Sabut masoor dal recipe with step by step photos. This Creamy Whole Masoor ki Dal is a spiced and tasty lentil dish made from whole red lentils, onions, tomatoes, herbs, spices and cream.
This is a North Indian style recipe of a spiced, tasty and quick dal made from these whole red lentils with a brown husk.Â
This creamy sabut masoor ki dal recipe is how we prepare at home. The dal is not thin nor thick but has a medium consistency. Adding cream is optional but it does enhance the taste of the dal. Usually I prefer to add cream as it gives a rich taste to the dish.
This Sabut masoor dal recipe is one of the easy and breezy dals I make at home with these brown-skinned lentils. It is a versatile lentil dish and you can add the spices as per your taste requirements.
The consistency of the dal can also be kept thick or medium consistency. If you are serving the dal with rotis then you can keep thick consistency in the dal. For serving with rice keep the medium or slightly thin consistency in the dal.
The whole masoor dal can be relished with rice, rotis or paratha or even bread. You can also just have it plain like a soup.
How to make creamy whole masoor ki dal (whole red lentils)
Pressure cooking lentils
1. Pick and rinse 1 cup whole red lentils for a couple of times in water. If you have time then you can soak the lentils for about 30 to 40 minutes after washing.
2. Then in a pressure cooker take 1 cup whole red lentils and add 2.5 to 3 cups water.
3. Pressure cook for 10 to 12 minutes or 3 to 4 whistles or cook till they are softened. Timing will vary depending upon the quality and age of the lentils.
4. In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil for tempering the lentils. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them splutter.
5. Then add 1 medium sized chopped onion.
6. Saute till the onions are golden or brown. This is an important step in making this dal. you have to brown the onions as the browning gives a lot of flavor and taste to this dal.
7. Saute the onions till they become golden.
8. Once the onions are browned then add 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste.
9. Fry for a minute or till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
10. Then add 2 medium sized chopped tomatoes and 1 chopped green chilli.
11. Fry again for a few minutes till the tomatoes become soft and pulpy. You will also see oil releasing from the sides of the masala paste.
12. Then add ½ teaspoon red chili powder and 1 teaspoon turmeric powder.
13. Mix well.
Making creamy whole masoor ki dal
14. Now add this mixture to the cooked lentils or add the cooked red lentils to the tempering… Whatever suits you.
15. Stir and mix very well.
16. Add salt as required.
17. Simmer the dal on a low or medium flame. If the dal is too thick then add some hot water or as required to get the right consistency. I have added about 1 cup of water to the dal.
18. Mash some dal with a ladle or spoon at the sides of the pan. This is done to get a creamier consistency.
19. Finally add 2 to 3 tablespoons cream (optional) and ½ teaspoon Punjabi garam masala powder. You can also use regular garam masala powder. The addition of cream is optional and you can skip if you don’t have. However, if you want a rich creamy dal then do add the cream.
21. Next add 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves). Stir and switch off the flame.
22. While serving, garnish the dal with kasuri methi or cream or few chopped coriander leaves.
23. The creamy whole masoor dal is ready to be served with some basmati rice or rotis or plain paratha or lachedar paratha or rumali roti.
More awesome dal recipes
Creamy Whole Masoor ki Dal (Whole Red Lentils)
Ingredients
for cooking whole red lentils
- 1 cup whole masoor dal (sabut masoor dal or whole red lentils)
- 2.5 to 3 cups water for pressure cooking the dal
other ingredients
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste or crushed ginger-garlic
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1 green chili, chopped
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon punjabi garam masala powder or regular garam masala powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
- 2 to 3 tablespoon cream (optional)
- 2 tablespoon oil or ghee
- a few chopped coriander leaves or some crushed kasuri methi or cream for garnishing
- salt as required
- 1 cup hot water or as required
Instructions
pressure cooking whole red lentils
- Pick and rinse 1 cup whole masoor dal for a couple of times in water. if you have time then you can soak the lentils for about 30 to 40 minutes after washing.
- In a pressure cooker take 1 cup sabut masoor dal and add 2.5 to 3 cups water. Pressure cook for 10 to 12 minutes or 3 to 4 whistles or cook till they are softened. Timing will vary depending upon the quality and age of dal.
making onion tomato masala for dal
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil for tempering the dal in the pan.
- Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them crackle. Then add 1 medium sized chopped onion.
- Now fry till the onions are golden or browned. This is an important step in making this dal.
- You have to brown the onions as the browning gives a lot of flavor and taste to the dal.
- Add 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste and fry for a minute or till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
- Add the tomatoes and green chilli and fry again for a few minutes till the tomatoes become soft and pulpy. You will also see oil releasing from the sides of the masala paste.
- Add ½ teaspoon red chili powder and 1 teaspoon turmeric powder. Mix well.
making creamy whole masoor dal
- Now add this mixture to the cooked dal or add the cooked dal to the tempering - whatever suits you. Mix well and add salt as required.
- Simmer the dal on a low or medium flame. If the dal is too thick then add some hot water or as required to get the right consistency. I have added about 1 cup of water to the dal.
- Mash some dal with your ladle or spoon at the sides of the pan. This is done to get a creamier consistency.
- Finally add 2 to 3 tablespoons cream (optional) and ½ teaspoon garam masala powder. The addition of cream can be skipped if you don't have it. For a rich creamy taste you can add cream.
- Next add 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi. Stir well. Switch off the burner.
- Garnish the dal with kasuri methi or cream or a few chopped coriander leaves.
- Serve this creamy whole red lentils with some steamed basmati rice or roti.
Notes
- Soak the dal for 1 to 2 hours in water.
- Then use 4 to 4.5 cups more water to cook the dal. Then follow the recipe.
- The amount of extra water needed depends upon the quality of the dal. E.g. If the dal is aged then it will take more time to cook and will also need more water.
- Cooking dal/lentils in a pressure cooker is easier and quicker.
Hi can i make this without pressure cooker. how?
yes, you can make masoor dal without a pressure cooker. soak the lentils for two to three hours or overnight. the cook the dal separately with enough water in a pot or pan. simmer on a medium-low to medium flame till the lentils are well cooked. then follow the recipe. you can also give the tadka first, make the onion-tomato masala. add the soaked dal, water, salt. cover and cook till the lentils are done.
Hi there. Tried this recipe and it came out well so much so, my wife insisted, that, I prepare it once again. I did top it with Nestle’s cream along with crushed methi and fresh coriander. Wow ! Yummy
thank you for this lovely feedback on whole masoor dal recipe. glad to read. happy cooking.
Easy recipe.. Dal cooked perfectly…:) Loved it
I have made the recipe and I liked it.
thanks yvonne for this feedback.
Great easy to follow instructions and tasted great
thanks and welcome.
What a tempting recipe- can’t wait to taste it tonight. I loved it!
This looks really nice & healthy. I wish to make it.
Q. Could it be sent to my e-mail ?
Thank you
Sarala
you can bookmark this page and then refer to the recipe.
I will be using a pot to cook this recipe. What is the recommended simmer time?
it will take about 45 minutes to an hour. timing will also depend upon how fresh the dal is. but before cooking, soak the lentils in water for one to two hours.