Dhaba favourite · Comfort food
Dal Fry Recipe (Dhaba Style Toor Dal)
Soft dal. Fried masala. Ghee tarka.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenDal fry is soft toor dal cooked into a fried onion and tomato masala, then finished with a tarka. Unlike dal tadka, the masala is cooked into the dal. It tastes flat when the masala is rushed. The fix is frying the masala until oil separates before adding the dal.
The 3 laws of dal fry
Why this recipe works
Firm dal
Dal must break down.
Raw masala
Oil should separate.
No tarka
The final lift.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Dal
Tarka
The NineFoods dal gauge
Is the dal cooked?
Press a grain against the pot.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Cook dal
- Cook dal with water, turmeric and salt.
- Use the gauge above.
Masala
- Fry onion golden, add ginger garlic, chillies, tomatoes and spices.
- Fry until oil separates.
Combine and tarka
- Add dal to the masala and simmer.
- Pour over a ghee, cumin, garlic and chilli tarka.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Masala rushed.
Fix next time
Fry until oil separates; use a strong tarka.
Why
Not soaked.
Fix next time
Soak 30 minutes and cook longer.
Why
Cooled.
Fix next time
Add hot water.
Why
Tarka too hot.
Fix next time
Take off heat as garlic turns golden.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Toor dal | Base | Masoor or moong dal |
| Ghee | Tarka | Oil |
| Hing | Aroma | Skip |
| Tomatoes | Tang | Lemon juice |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Jeera rice, roti and pickle.
Store
Fridge 3 days.
Reheat
Add hot water and simmer.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the dal cooked) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Dal Fry FAQ
What is the difference between dal fry and dal tadka?
In dal fry the masala is cooked into the dal; in dal tadka the spices are poured on top.
Which dal is used for dal fry?
Toor (arhar) dal, often with a little moong.
Do I need to soak toor dal?
30 minutes helps it cook evenly.
Can I make it in a pressure cooker?
Yes, 3 whistles.