I had been asked to increase my protein intake recently and was thinking on ways to increase the intake. Dals are a popular way in the Indian subcontinent to get protein into your diet daily. So I decided to make the simple dal tadka which is dal which is tempered and added multiple dals to increase the protein levels.

I made this with three seperate dals, but you can make it with just one dal or as many as you like.

This is a very simple recipe and is a real comfort food which can be made in minutes. It’s super yummy and is best eaten with rice or an Indian flatbread.

Mixed Dal Tadka

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup yellow moong dal
• 1/3 cup toovar dal
• 1/3 cup chana dal
• 4 cloves
• 4 cardamom pods
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp asafoetida
• 2-3 dried red chillies
• 1 tbsp kasuri methi
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp ghee or oil
• Salt to taste
• 1-2 tsp lemon juice
• Coriander leaves to garnish

Method:

• Soak the dals in hot water for 15 minutes and then cook it with 1/4 tsp turmeric powder in a pressure cooker until it is completely cooked and loses its shape. Cool and then whisk the dal until it is homogenous. Keep aside.
• If you are using the stovetop, cook it until you can mix all the dals into a paste. Keep aside.
• In a smaller pan, heat the ghee and when warm, add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.Then add the cloves, cardamom and dried red chillies and stir well.
• Pour the tempering into the whisked dal and let it come to a rolling boil. Season with salt and then crush the kasuri methi in the palms of your hands and sprinkle it over the dal.
• Switch off the flame and pour the lemon juice and also the chopped coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with rice or rotis.