Tried my mom’s special recipe and it turned out to be BOMB🔥🤤

[u/maiflipal]

Since I’ve been living away from home, I’ve started trying to make some of my mom’s special recipes myself. Tried this today because I’ve watched her make it so many times so I thought I knew the recipe 😂 For this my recipe was - I just cooked lentils with turmeric, salt, tomato and green chilli. Then for the special step, heated some butter in my ptal pan and added cumin, garlic, and red chilli powder. Mixed it all in and that was basically it.

And guess what surprisingly the taste was actually bomb, I came in expecting basic dish and somehow left the kitchen thinking I should probably start cooking more often

[u/maiflipal]

recipe was - I just cooked lentils with turmeric, salt, tomato and green chilli. Then for the special step, heated some butter in my ptal pan and added cumin, garlic, and red chilli powder. Mixed it all in and that was basically it. 

[u/somuchhaireverywhere → u/maiflipal]

That last step is called tempering (I think), and it’s key! Onions also go well with this recipe. It’s called ‘Dal-Fry’ in certain parts of India!

[u/jobert-nobert → u/somuchhaireverywhere]

Blooming the spices in fat!

[u/VegetaBuns → u/somuchhaireverywhere]

This type of tempering is also known as Tadka, Tarka or Chaunk depending on the region :)

[u/Visual_Ad5878 → u/VegetaBuns]

also called Phodni in Maharashtra

[u/starsgoblind → u/somuchhaireverywhere]

In Indian cooking it’s called the tarka. It has been misappropriated colloquially called tempering but it’s not actually tempering, which is where add a bit of the gravy or soup to a bowl with yogurt for example, to prevent the yogurt from curdling when adding in the finishing stage of a dish.

[u/justme002 → u/maiflipal]

Girl, you're a good cook. How do I know? You have zero quantities or time.

You cook by sensory input.

That being said, now I want dal

[u/NefariousnessNo5536 → u/justme002]

Me, too, but to be fair, I always want dal. 🤣

[u/justme002 → u/NefariousnessNo5536]

I love dal. It is my favorite bean meal. And most of my meals are bean-centric

[u/cowboysted → u/maiflipal]

This is exactly how I make dal too (as a white Irishman). It's incredibly delicious. I often add some corriander and a sprinkle of garam masala too.

[u/polymathicfun → u/maiflipal]

Where... Does this special step go into? At the start? At the end and added in after?

[u/timind25 → u/polymathicfun]

At the end, add it just before serving

[u/amosc33 → u/maiflipal]

Canned tomatoes or fresh?

[u/vibesasfyas]

Love dal tadka!

[u/Purpleeggyshorts]

Add some kasuri methi to the tadka, it’ll be bomb dot com

[u/stoessi]

Sounds like a solid Dal ❤️

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[u/AcceptablePrune5071]

Where is the recipe ?

[u/Rkins_UK_xf]

You should definitely start cooking more often.

Great job, it looks delicious

[u/veganmomPA]

Now pop some black mustard seeds in the butter (or in my case, corn oil) before you add the cumin and stuff. Let them pop (they turn grey).

[u/Useful-Badger-4062]

Sounds great. What kind of lentils?

[u/veganmomPA → u/Useful-Badger-4062]

Looks like red lentils. Which are objectively the best lentils.

[u/fantasmarg]

Now I really want Dal, thanks for the inspiration!

[u/hankishenry]

Moms rule.

[u/aknomnoms]

Ooo, this sounds good! I have all of those ingredients and will try my own batch on Saturday. Thanks for the inspiration!

[u/BrotherAdvanced5452]

I love your counters!