Lentil - Dal Curry Recipe - The Mad Scientists Kitchen

Have you tried this delicious Sri Lankan Dal Curry? Simple and delicious!

Red Lentils cooked in a flavourful coconut milk base. — Lentil - Dal Curry Recipe the Sri Lankan Way

Lentil - Dal Curry Recipe, Sri Lankan Way is a delicious daal an example of #Sri Lankan cuisine.

Sri Lankan Cuisine is a melting pot of flavours that includes colonial powers, foreign traders and Southern India and so it is distinct.

The use of rice, coconut and especially spices, reflects the island nation's history as a spice producer and trading post over several centuries.

The flavours and aromas either you will love or hate…

So today along with Pumpkin Curry, Lulu Miris and Senni Sambol let’s try Lentil - Dal Curry Recipe, Sri Lankan Style as we #Blogging Marathoners bring amazing flavours to the “#BuffetonTable ". Update: pair this yum Dal with Aubergine Pickle called Wambatu Moju. Another lentil curry that is common in my place is Amti.

I have adapted the recipe from here.

Lentil - Dal Curry Recipe the Sri Lankan way

This Dal recipe tastes amazingly delicious. My girls just loved it.

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

For the dal:

1 ½ Cups Masoor dal/red lentils
3 Cups Water
¾ Cup Coconut milk
2 Teaspoons Haldi/turmeric powder
1 inch Dalchini/cinnamon
2 medium Tomatoes, quartered
2-3 Green chilli, halved lengthwise
1 Spring curry leaf
4 Tablespoons Ghee or oil
1 Tablespoon Rai/mustard seeds
1 Onion, thinly sliced
4 Garlic cloves, finely sliced
1 Sprig curry leaves
5-6 Chillies, dried
1 Lemon
Salt to taste

Method:

Making the Dal:

Rinse the lentils in cold water until clear.
Place in a medium saucepan and add the water, coconut milk, turmeric powder, salt, dalchini/cinnamon, tomatoes, and green chillies and curry leaves.
Bring to a boil and simmer until the lentils are cooked. Do not cover the dal as it may spill over.
Add more water as necessary.

Preparing the Tadka:

In a kadhai/wok, heat the ghee or oil on high heat till just beginning to smoke.
Add the mustard seed and cover with a cover to prevent splattering.
Once the seeds have crackled add the onions, garlic, curry leaves and the dried red chillies.
Reduce the heat to medium and fry till the onions turn a golden colour. Take care as the tadka may burn.
Add the lentil mixture to the sautéed spices and allow to simmer gently for a couple of minutes.
Add lime juice and adjust the seasoning with salt. The lentil or dal curry is ready to be enjoyed as an accompaniment to rice.

Lentil – Dal Curry Recipe, Sri Lankan Way

This Sri Lankan Dal Curry recipe tastes amazingly delicious. Easy to make and pairs well with rice and rotis too.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Brunch, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: South Asian, Sri Lankan

Keyword: Curry, Dal- lentils, No meat, Red lentil

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 20

Servings:

Calories:

Author: ArchanaPotdar

Equipment

1 Pressure cooker
1 Tadka pan
1 Spoons and Ladles

Ingredients

For the Dal:

1 ½ cups masoor dal/red lentils
3 cups water
¾ cup coconut milk
2 teaspoons haldi/turmeric powder
1 inch dalchini/cinnamon
2 medium tomatoes chopped
2-3 green chilli halved lengthwise
1 spring curry leaf

For the Tadka:

4 tablespoon ghee or oil
1 tablespoon rai/mustard seeds
1 onion thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves finely sliced
1 sprig curry leaves
5-6 chillies dried
1 lemon
Salt to taste

Instructions

Making the Dal:

Rinse the lentils in cold water until clear.
Place in a medium pressure cooker/ saucepan and add the water, coconut milk, turmeric powder, salt, dalchini/cinnamon, tomatoes, and green chillies and curry leaves.
Pressure cook.

Preparing the Tadka:

In a kadhai/wok, heat the ghee or oil on high heat till just beginning to smoke.
Add the mustard seed and cover with a cover to prevent splattering.
Once the seeds have crackled add the onions, garlic, curry leaves and the dried red chillies.
Reduce the heat to medium and fry till the onions turn a golden colour. Take care as the tadka may burn.
Add the lentil mixture to the sautéed spices and allow to simmer gently for a couple of minutes.
Add lime juice and adjust the seasoning with salt. The lentil or dal curry is ready to be enjoyed as an accompaniment to rice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @themadscientistskitchen or tag #themadscientistkitchen!

Pin For Later:

Red Lentils cooked in a flavourful coconut milk base. The Sri Lankan way with my boiled rice makes a perfect meal

Comments

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Usha says

September 01, 2015 at 5:44 pm

Such a comfort food.

sapana says

September 01, 2015 at 6:42 pm

I can imagine the flavors.yummy

Mireille says

September 02, 2015 at 9:04 am

I fell in love with Sri Lankan dal when I made it many years ago - love the body and thickness from the coconut milk. its very rich and yummy

Sowmya says

September 02, 2015 at 10:10 am

so much similar to our sambar!! very flavorful!!

Gayathri Kumar says

September 02, 2015 at 10:16 am

Looks so yum Archana!

PJ says

September 02, 2015 at 4:01 pm

Looks like out sambar na!!! Good one Archana...

Vaishali says

September 03, 2015 at 7:24 pm

Bookmarking Archana, a new Daal is always welcome.

srividhya says

September 04, 2015 at 9:09 pm

Always the dals are welcome

Priya Srinivasan says

September 07, 2015 at 1:37 pm

Aww, coconut milk in dal, wow arch i m just imagining the flavors, i want to try this!! will let u know how it turns out!!

Pavani says

September 12, 2015 at 5:30 am

Yummy looking Sri Lankan lentil dish. Looks awesome.

Sandhiya says

September 30, 2015 at 2:29 pm

Dal,Comforting food of all time..Looks Yum.

Jayashree T.Rao says

August 21, 2022 at 7:15 pm

Love Sri lankan cuisine, it tastes so good. I must try this lentil dal curry, it must be flavoursome with the coconut milk in it.

- ArchanaPotdar says
  
  August 25, 2022 at 4:03 pm
  
  Thanks, do try Jayashree.
  
Mayuri Patel says

August 22, 2022 at 12:13 am

I made this dal curry with coconut and it was a hit with my family. We enjoyed it with some rice and papad. Coconut milk not only adds a lovely flavour but makes the dal so creamy. Thanks for sharing this easy and delicious recipe.

- ArchanaPotdar says
  
  August 25, 2022 at 4:03 pm
  
  Thanks, Mayuri. Glad you liked it.
  
Seema Sriram says

August 22, 2022 at 9:41 am

This is one of the best from srilankan home cuisine. I love such simple recipe to pair with rice for a meal.

- ArchanaPotdar says
  
  August 25, 2022 at 4:01 pm
  
  😀
  
Priya Vj says

August 23, 2022 at 8:28 am

Coconut milk in dal sounds really interesting. I liked the way sri Lankan recipes use mild but whole spices in most of their cuisines. This dal curry is surely a comfort food on any day

- ArchanaPotdar says
  
  August 25, 2022 at 4:01 pm
  
  😀 true, Priya. Even I love the Sri Lankan cuisine.

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