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A close up of a bowl of masoor dal.

Masoor Dal (Stewed Red Lentils)

Teri & Jenny
A recipe for Masoor dal, or stewed red lentils. This vegetarian dish is loaded with flavor, and it freezes incredibly well.
5 from 9 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Servings 6
Calories 219 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or ghee
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 1 serrano chile, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons dried fenugreek leaves
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 1 quart vegetable stock or chicken stock
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • salt and pepper to taste

garnish

  • 3 tbsp chopped cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Pour oil or ghee into a dutch oven and place over medium-high heat.
  • Add sweet potatoes and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in onions, garlic, ginger, and Serrano chile and continue to sauté for 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir in red lentils, cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and fenugreek leaves and continue to cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until mixture becomes fragrant and slightly smoky in scent.
  • Add diced tomatoes and stock and bring mixture to a boil. Once mixture is boiling, cover and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes or until lentils have softened and mixture has turned into a stew-like consistency. Season with salt and pepper and stir in cilantro.
  • Top with more cilantro and serve with a side of grilled naan or steamed basmati rice.

Notes

Notes: If you'd like your masoor dal more (traditionally) soupy, add an additional 2 to 3 cups of stock to your pot. 
To Freeze and reheat: Completely cool dal before transferring into airtight containers. When ready to use, transfer the frozen  dal into a pot along with 1/2 to 2 cups water or stock. Melt over medium-high heat and boil until completely heated through. Season as needed with salt and pepper. Serve. 

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 10gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 664mgPotassium: 625mgFiber: 12gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 5855IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 4mg
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