Ultimate Tadka Dhal

Serves: 4 people

Takes: 30 mins to 1 hour

'Dhal' refers to lentils and 'Tadka' is the technique of tempering your spices to release their flavours and aromas.

There are so many different varieties of lentils, and any will do, but I love to make this recipe with yellow lentils (toor dhal). Different cooks will add their own spice creations and so make sure you play around with your spice box and see what works for you.

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Ingredients

250g yellow lentils (toor dhal)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 black cardamom pods (optional)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 green cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick
4 cloves
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons root ginger, finely chopped
1-2 chillies, finely chopped (or more if you like it fiery)
2 spring onions, sliced (optional)
3 cherry tomatoes or 1 tomato, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon sugar, to taste
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh coriander

Method

1. Wash the lentils in several changes of water and put in a deep saucepan with around 2 pints of water.

2. Stir in the turmeric powder and add the black cardamom pods.

3. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat to simmer. Allow the lentils to cook through and soften. This should take around 30 minutes. Remove the froth that rises to the surface, and top up with water if it boils off too quickly. There should be plenty of water!

4. When the lentils have softened it's time to make the tadka. Gently heat the oil in a frying pan.

5. Add the green caradmom pods, cloves and cinnamon stick. After a minute or so the green cardamom will start to lose its colour and the cloves will begin to swell.

6. Add the cumin seeds and mustard seeds.

7. When they start sizzling, which will only take a minute, stir in the garlic, ginger, chilli and spring onions.

8. Saute for 2 minutes before adding the tomatoes.

9. Stir well and leave to cook for a further minute before removing from the heat and pouring it all into the lentils.

10. Add the salt, sugar, lemon juice and stir through the coriander.

11. Taste and adjust the seasoning.