A tomato dal is one of those dishes that I throw together when I absolutely don’t have time to fuss around in the kitchen but need a tasty and healthful meal on the table in minutes. I am not the only one. Most Indian cooks turn to this easy dal in a rush for many reasons because it is:
Easy Healthy Needs ingredients you almost certainly have on hand. Delicious
This is also a luxurious dal, despite its simplicity, with a creamy mouth-feel and a rich depth contributed by the tomatoes, onions, ginger and a few powdered spices.
Top tips
Pigeon peas or toor dal, lentils most commonly used in Indian dals, are traditional here, but you can also use pink lentils which are more widely available in supermarkets in the United States. Chop your onions fine and saute them until they are translucent and just starting to brown. That way they’ll melt into the dal, which is exactly what you want. This is a tomato dal, so the tomatoes are not just another flavor ingredient here, they are the stars. Try and use perfectly ripe tomatoes for the best flavor, and use at least three tomatoes. Chop the tomatoes fine so they, too, like the onions, melt into the dal. You don’t want big pieces of tomato floating in it. In most Indian dal recipes, you want the dal to break down to a level where it’s creamy, and you practically cannot see the lentils or at least their shapes. While the whole lentil can look pretty in some kinds of dal, like this dhaba dal, Indian dals are meant to be creamy. We even have a special contraption to mush up the dal, but a whisk works just as well. To make a long story short, be sure to whisk your well-cooked and tender dal or give it a quick turn in a blender to make it creamy.
What to serve with tomato dal
All you need to serve it is a bowl of rice and an easy sabzi or vegetable side. My bhindi masala would be perfect here, or you could eat it with Aloo Gobi (or this sheet pan version of cauliflower and potatoes). Check to get new recipe updates by email.
More Indian dal recipes
Spicy Urad Dal (Black Lentil Dal) Black Eyed Peas Dal with Cilantro and Mint One Pot Garlicky Spinach Dal Instant Pot Vegan Dal Makhani Dal Bukhara Vegan Coconut Dal (Low-Carb/Keto Recipe)
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