Gluten Free Vegan Cozy Tarka Dal

Total time50 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time35 min

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the dal

1 ½ cups red lentils, rinsed
Ingredient note
Red lentils are naturally gluten free, but they are often grown, milled or packed alongside wheat. Look for a package labeled gluten free or ideally certified gluten free.
Arrowhead Mills Organic Lentils Red - 16 Oz
See all
5 cups water
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp neutral oil (such as sunflower oil or canola oil)
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste

For the tarka

2 tbsp neutral oil (such as sunflower oil or canola oil)
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp black mustard seeds
2 dried red chilies
½ tsp smoked paprika
1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

For serving

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
cooked basmati rice or flatbread, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 6–7 minutes.
2
Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Watch closely so the garlic does not brown.

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