Often the dhal served at a Sadhya is very plain, but I happen to like interesting dhals, like this recipe. Here I use small orange lentils (called "red" in stores) because they cook down into a creamy texture. I enrich it with coconut milk, and finish it with cilantro, lemon, and whole toasted seeds. This recipe is part of our menu for Sadhya, a South Indian feast.
•Indian ingredients can be mail-ordered from Kalustyans.com.
•Lentils, without spice oil, coconut milk, cilantro, and lemon juice, can be made 1 day ahead. Reheat and add remaining ingredients before serving.
Recipe information
Total Time
50 minutes
Yield
Makes 6 servings (as part of a large meal)
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Bring lentils and 3 cups water to a boil with turmeric in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then gently simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until falling apart, about 20 minutes.
Step 2
When lentils are cooked, heat oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and red pepper flakes until mustard seeds begin to pop and/or turn gray and cumin seeds brown, about 1 minute. Stir spice mixture into lentils with coconut milk, cilantro, lemon juice, and salt and bring to a simmer.
Recipe notes
Back to topSee Related Recipes and Cooking Tips
47 Incredible Indian Recipes
Indian food is as vast and varied as the subcontinent itself; these 47 recipes are just a starting point.
