Any ‘pappu, paruppu or parippu’ dish would be a lentil-based dish in South India. The same goes for the recipe of Tomato Dal. A specialty from Andhra Pradesh, Tomato Pappu is tangy curried lentils made with pigeon pea lentils (tuvar/arhar dal), plenty of tomatoes, onions, herbs and spices. Andhra cuisine is known for its bold and spicy flavors. But this Tomato Dal recipe is not hot and spicy, and makes for a comforting lunch or dinner with a side of steamed rice.
About Tomato Pappu
The Hindi word ‘dal’ is also called as ‘pappu’ in the Telugu language. Dal means ‘lentils’ and is a staple in homes across the Indian subcontinent.
There are many variations of making lentils which vary from state to state as well as from home to home. This Tomato Dal is one such variant.
This lentil delicacy Tomato Pappu is basically tur dal or arhar dal (pigeon pea lentils) which is cooked with generous quantity of tomatoes.
It is a traditional lentil-based dish originating from Andhra Pradesh, and consisting of pigeon peas (toor dal) pressure-cooked and simmered with tomatoes, onions, green chilies, turmeric, red chili powder and a tempering of mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves in ghee or oil.
Known for its tangy, mildly spicy flavor and comforting texture, this dal is typically served with hot steamed rice, a light drizzle of ghee, and a side of pickle or papad or vegetable stir-fry.
Apart from the soaking of the lentils and some prep work with the vegetables, there’s not much you have to do to cook this dal.
You can use ghee (clarified butter) for making the tempering of this Tomato Dal. But if you wish to have a completely vegan friendly dish, then use any neutral flavored oil for this recipe.
About My Recipe
Rest of the ingredients that go into making this Tomato Pappu are mustard seeds, cumin seeds, onion, green chilies, curry leaves, ginger-garlic paste and ground spices like turmeric powder and red chili powder.
I would also not recommend to skip the asafoetida (hing), as it just elevates the flavors of this dish. If you wish to make a spicy dal, then just add more of green chilies and chili powder.
This Tomato Dal has the desired tang from the tomatoes. Here, I have made the tempering first and then sautéed the onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes. Later, arhar dal or toor dal (pigeon pea lentils) is added and cooked until the lentils are softened.
The result is a mild, slightly sour, yet delicious and comforting dal that is best had with steamed rice and a drizzle of ghee. Have a side vegetable dish or a vegetable raita and you get to enjoy a complete meal.
You can also enjoy the combination of Tomato Pappu and steamed rice with the classic Avakaya (Andhra Mango Pickle) for a comforting lunch or dinner.
How to make Tomato Pappu
Preparation
1. Pick and then rinse ½ cup pigeon pea lentils (arhar dal or tuvar dal) a couple of times in fresh water.
2. Soak the dal in water for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Later, drain all the water and keep the lentils aside.
4. Chop 1 medium onion, 2 medium tomatoes and 1 green chili. Measure and keep all the ingredients ready for making Tomato Pappu.
Temper Spices & Sauté Onions
5. Heat 2 tablespoons oil or ghee in a stovetop pressure cooker. Keep the heat to low or medium-low.
6. Add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds first.
7. Let the mustard seeds crackle.
8. Then, add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and let them splutter on low heat.
9. Next, add ⅓ to ½ cup chopped onions and 10 to 12 curry leaves.
10. Next, add the chopped green chili.
11. Sauté the onions on low to medium-low heat, stirring often, till they soften and turn translucent.
12. Add 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste.
For making ginger-garlic paste, you can crush 1 inch ginger and 3 to 4 medium garlic cloves to a paste in a mortar-pestle.
13. Sauté on low to medium-low heat for a few seconds or until the raw aroma of both ginger and garlic dissipates.
Sauté Tomatoes
14. Add about 1 to 1.25 cups chopped tomatoes. Stir and mix well.
15. Next, add the following – ¼ teaspoon red chili powder (or cayenne pepper), ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) and salt as required.
Note: To make the dish gluten-free, skip adding asafoetida or include gluten-free asafoetida.
16. Stir to mix and sauté on medium to medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Make Tomato Pappu
17. Add the soaked tuvar dal.
18. Mix well and then add 2 cups water.
19. Stir and mix again.
20. Pressure cook on high heat for 7 to 8 whistles (9 to 10 minutes) or till the lentils are completely cooked and softened.
The number of whistles needed depends upon the size of the pressure cooker, the intensity of heat and quality of dal.
Aged dal takes more time to cook. So, for best taste, it is important to use fresh dal that is in its shelf life. Preferably try to use unpolished tur dal.
21. When the pressure drops naturally in the cooker, then only remove the lid.
22. Mash the dal lightly with a wooden spatula or spoon.
23. If the consistency of Tomato Dal is thick for you, then add water as required to get a medium consistency.
Mix well and simmer on low to medium-low heat for 5 to 6 minutes or till you get a consistency that is neither thin, nor thick but has a medium consistency. Stir dal at intervals, while it is simmering.
Check the taste of the dal and add more salt, if required. Switch off the heat.
24. Garnish Tomato Dal with chopped coriander leaves.
25. Serve Tomato Pappu hot or warm with steamed rice, avakaya, vegetable salad or any vegetable stir-fry that you prefer.
You could also serve with a side of Gongura Pachadi for a comforting Andhra style meal.
If you like, you can drizzle some ghee while serving. Leftovers can be used within a day. But keep the leftover dal refrigerated.
Variations
- With Tamarind: Add a small marble-sized ball of tamarind (soaked in warm water and extracted) toward the end of cooking for a tangier flavor. This variation is common in some Andhra households.
- Adding Spinach (Palakura Pappu): Add a handful of chopped spinach along with the tomatoes for a more nutritious version. It becomes a lovely combination of greens and lentils.
- Garlic Flavor: Increase the number of garlic cloves in the tempering for a stronger garlicky taste, which many people love paired with rice and ghee.
- Spicy Version: Add a teaspoon of red chili powder after sautéing the tomatoes for a spicier version. Some even add a pinch of garam masala, though it’s less traditional. You can also add more green chillies.
- No Onion No Garlic Option: Skip onion and garlic entirely for a satvic or temple-style preparation. It still tastes delicious due to the tomatoes and tempering spices.
Expert Tips
- Tomatoes: Use ripe and juicy tomatoes for the best taste. Slightly sour tomatoes add a beautiful tanginess.
- Lentils: Use fresh lentils, which are in its shelf period. Don’t use aged tur dal. I recommend using unpolished tuvar dal for the best taste.
- Red Chillies: Instead of green chilies, you can also add dried red chilies. Remember to remove their seeds.
- Skipping Ginger: If you are not fond of ginger, then only add the garlic paste or finely chopped garlic.
- Consistency: Adjust the water according to your preference. Some prefer a thicker consistency, while others like it slightly runny. So alter the consistency of this dal by adding more or less water.
- Dal Texture: Mash the cooked dal lightly for a smoother texture. If you prefer chunky lentils, mash very lightly or skip it.
- Gluten-free Lentils: For a gluten-free tomato dal, omit the asafoetida (hing) or use a gluten free asafoetida in this recipe.
FAQs
Tomato Pappu is a traditional Andhra-style lentil preparation made primarily with toor dal (pigeon peas) and ripe tomatoes. It is simple, comforting, and typically seasoned with a tempering of mustard seeds, cumin, garlic, and curry leaves. It is often served with steamed rice and a drizzle of ghee.
Yes, you can cook toor dal in a pot on the stovetop. However, it takes longer — about 40 to 50 minutes depending on the quality of dal. Make sure to soak the dal for 30 minutes beforehand to reduce cooking time.
While toor dal is traditionally used, you can substitute it with moong dal (yellow split mung beans) or masoor dal (pink lentils) for a slightly different texture and taste. Each lentil will give the pappu recipe a unique flavor.
You can control the spice level by adjusting the number of green chilies or dried red chilies used. For a milder version, deseed the chilies or use fewer chilies. You can also balance excess heat by adding a bit more cooked dal or a small spoon of fresh cream while serving.
Tomato Pappu stays good in the refrigerator for up to 1 day when stored in an airtight container. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or microwave, adding a little water if it has thickened too much.
More Dal Recipes To Try!
Dal (Lentils) & Legumes
Dal (Lentils) & Legumes
Dal (Lentils) & Legumes
Dal (Lentils) & Legumes
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Tomato Pappu (Andhra Dal With Tomatoes)
Ingredients
- ½ cup toor dal (tuvar dal, pigeon pea lentils)
- 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ⅓ to ½ cup or (1 medium-sized) onion – finely chopped
- 10 to 12 curry leaves
- 1 green chili – chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 inch ginger + 3 to 4 medium garlic cloves crushed to a paste in a mortar
- 1 to 1.25 cups or (2 medium-sized) tomatoes – finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing)
- 2 cups water – for pressure cooking
- salt as required
- 1 to 2 tablespoons coriander leaves – chopped
Instructions
Soaking arhar dal
- Pick and rinse arhar dal a couple of times in fresh water. Then soak the arhar dal (pigeon pea lentils) in fresh water for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Later drain all the water from the dal and keep the arhar dal aside.
Cooking lentils, tomatoes, spices
- Heat oil or ghee in a stovetop pressure cooker.
- Add the mustard seeds first and let them crackle on low to medium-low heat.
- Next add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.
- Add the finely chopped onions, curry leaves and chopped green chilies. Sauté the onions stirring often on low to medium-low heat till they soften and turn translucent.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for a few seconds on a low to medium-low heat or until their raw aroma goes away.
- Next add the finely chopped tomatoes, red chili powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida (hing) and salt as required.
- Saute for 2 to 3 minutes on a medium-low to medium heat.
- Add the lentils and water. Stir and mix well.
Making tomato pappu
- Close and seal the cooker tightly with its lid. Pressure cook on high heat for 7 to 8 whistles (about 9 to 10 minutes) or until the lentils are softened and cooked completely. Timing to cook dal will depend upon the quality of dal, size of pressure cooker and intensity of heat.
- When the pressure drops naturally in the cooker, then only remove the lid.
- Mash the dal lightly. If the consistency is thick then add water as required to get a medium consistency in the dal. Stir and mix well.
- Simmer the tomato dal for 5 to 6 minutes on a low to medium-low heat till you get a dal which is neither thin nor thick but having a medium consistency.
- Once you get the right consistency, check the taste and add more salt if required.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
- Serve Tomato Pappu hot or warm with steamed rice, avakaya or preferred mango pickle and vegetable stir-fry.
- While serving you can add a bit of ghee.
Notes
- Soak lentils for an hour before cooking them.
- Follow the same recipe method. However, add 3 to 3.5 cups water, cover and cook the lentils till soft and thoroughly cooked. There should be no separate grains visible. The consistency of the lentils should be smooth and creamy. Add more water, if required.
- Use a deep pot while cooking, as the lentils start frothing while cooking. If the mixture froths up and starts coming out, remove the lid and cook.
- Use ripe, juicy tomatoes for best flavor.
- Cook dal until soft and mashable for smooth texture.
- Adjust spice by varying green chilies or red chili powder.
- Add garlic in tempering for a traditional Andhra taste.
- Finish with a spoonful of ghee for a richer flavor. Serve hot with steamed rice and a side of avakaya pickle or fryums.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
Tomato Pappu recipe from the archives was first published on September 2013.
This is a family favorite now–it’s so delicious!
Super attractive site which is totally different and unique from the other recipe sites .
I like the step by step pictures , which are better than videos ,since in videos one needs to note down the steps and see it many times.
Prepared Tomato pappu , worked right in first try .Keep posting new dishes .
thanks a lot sudarshan. i know in videos this happens. i think structuring recipes with photos of each step is more helpful. as an internet user also, i prefer step wise method to showcase anything be a recipe or a hobby or art. thanks also for sharing the feedback and review on tomato pappu. happy cooking.
Hi!
Let me start by saying that I just recently made your recipe for Bisi Bele Bath and it was probably the best Indian dish I’ve ever made.
This Dal recipe was also fantastic but it ended up a little bitter. Do you have any thoughts as to what ingredient could have caused this is not cooked perfectly?
Me second question is why do some versions of dal temper at the end while your recipe does not? Do you think making this recipe but omitting the curry leaves, rai, hing and jeera and frying those at the end to temper would change the flavor? I haven’t come across jeera as a tempering ingredient so perhaps that should go in at the beginning if I were to temper at the end?
Lastly, how does ginger garlic paste compare to just mincing those ingredients? I realize that i did not make a paste but instead minced.
I’m new to South Indian cooking and am hoping for some insight.
Thank you so much!
thanks alex. bisi bele bath is really a good dish from the south indian cuisine. bitterness in dal could be due to onions, when the root part is not removed when chopping. some more asafoetida or turmeric can also bring bitterness.
any dal recipe can be tempered first or later. when tempered later the flavor and taste is different. of course you can temper later with the ingredients you have mentioned and it will definitely give a good flavor and taste. jeera is a tempering ingredient. so can be tempered later too at the end. ginger garlic paste gives a complete altogether taste as compared to finely chopped or minced ginger-garlic.
usually in most south indian recipes, tempering is done towards the end. this includes sambar, rasam and chutneys. but for dals the tempering can be done first or later.
you can check this north indian dal tadka where i have tempered with cumin seeds later – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/restaurant-style-dal-tadka/
Hi Dassana,
Your recipes are sooo perfect. I have tried many (almost everything that i cook) of your recipes and they turned out to be soo delicious.. and this one was soo good and comforting… my family just loved this.
Thank you soo much for all the recipes..
thank you samrudha for this lovely feedback. nice to know. i agree this tomato dal is tasty as well as comforting.
All your recipes are awesome. I tried this and it was awesome but can you show a non- garlic and ginger recipe tomato dal please.
taken your recipe request for a no garlic and ginger tomato dal.
hiiii, ur recipies r awesome very detailed through pics I love that ,I am learning cooking through ur recipies .
thank u
BT some recipes don’t have pics if u consider that it will b great
parveen thankyou for your positive words 🙂 yes we are working on the same and trying to put step by step recipe on our old posts.
Hello Amit
Being a first timer in cooking, the recipe came out to be good as followed by the detailed instructions. Thank you.
I prepared it and it was awesome…. with rice Thank you .
thanks leo for the positive feedback.
pleased to know this thankyou leo and you are welcome.
Made this dal with yellow and pink lentils that were lying around,
Threw in a can of Heinz tomatoes then I hit the ground.
The pressure cooker didn’t explode so I was ok,
Another amazing recipe, so tasty the wife said hooray!
Dassana has to be continually congratulated,
For the wife’s list of favourites needs to be re-calibrated.
thanks once again rohit. glad to know that you both are liking the recipes.
superb.nice recipes.thankfull to u.
welcome chiranjeevi
Dassana amit it was fabulous,tomato dal pappu recipes in my home were one liked thank u so munch…….
welcome priyanka. glad to know this.
thank you so……………. much…………………..
welcome utukuru