Chataka Dal

Spicy Maharashtra Toor Dal

Maharashtra cuisine has a special place in my heart and I love simple dals, bhaji, saoji, kohlapuri, and Zunka. Chataka dal is a simple dal with few ingredients but fiery with chili powder tempering. Serve with flatbread or rice.

Large Radish

Key Ingredients

- Toor Dal - Tomato - Mustard Seeds - Asafoetida - Kashmiri chili powder 

View More

Persimmon
Arrow

1

Wash lentils/dal and soak in hot water for 10 minutes, drain and add to sauce pan, add rest of ingredients, cook over medium heat, partially covered, and pressure cook. (Pressure cook depending on the dal used.)

View More

Cook the split peas or lentils

Arrow

2

Add oil to a skillet over medium high heat and check the oil by putting mustard seeds in. If they don't pop out immediately, the oil is too hot, reduce heat a bit and continue. Add cumin seeds and mix well for a few seconds, then reduce the heat to medium and add curry leaves, asafoetida and mix in for another few seconds. If using an electric stove, add in 1 more teaspoon of oil if pan is overheated.

View More

Make the tempering

Arrow

3

Add garlic, Kashmiri chili powder, cayenne and mix in. Drop tadka/tempering into dal and swirl it in. If tempering doesn't have enough oil, add splashes of water to get all of the tempering.

View More

Combine with dal

Arrow

4

Garnish with lemon juice and cilantro and serve immediately, with flatbread, bhakri or rice. This Chataka dal goes incredibly well with rice.

View More

Garnish and serve

Arrow