Toor Dal Recipe in a simple Green Masala paste. The dal is full of flavours and has the freshness of green masala with green mango. It is a healthy and delicious recipe and has a slightly spicy and tangy flavour.
If you are bored with eating and cooking the regular yellow dal or dal tadka then this Simple Toor Dal Recipe is just for you! This Toor dal recipe tastes best with rice. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Toor Dal Recipe (Simple)
The dal or lentil in this recipe is the split pigeon lentils that are very popular in every Indian household. You could also use the red lentil or moong dal, but I prefer Toor dal for this recipe.
We can also call this Toor Dal Curry Recipe. The method of preparation of this recipe is like a curry with blended green masala and coconut. It has a tangy flavour that comes from sliced green mango or tamarind. The tangy flavour makes the dal very appetizing and refreshing, especially during the summer season.
As kids, mum would make this green dal too often. This is also my son’s favourite dal recipe ever since he was a kid. Even now when we want to have a simple veg meal, I cook this easy yet flavourful Toor Dal Recipe and serve it with fresh salad or yogurt.
You could also add some vegetables to make drumstick dal or cauliflower dal and make it more nutritious. Most of the time we love to have it plain with some salad and pickles.
Loved by everyone in the family, this Toor Dal is a perfect main course recipe for lunch or dinner with rice. Just pair it with some sides and salad and this will keep you and your family satisfied. Do try out this recipe and I am sure you will love it too.
What goes into the Simple Toor Dal Recipe
- DAL or LENTIL. Preferably use Toor dal or split Pigeon Lentils. Its structure and taste are perfect for this recipe. You will need to soak the lentils for a couple of hours and this will help in faster cooking. You get another variety of this toor dal that is oily. The toor dal is coated with oil to preserve its freshness and also to keep it free from insects. This oily dal has a long shelf life and is easily available in all supermarkets in India.
- GREEN MASALA. Fresh green masala such as coriander leaves, mint leaves, ginger-garlic, and green chillies with a few peppercorns. These add lots of flavour and aroma to the recipe.
- ONION & TOMATO. Add a medium onion and one small tomato. Adding tomato is optional, you can give it a skip if adding green mango.
- COCONUT. You could use coconut milk too, but I prefer to blend grated coconut with the green masala paste. Coconut also gives texture and creaminess to the recipe.
- GREEN MANGO/TAMARIND. When green mangoes are in season, especially during the summer, we love to add them to this dal recipe. It’s so tangy and refreshing and perfect for the summer! When green mango is not available then you may like to add about half a cup of tamarind extract at the final stage of cooking. For the tamarind extract, soak a small ball of tamarind in half a cup of tepid water. Then squeeze out the pulp as much as you can to get tamarind extract. You can also add lemon juice or a dash of vinegar if you don’t like tamarind or green mango. Adding a little sourness to this green toor dal recipe also makes it more delectable.
How to make Green Dal?
- Wash the Toor dal and soak it for a couple of hours. Pulses and lentils have the tendency of creating gas and bloating in most people. Soaking them in water for a couple of hours breaks down the complex starch in lentils. Thus making them easier to digest and also saving on cooking time.
- Heat a vessel and add 2 tbsp oil. When the oil is hot add in a medium onion, chopped and sauté until translucent.
- Next, add the washed and soaked toor dal and fry for a minute. Add water and let the dal cook till done. Discard the scum that forms on top while the dal is cooking.
- Now add the green masala paste and the sliced green mango. Add one chopped tomato if you are not using green mango.
- Add water, just enough for the dal to cook. Cover the vessel and cook till done. You could also cook the dal in a pressure cooker but for this recipe we want the dal to be well cooked but not mushy.
- Final step if you are not adding green mango. Now when the dal is cooked, add in the tamarind extract and simmer for 2 more minutes and then turn off the heat.
Watch the Video – Green Mango Dal Recipe
Serving Suggestions
Make this Simple yet delicious Toor Dal Recipe with Green Masala and serve with steamed rice or Rotis. Pair it with some onion cucumber salad, pickle, and papads.
You could also serve this with some yogurt raita or some dry vegetables like Spicy Bhindi Fry
Other Veg Recipes You May Like
Recipe Card – Toor Dal Recipe (Simple Green Masala)
Toor Dal Recipe – Simple Green Masala
Ingredients
- 1 cup Toor Dal (soaked for 30 minutes)
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 1 Green Mango, peeled and sliced
- 1 small Tomato, chopped optional
- 1 lemon size ball Tamarind soaked in 1/2 cup water optional, if not adding green mango
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Oil for cooking
For the Green Masala Paste
- 1 cup Coriander leaves with stems
- Few mint leaves optional
- 5 to 6 Green Chillies
- 1 inch Ginger
- 5 to 6 Garlic flakes
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- ½ tsp Peppercorns
- ½ cup Freshly grated coconut
Instructions
How to Cook Toor Dal
- Wash the Toor dal and soak it for a couple of hours or at least 30 minutes.
- Heat a vessel and add 2 tbsp oil. When oil is hot add in a medium onion chopped and sauté until translucent.
- Fry this for a minute and then add in the soaked and drained dal and give it a mix. (Add 1 tomato if not adding mango). Cover and cook till done
- Next add the green masala paste and sliced green mango.
- Add water, just enough to cook the dal. Cover the vessel and cook till the mango softens. You could also cook the dal in a pressure cooker but for this recipe we want the dal to be well cooked but not mushy.
- If not adding mango – when the dal is cooked, add in the tamarind extract and simmer for 2 more minutes and then Turn off the heat.
- Toor Dal Recipe is ready. Enjoy with some steamed rice.
Notes
- Add chillies according to suit your spice level.
- Preferably, don’t cook the dal in a pressure cooker, or else it may get mushy.
- Remove the scum while cooking the dal.
- Add tamarind if you do not have green mango.
- Add lemon juice or vinegar if you don’t like tamarind.
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Love Anita