This pink lentil dal is stuffed with taste and straightforward to make! Full of spices, hearty pink lentils and juicy tomatoes, it is oh-so-comforting and excellent for a weeknight dinner.

In relation to simple dinners, dal is all the time a winner in my e-book. It is scrumptious, typically fairly easy to make, and infrequently constituted of panty elements. Chances are you’ll must make a visit to the Indian marketplace for a number of the spices, however it’s price it! Preserve them readily available so you may whip up this simple dinner at any time when a craving hits.
I’ve shared fairly a couple of dal recipes on this web site, however a easy pink lentil dal was missing till now. Cut up pink lentils are one of many quickest cooking pulses on the market. I even wrote a complete article on simply how simple it’s to prepare dinner up a batch of pink lentils.
When used as the primary ingredient for dal, pink lentils prepare dinner up delicate and creamy in report time.
I tailored my previous dal soup recipe to create this pink lentil dal, so in the event you have been a fan of that, I feel you may love this. It is thicker and heartier than the soup, so it is excellent with a aspect of rice. I additionally added additional spices to this one for extra of a taste punch.
Let’s discuss the way it’s made!
Soar to:
Substances You may Want
- Vegetable oil. You should utilize any impartial high-heat oil right here. Canola oil, corn oil and coconut oil are all positive decisions.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Ginger.
- Spices. You may want a mixture of entire spices, which you’ll must get from an Indian market, and floor spices, which you should purchase on the common grocery store. We’re utilizing entire cumin seeds and mustard seeds, together with garam masala, floor cumin, turmeric and cayenne pepper.
- Cut up pink lentils. These could also be labelled as masoor dal, relying on the model and the place you purchase them. You should utilize entire pink lentils if that is what’s obtainable, however the dal could take a bit longer to prepare dinner.
- Water.
- Canned diced tomatoes.
- Full-fat coconut milk. Use the canned selection, and never the sort in cartons.
- Salt.
- Recent cilantro. This is likely to be often called recent coriander to you in the event you reside outdoors the U.S. Depart it out if it isn’t your factor.
- Accompaniments. Dal is often served with cooked rice (ideally basmati) and or naan bread (attempt my do-it-yourself vegan naan). I additionally prefer to prime mine with a drizzle of coconut milk and a few roasted cashews — not required, however completely scrumptious.
How It is Made
The next is an in depth photograph tutorial on make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Warmth the oil in a pot, then add diced onion. Sweat the onion till it begins to melt, then add minced garlic, grated ginger, and all your entire and floor spices. Sauté all the things briefly.

Add the pink lentils and water. Stir it up, elevate the warmth and convey the liquid to a boil.
Tip: Watch out to not burn the spices once you sauté them. Preserve stirring, keep watch over them, and solely prepare dinner them briefly.

Decrease the warmth and let the lentils simmer for about 20 minutes, till they’re delicate. Add extra water to the pot if it will get too dry, however only a bit. In any case, we’re not making soup.

Stir within the tomatoes together with their juices and the coconut milk. Let the combination proceed simmering till the lentils are falling aside and the combination has a creamy texture.
Tip: The longer you prepare dinner the dal, the creamier it should get. Be happy to regulate the prepare dinner time, cooking it extra briefly for extra distinct lentils, longer for tremendous delicate lentils.
Take the pot off of warmth and season the dal with salt to style. Serve your pink lentil dal with rice or vegan naan, and garnish every bowl with some recent cilantro. I prefer to prime mine with roasted cashews as effectively.

Leftovers & Storage
Leftover pink lentil dal will preserve in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 days, or within the freezer for about 3 months. The dal can simply be reheated within the microwave or in a saucepan on the range. Add water throughout reheating if it is gotten too thick throughout storage.
Incessantly Requested Questions
It’s!
You’ll be able to, however the texture might be completely different and the dal will want significantly extra time to prepare dinner — wherever from 40 to 60 minutes of simmering earlier than you add the tomatoes and coconut milk.
I am positive you may, however I have not made this explicit recipe within the Immediate Pot. Seek advice from my information to cooking pink lentils for steerage if you would like to offer it a attempt.
Extra Vegan Dal Recipes
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Simple Pink Lentil Dal
This pink lentil dal is stuffed with taste and straightforward to make! Full of spices, hearty pink lentils and juicy tomatoes, it is oh-so-comforting and excellent for a weeknight dinner.
Substances
-
2
tablespoons
vegetable oil -
1
medium onion,
diced -
3
garlic cloves,
minced -
2
teaspoons
freshly grated ginger -
2
teaspoons
garam masala -
1
teaspoon
entire cumin seeds -
½
teaspoon
floor cumin -
½
teaspoon
black mustard seeds -
½
teaspoon
floor turmeric -
¼
teaspoon
cayenne pepper,
or to style -
3
cups
water,
plus extra if wanted -
1 ½
cups
cut up pink lentils -
1
(14 ounce/400 gram) can
diced tomatoes -
½
cup
full-fat coconut milk -
1
teaspoon
salt,
plus extra to style (I exploit 1 ½ teaspoons)
Optionally available Accompaniments
- Cooked basmati rice
- Vegan naan
- Recent cilantro
- Roasted cashews
Directions
-
Coat the underside of a big pot with the oil and place it over medium warmth.
-
Give the oil a minute to warmth up, then add the onion. Sweat the onion till it turns into very delicate, about 8 minutes, stirring steadily.
-
Stir within the garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin seeds, floor cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Sauté the combination for about 1 minute, stirring continuously, till it turns into very aromatic.
-
Stir within the water and lentils. Elevate the warmth and convey the liquid to a boil.
-
Decrease the warmth and permit the combination to simmer till the lentils are delicate, about 20 minutes. You’ll be able to add a splash of water if it reduces an excessive amount of.
-
Stir within the tomatoes and coconut milk. Proceed simmering the dal for about 10 minutes, till it’s thick and creamy.
-
Take away the pot from warmth. Stir within the salt, adjusting the quantity to fit your style.
-
Serve the dal with basmati rice or naan, optionally topping every portion with a sprinkle of recent cilantro and roasted cashews.
Recipe Notes
Diet info doesn’t embrace accompaniments.
Diet Info
Simple Pink Lentil Dal
Quantity Per Serving (1 cup (⅙ of recipe))
Energy 254
Energy from Fats 77
% Each day Worth*
Fats 8.6g13%
Saturated Fats 3.4g17%
Sodium 398mg17%
Potassium 444mg13%
Carbohydrates 33.3g11%
Fiber 6.3g25%
Sugar 2.4g3%
Protein 13g26%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 4mg22%
* % Each day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie weight-reduction plan.


