5 Types Of Tadka To Add A Burst Of Flavour To Dal

No matter what kind of dal you eat, it seems incomplete without a tadka (tempered spices in ghee or oil). In almost every Indian household, people add a kick of flavour to a bowl of lentils with a tadka.

From jeera (cumin) to hing (asafoetida), there are different ingredients using which you can elevate the taste of simple and bland dal.

Health Benefits Of Tadka

The trend of adding a tadka to dal or any other dish is that it has antispasmodic properties. It helps to relax contracted digestive muscles that otherwise cause discomfort and health issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Most of the ingredients used in tadka are loaded with nutrients and properties to help the body fight certain infections and stay healthy.

Types Of Dal Tadka

Dhaba Tadka

Ingredients

• 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
• 1 Medium Chopped Onion
• 1 Medium Chopped Tomato
• 4-5 Crushed Cloves Of Garlic
• 1-2 Chopped Green Chillies
• 1 Dry Red Chilli
• 1 Tablespoon Coriander Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Asafoetida
• An Inch Of Grated Ginger
• 2 Tablespoon Ghee
• 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala

Method

• Heat a pan and add ghee to it.
• Add cumin seeds, green chillies, red chilli, turmeric powder, ginger and garlic.
• Once seeds start sprouting and the garlic starts to turn brown, add onions.
• As soon as you see onions become translucent, add tomatoes.
• Mix everything well and add coriander powder and garam masala.
• Add a dash of water, and let everything come together.
• Once you witness tomatoes getting mushy, pour in your cooked dal.
• Let the dal simmer and come to a boil.
• Serve it hot with roti or rice.

Kalonji Tadka

Ingredients

• 1 Dry Red Chilli
• 1 Medium Diced Tomato
• 1 Teaspoon Kalonji (Fennel) Seeds
• 1 Tablespoon Ghee

Method

• Add ghee to a heated pan and pour kalonji seeds into it.
• Once you see seeds spluttering, add red chilli and diced tomatoes (alternatives to bread).
• Pour in the cooked lentils and let everything come to a boil.

Mustard Seed Tadka

Ingredients

• 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 1-2 Dry Red Chillies
• 1 Tablespoon Tamarind Pulp
• 1 Tablespoon Ghee

Method

• Add ghee to a hot pan and gently pour mustard seeds.
• When the seeds start to splutter, add red chillies.
• Pour the dal into the tadka and temper it with tamarind pulp to add a burst of tangy flavour.

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Jeera-Hing Tadka

Ingredients

• 1 Teaspoon Jeera (Cumin Seeds)
• 1/4 Teaspoon Hing (Asafoetida)
• 2 Tablespoon Ghee

Method

• Add ghee, jeera and hing to a hit pan.
• Once the seeds splutter, add dal.

It is one of the quickest tadka that adds a burst of flavour to arhar dal and moong dal among others.

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Sambar Tadka

Ingredients

• A Handful Curry Leaves
• 1.5 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 1.2 Dry Red Chillies
• Sambar Masala Mix
• 1 Tablespoon Oil

Method

• Heat a pan and add oil to it.
• Add mustard seeds, dry red chillies, curry leaves and sambar masala mix.
• Pour dal and let it temper with tamarind pulp.
• Serve it hot.