Help with my first lentil dhal

[ISeeTrees]

I've never made a lentil dhal (Dahl? Daal?) and I'm really keen to- I WFH so it would be a good, warming, cheap, nutritious lunch. I also follow a gf diet so seems a safe but filling option.
I have read a few threads on them but get overwhelmed with the choice and what is essential!
I have red lentils in a packet or green lentils in a tin. I've got a pretty good selection of spices, I like a good flavour hit and don't mind a bit of heat. I'm usually a confident cook but I've had a few rubbish meals lately and I'd rather follow a recipe for this.
Any pointers on a good, simple foolproof recipe for a first time?

www.tinnedtomatoes.com/2013/10/spinach-and-coconut-dal.html?m=1
this one is lovely and very easy. Recommended by someone on here, so thanks to that person if they recognise it!

This is what I do. It's very nice.

meerasodha.com/recipes/daily-dal/

This is a good basic recipe. You need to cook the onions gently until they are really golden & sweet. I like to stir a spoonful of hot, sour mango pickle into my bowlful.

I make lentils/dhaal regularly but am finding it difficult to tell you exactly how much to use of what.

What I can tell you is whilst it is.boiling. do not stir it at all. If you want to mix it, shake the pan a little.

Your basic ingredients you need are salt, garam masala, turmeric, onions,.ginger garlic (if desired) and some chilli
I usually let the lentils cook in with the water, salt and turmeric until it has dissolved and cooked through. The red dhaal is usually done in about 30 mins on a medium heat. Then in a seperate pan chop up some onions, garlic, green chilli and slightly brown them. Add some garam masala. You can also add some fresh tomatoes and some.fresh coriander leaves. Brown this for about 5/7 mins on a low to meduim gas and then when the dhaal has cooked through, add the 2 together.

Also check out Dipna Anand on YouTube as she owns a very famous Indian restaurant and does a lot of simple recipes online.

This is my go to recipe. I', fussy with Indian recipes because there are a lot of bad ones out there, but I've been to a cooking course run by her which was a great day. It's really simple: boil lentils, make a spice mix and mix together when the lentils are soft. I'd really adaptable and forgiving too for what you have in and what your preferences are. Nice served with lemon wedges and coriander.

I make a red lentil and sweet potato deal from the hairy dieters in my pressure cooker really easy and quick.

I do as per the paper recipe, but fry some chopped onion before adding the spices, minus mustard seeds, use ground cumin (1tsp) instead of seeds and both paprika (1tsp) and chilli. I also Chuck a stock cube in with the water.

Yes! I heard this first on the BBC Food Programme and have used it ever since

Oh, and I add 1/2-1 tsp of ground ginger too!

Use ghee not oil for a deeper flavour

@toastofthetown That's pretty much the recipe I was taught many years ago! Soaking the lentils definitely helps imo, ditto cooking the onions properly

12 peppercorns seems excessive though!

I like to use Moong Dal which is more authentic imo

@Sockmonkeysloth - that's the recipe I use and I make it regularly, Everyone I make if for loves. It's so incredibly easy - and cheap!

Freezes well too.

The only difference to Sri Lankan daal is adding some coconut milk in once the daal has boiled (usually boil 1 cup daal to 2 cups water with turneric, salt, cumin, mustard seeds, red chilly and garlic cloves for 20 mins) then add the milk and simmer for another 10mins. Once off the heat and a bit cooled, add squeeze of lemon juice.

If adding fried onions, then garlic, mustard seeds, cumin and dried red chilly can all be fried separately with onions and added at the end to the boiled daal but if trying to avoid oil/fat, it’s still nice when just boiled instead of fried).

good luck! You will find a mix that suits you and it will be delicious 😌

(Wash the daal before boiling)

Lemon Dhal is the best

I make this regularly. It's so easy and tasty. You could leave out the halloumi to keep the cost down.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.hellofresh.co.uk/recipes/mango-chutney-coated-halloumi-sweet-potato-dal-5faacbce0780702cd0535bd2%3famp=true

Thank you all so much! Making my way through the recipes, will check my spices & have a go at one when I batch cook tomorrow. I'll report back!

This: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/lentil-recipes/tadka-dal/

NOT a Jamie recipe - just bizarrely on his site.

I've been cooking Dahl for 20 years (badly clearly) and that was chef’s kiss perfection. I used red lentils because that’s all I had in.

I make this often and add red lentils. So easy.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/curried-squash-lentil-coconut-soup

I'm liking the sound of the ones with coconut milk especially.
Had a weekend feeling rotten with a cold, and sore throat in particular, so I think a really nice homemade soup would be comforting. Trouble is I can't be arsed to make it!

I made this yesterday which has coconut milk in. Probably not strictly a daal but is delicious. It serves 4 and freezes really well.

1tbsp oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2.5cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1 green or red chilli, finely chopped and seeds removed (or not, depending how hot you like your food)
1tsp white mustard seeds
1/2 tsp nigella seeds
1tsp cumin seeds
1 onion, sliced
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
200g red lentils
400g can chopped tomatoes
400ml can coconut milk
S&P

1. Heat oil in a large pan and add garlic, ginger and chilli and fry for one minute, until fragrant.
2. Add seeds, fry for another minute. Add onion, fry for a further 5-6 mins. Stir through turmeric and fry for a final minute, before adding lentils.
3. Tip in tomatoes and coconut milk and season to taste. Half-fill the tomato can with water and add to the pain. Boil, then simmer for 20-25mins, until lentils are tender and sauce has thickened. Keep an eye out in case it sticks to the pan.

I serve it as a soup and dip a mini-naan into mine.

Is this suitable for a slow cooker or no?

realfood.tesco.com/recipes/coconut-dhal.html

I really like this one but from reading the replies above perhaps it's not very authentic? Tasty though

Someone posted this a few weeks ago. Probably not very authentic, but delicious
. Dead easy lentil dahl. Only needs. Microwave. Add more/different spices at stage 1 if you fancy, eg root ginger, garlic, chopped chillies, cumin, coriander.

I serve it with a swirl of natural yogurt and boiled rice.

Even my ridiculous kids eat this!