akhha masoor recipe with step by step photos – spiced whole red lentils or masoor dal dish from the kolhapuri cuisine.
during my travels to kolhapur, i came across this gem of a dish made with whole masoor lentils. we had akhha masoor served to us with some chapatis and rice along with amti in a temple campus. the masoor dish was simply mind blowing and we took a few more servings of the same. it was not at all spicy. from then onwards i wanted to try the recipe.
i do not know how the authentic recipe is made. i created this akkha masoor recipe remembering the taste, aroma and flavors of the akhha masoor which we had. this recipe came very close to the original one.
i have made this recipe slightly spicy and hot, which are hallmark flavor factors of kolhapuri cuisine. however, if you want you can either decrease or increase the spiciness by adding less or more of the spice powders.
i had kolhapuri masala, but i have not made the recipe with it. i wanted the recipe to be easily made by everyone, with the ingredients usually found in indian kitchens. hence i have used garam masala powder along with ground roasted desiccated coconut and sesame seeds. if you have goda masala or amti masala you can add them also instead of garam masala powder.
the recipe is a semi dry version. though you can also make a dry dish. other recipes from the city of kolhapur which i have shared on the blog are veg kolhapuri and paneer kolhapuri.
serve this kolhapuri style akkha masoor with chapatis or with steamed rice.
if you are looking for more dal recipes then do check:
akkha masoor
INGREDIENTS FOR akkha masoor
for pressure cooking lentils
- ½ cup whole masoor dal (whole pink or red or orange lentils)
- 1 cup water for pressure cooking
for grinding
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (til)
- 3 tablespoon desiccated coconut
other ingredients for akkha masoor
- 2 tablespoon peanut oil or sunflower oil
- 1 medium onion - finely chopped OR ⅓ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 medium to large tomato - chopped OR ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (dhania patta)
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder (lal mirch powder)
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder (dhania powder)
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder (jeera powder)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder or kolhapuri masala or goda masala
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
- ½ cup water added later
- salt as required
- few coriander leaves for garnish
HOW TO MAKE akkha masoor
pressure cooking lentils
- rinse 1/2 cup whole masoor dal very well in water a couple of times.
- then take the rinsed masoor lentils in a pressure cooker along with 1 cup water. pressure cook for 10 to 11 minutes or for 4 to 5 whistles.
- when the pressure comes down on its own, remove the lid and check the lentils. the lentils should be cooked well yet separate. they should not be mushy. if you get a slight bite in them, then pressure cook for 1 to 2 whistles more.
roasting and grinding
- when the lentils are cooking, heat up a small pan and add 1 tbsp sesame seeds. roast the sesame seeds on a low flame till they change color and start to pop.
- then add 3 tbsp desiccated coconut.
- on a low flame, with a continuous stir, roast both the ingredients, till the coconut becomes golden. remove and keep aside.
- once this mixture becomes warm or cools down, add them to a dry grinder.
- without adding water, grind to a fine mixture. keep aside.
making akkha masoor curry
- heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add 1/3 cup finely chopped onion.
- stir and saute on a low to medium flame till the onions start to turn light golden.
- then add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste. stir and saute till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
- next add 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes.
- stir and saute the tomatoes till they soften and become pulpy.
- now add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tsp garam masala powder, 1 tsp red chili powder and 1 tsp coriander powder.
- stir and mix well.
- then add 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves. mix again.
- add the ground sesame seeds + desiccated coconut mixture.
- mix and stir again.
- add the cooked masoor dal along with 1/2 cup of the stock in which the masoor dal was pressure cooked. if the stock is less, then add overall a half cup of the stock + water. you can also add 1/2 cup water.
- season with salt. stir well.
- simmer the akkha masoor curry on a low to medium flame without a lid for 5 to 6 minutes.
- when you see oil floating on the top, the curry is done. for a dry curry, add less water and cook till all the water evaporates.
- garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and serve kolhapuri style akkha masoor hot with some soft chapatis, bajra or jowar rotis or steamed rice.
- you can also have akkha masoor with bread or pav.
how to make akhha masoor recipe
1. rinse ½ cup whole masoor dal very well in water a couple of times.
2. then take the rinsed masoor lentils in a pressure cooker along with 1 cup water. pressure cook for 10 to 11 minutes or for 4 to 5 whistles.
3. when the pressure comes down on its own, remove the lid and check the lentils. the lentils should be cooked well yet separate. they should not be mushy. if you get a slight bite in them, then pressure cook for 1 to 2 whistles more.
4. when the lentils are cooking, heat up a small pan and add 1 tbsp sesame seeds. on a low flame roast the sesame seeds for a minute or till they change color and start to pop.
5. then add 3 tbsp desiccated coconut.
6. on a low flame, with a continuous stir, roast both the ingredients, till the coconut becomes golden.
7. remove and keep aside.
8. once this mixture becomes warm or cools down, add them to a dry grinder.
9. without adding water, grind to a fine mixture. keep aside.
making akhha masoor
10. heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add ⅓ cup finely chopped onion.
11. stir and saute on a low to medium flame till the onions start to turn light golden.
12. then add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste.
13. stir and saute till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
14. next add ½ cup chopped tomatoes.
15. stir and saute the tomatoes till they soften and become pulpy.
16. now add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp garam masala powder, 1 tsp red chili powder and 1 tsp coriander powder. you can also add ½ tsp goda masala or kolhapuri masala instead of garam masala.
17. stir and mix well.
18. then add 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves. mix again.
19. add the ground sesame seeds + desiccated coconut mixture.
20. mix and stir again.
21. add the cooked masoor dal along with ½ cup of the stock in which the masoor dal was pressure cooked. if the stock is less, then add overall a half cup of the stock + water. you can also add ½ cup water.
22. season with salt.
23. stir well.
24. simmer the akkha masoor curry on a low to medium flame without a lid for 5 to 6 minutes.
25. when you see oil floating on the top, the akkha masoor curry is done. i kept some gravy in the recipe, which looks like a lot of gravy, but is actually not. for a completely dry curry, add less water and cook till all the water evaporates.
26. garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and serve kolhapuri style akkha masoor hot with some soft chapatis, bajra roti or jowar roti or steamed rice. you can also have akkha masoor with bread or pav.
I love your website. I have shared it with everyone I can think of…
Made this recipe. Came out fantastic. Though I wanted it spicier so added a chopped green chilli and a teaspoon more of garam masala. I often try out your recipes and they come out very good, thanks to your detailed explanations and photographs. Thank you for the good work.
Welcome Seema. Glad to know that you like the recipes and they are coming out well. I would have done the same to make this masoor dal more spicy.
Made the akkha masoor dal just now. Came out fantastic. I just wanted it spicier so added extra teaspoon of garam masala as well as a chopped spicy green chilli. Your recipes are always very good and I often try them out. Thank you for your detailed explanations, the finer points to be taken care of and the photos as well. That is the reason why the recipes turn out well. Thank you very much once again.
Welcome Seema. Thanks for your appreciation and positive feedback on akkha masoor recipe. I try to cover all finer points so that it is easier to prepare the food properly. some tricky recipes need such kind of detailing. good to know that it is helping.
Made this today, came out really tasty. Thank you.
thanks for the positive review on the recipe.
hello dassana. my boyfriend and i are a big fan of your recipes. we have been making 1-2 of your recipes every week for probably more than a year now. this one is my personal favourite. i just have one question: this recipe calls for 1/2 of a cup of lentils while most of your recipes call for 1 cup. why is that? i usually make 1 cup anyways.
thanks sophie. i had made this recipe as a side dish, so i added half cup. i thought if i prepare with 1 cup, then there will be some leftovers. usually i avoid having leftovers. but you can make with 1 cup, if having it alone with some rice or bread or chapatis.