Have you tried this delicious Sri Lankan Dal Curry? Simple and delicious!
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
Equipment
- 1 Pressure cooker
- 1 Tadka pan
- 1 Spoons and Ladles
Ingredients
For the Dal:
- 1 ½ cups red lentils masoor dal
- 3 cups water
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 2 medium Tomatoes chopped
- 2-3 green chilli halved lengthwise
- 1 curry leaf spring
For the Tadka:
- 4 tablespoon ghee or oil
- 1 tablespoon rmustard seeds
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
- 1 curry leaves sprig
- 5-6 dried red chillies
- 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.
Pin For Later:
Usha says
Such a comfort food.
sapana says
I can imagine the flavors.yummy
Mireille says
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
so much similar to our sambar!! very flavorful!!
Gayathri Kumar says
Looks so yum Archana!
PJ says
Looks like out sambar na!!! Good one Archana...
Vaishali says
Bookmarking Archana, a new Daal is always welcome.
srividhya says
Always the dals are welcome
Priya Srinivasan says
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
Yummy looking Sri Lankan lentil dish. Looks awesome.
Sandhiya says
Dal,Comforting food of all time..Looks Yum.
Jayashree T.Rao says
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
Thanks, do try Jayashree.
Mayuri Patel says
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
Thanks, Mayuri. Glad you liked it.
Seema Sriram says
This is one of the best from srilankan home cuisine. I love such simple recipe to pair with rice for a meal.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Priya Vj says
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
😀 true, Priya. Even I love the Sri Lankan cuisine.