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Dal Explained: A beginner's guide to cooking with lentils

  • by S R

Wholefoods & Cooking · 3 Min Read

Dal Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Cooking With Lentils

One pot, a few spices, and whichever lentil is already in your pantry.

Dal looks simple and it is. Lentils simmered until soft, finished with a few warm spices. But the result can be thin and soupy or thick and stew-like, depending on which lentil you use.

Getting dal right, without the guesswork

A few small habits make the difference. Rinse your lentils, add turmeric early, and hold off on salt until the lentils have softened.

Dal rewards repetition more than precision. Make it a few times with one lentil, then switch it up.

A quick tempering of onion, garlic and cumin, stirred in at the end, makes the biggest difference in the whole recipe.

Serves 4

Simple Turmeric Red Lentil Dal

A warm, everyday dal that comes together in one pot with pantry spices. No soaking required.

Short on time or new to cooking with pulses? Swap the red split lentils for a scoop of our Soup Mix, a ready-blended mix of lentils and beans that cooks up into dal just as easily.

1Add the lentils, water and turmeric to a pot and bring to a gentle simmer.
2Cook uncovered 18 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and thickened.
3Meanwhile, warm the oil and soften the onion, garlic and cumin until fragrant.
4Stir the onion mixture into the pot and season with salt to taste.
5Simmer 5 more minutes, loosening with extra water if needed.
6Finish with coriander and serve over rice or with warm flatbread.

Ways to serve it

A few easy ways to make dal the whole meal:

Over steamed rice Scooped with flatbread Thinned into soup

Make dal a few times with one lentil, then switch it up. That is the easiest way to build real confidence in the kitchen.

At a glance

Lentil Cook time Best for
Red split 18–20 min Smooth, creamy dal
Yellow split peas 25–30 min Thicker, heartier dal
Green & brown 30–35 min Chunky, stew-like dal

Shop Red Split Lentils
Shop Yellow Split Peas
Shop Green & Brown Lentils
Shop our Soup Mix

Shop the lentils and pantry staples mentioned in this post at Maven Wholefoods.

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