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Moong Masoor Dal

Savory lentil soup

  • Prep Time
    15 mins
  • Cooking Time
    30 mins
  • Serves
    4-5
  • Cuisine
    Indian

Moong-masoor dal is a type of lentil soup made with a combination of two dals (lentils), namely moong dal (de-husked green gram) and masoor dal (red lentils). It is a delicious and healthy soup and is mostly served either with plain rice, roti or naan. It can also be served just as a soup. In this recipe, the lentils are boiled and then a tempering/tadka is added.

What you will need

How to make

  1. Boiling lentils: In a pressure cooker, add lentils, water, 1 tsp turmeric powder and salt. Stir to combine and bring to boil on medium heat. Cover the pressure cooker and wait until 4 whistles (or 5 minutes on “Manual” and “High pressure” in Instant Pot). Switch off the flame. Let the steam in the pressure cooker decrease naturally and open. Stir and keep aside.
  2. Tadka/tempering: Tadka or tempering is a way to add flavor/spice to the cooked lentils. For this, heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and onion. Sauté until the onions turn pink. Reduce flame to low and add ginger, garlic, green chilly and 1/2 tsp turmeric powder. Sauté for 15 seconds.
  3. Add the remaining spices (coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder, red chilli powder and kasoori methi) and sauté for additional 15 seconds.
  4. Add tomatoes and increase the flame to medium. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and the mixture starts leaving oil.
  5. Add the prepared tadka to the boiled lentils and stir to combine. Cook on medium heat for additional 2 minutes. If the soup is thick at this point, add additional water as per your preference.
  6. Add lime juice, cilantro and ghee. Serve hot.

Tips & Alternatives to try

  1. The time in the pressure cooker may vary since cookers can be different. Adjust the time so that the lentils are cooked thoroughly. If you do not have a pressure cooker, boil lentils with water, salt and turmeric in a dutch oven for 20-25 minutes (covered and occasionally stirred) until lentils are cooked through.
  2. Another way to eat this soup is to tear 1 roti into small pieces for half cup of soup and add the roti to the soup. The roti absorbs the lentil soup and this makes the roti soft and easy to eat.
  3. Slow cooker recipe: you can make the tadka first in a pan. Then add tadka, unboiled lentils, salt and water to a slow cooker. Cook either for 4 hours on high or on low overnight. Just before serving, add ghee, cilantro and lime juice.