letting them sizzle and turn fragrant for a few seconds.
- Add the slit green chiles, curry leaves, garlic, and ginger to the ghee and fry for about 1 minute until the garlic is golden and aromatic, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour this hot tempering over the dal and stir it through, then simmer together for another 2 minutes to marry the flavours.
- Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot with rice or flatbread.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Large pot · Saucepan
Tips & common questions
How long does Indian Moong Dal take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 11 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 Indian Moong Dal 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.
Related recipes
Indian Moong Dal is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Moong Dal Ka Halwa (Sheera).jpg by Dr. Monty Khajanchi, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.