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Arhar Dal Recipe (Bengali-style Toor Dal)

Madhushree Dutta
Recipe to make tasty Arhar Dal easily. Simple ingredients, instructions, and equipment to prepare delicious Bengali-style Toor Dal at home.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Bengali, Indian
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • 1 Induction Cooktop
  • 1 Kadhai

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g Arahar Dal or Toor Dal or Pigeon Pea
  • 4 Cloves Garlic large
  • 2 Green Chilis
  • 1 inch Ginger
  • ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 2 Dry Red Chili
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Sugar to taste
  • 1 tsp Ghee
  • 1 tbsp Mustard Oil
  • Water

Instructions
 

  • First, wash the arahar dal twice or thrice thoroughly with water.
  • Next, let it soak for about 3 hours.
  • After this, drain the excess water and transfer the dal into the pressure cooker.
  • Add 2 cups of water, salt to taste, sugar to taste (to balance the salt), and half tsp turmeric powder.
  • Keep the flame on medium and let the dal cook until one whistle.
  • After one whistle, turn the flame on low and let the dl cook under pressure for bout 5-7 minutes. After this, turn the flame on high for one whistle.
  • Then turn off the flame and let the pressure release naturally.
  • When the pressure is released, pour water on the pressure cooker, and then slowly remove the lid.
  • Now, peel and crush the garlic cloves.
  • Take a kadhai and add mustard oil.
  • Let the oil heat until it smokes a little.
  • To the kadhai add the cumin seeds, dried red chilis (break them from the middle), and the bay leaf (tear it from the middle).
  • Sir them until they are fragrant and then add the crushed garlic cloves. Also, add one green chili (slit it from the middle).
  • Stir them and let them fry until aromatic.
  • Now, pour the arahar dal into the kadhai along with the water.
  • Let the dal cook and come to a boil.
  • When it comes to a boil, add grated ginger to it. You can also use paste.
  • Stir them nicely and then add one green chili (slit it from the middle). Keep the flame on medium.
  • When the dal is near to semi thick, take a test taste.
  • Add if anything is needed.
  • Turn off the flame and then drizzle one tsp of ghee.
  • Stir everything nicely and cover the kadhai. Let the flavors mingle and seep in nicely.