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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Sri Lankan Dhal Curry

    Sri Lankan Dhal Curry

    Published: Jan 24, 2018 · Modified: Nov 29, 2021 by Srivalli · 12 Comments

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    Sri Lankan Dhal Curry is a staple dish and is very quick to make. This delicious dhal recipe made with masoor dal is popularly served along with nonveg or any rice or roti.

    Though I had decided to make this dal, I didn't read through the recipe until the morning I decided to make it. I normally stock Masoor, unfortunately, I ran out of it and had to rush out to buy this before making the lunch. Since it was a Sunday meal for us, I had the usual heavy breakfast preparation and by the time I set out to make this simple dish, it was quite late.

    The result was the not-so-impressive final pictures. I was so tired with the house helps cleaning and a hungry husband waiting for his meal, that I quickly clicked pictures randomly and served them. He was saying how I take all the pains to cook and end up getting so tired to click pictures finally! That made me think about how I will ever do my Mega BM that's coming up!

    Anyway, for all the hastiness I had, the meal was good, though I knew it was too bland for Hubby Dear. I wished I had made something spicy from this cuisine!

    That's for next time for sure! I adapted this from mysrilankanrecipe site where the author has recorded all her Srilankan recipes!

    Sri Lankan Dhal Curry
    How to make Sri Lankan Dhal Curry 1
    How to make Sri Lankan Dhal Curry 2

    Sri Lankan Dhal Curry

    Ingredients Needed:

    For the Dal

    3/4 cup Masoor Dal
    1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
    1/2 cup Coconut Milk Thick milk/First Milk
    2 cup Water or increase if needed

    For Tempering

    1/2 cup Onion juliennes
    1/2 cup Tomato finely chopped
    2 to 4 Green Chillies
    Salt to taste
    1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
    1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
    1/2 tsp Fenugreek Seeds / Methi Seeds
    1 Sprig Curry Leaves

    Making the Dal

    Wash the dal and change of water two or three times.
    In a pressure cooker, take the dal along with turmeric powder and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles.
    Once the pressure falls down, add the coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.

    For Tempering
    Heat the oil in a nonstick pan.
    Add the mustard seeds and when it starts to splutter add the cumin seeds along with fenugreek seeds and sauté for 30 seconds.
    Add the curry leaves and greens chilies along with sliced onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
    When onions turn colour add the chopped tomato and sauté for 2 minutes.
    Pour the mixture over the cooked dal.
    Serve hot with Srilankan Yellow Rice or choice of your bread.

    Sri Lankan Meal

    Recipe

    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Sri Lankan Dhal Curry

    Srilanka Dhal Curry is a staple dish and is very quick to make. This delicious dhal recipe made with masoor dal is popularly served along with nonveg or any rice or roti.
    Course Main Dish - Gravies
    Cuisine Srilankan
    By Cook Method Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
    Occasion Everyday Meal
    By Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
    Dish Type Gourmet Dals
    Servings 4 people
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    For the Dal

    • 3/4 cup Masoor Dal
    • 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
    • 1/2 cup Coconut Milk Thick milk /First Milk
    • 2 cup Water or increase if needed

    For Tempering

    • 1/2 cup Onion juliennes
    • 1/2 cup Tomatoes finely chopped
    • 2 to 4 Green Chillies
    • Salt to taste
    • 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
    • 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
    • 1/2 tsp Fenugreek Seeds / Methi Seeds
    • 1 Sprig Curry Leaves

    Instructions

    Making the Dal

    • Wash the dal and changes of water two or three times.
    • In a pressure cooker, take the dal along with turmeric powder and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles.
    • Once the pressure falls down, add the coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.

    For Tempering

    • Heat the oil in a nonstick pan.
    • Add the mustard seeds and when its start to splutter add the cumin seeds along with fenugreek seeds and sauté for 30 seconds.
    • Add the curry leaves and greens chillies along with sliced onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
    • When onions turn colour add the chopped tomato and sauté for 2 minutes.
    • Pour the mixture over the cooked dal.
    • Serve hot with Srilankan Yellow Rice or choice of your bread.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!

    Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. usha says

      January 24, 2018 at 1:57 am

      At times I am even amazed how some of you manage to cook so much and then take pictures as well! Dhal looks good and so does the yellow rice.

      Reply
    2. Preeti says

      January 24, 2018 at 3:04 am

      Love your recipe... looks so mouthwatering n healthy too.

      Reply
    3. Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says

      January 25, 2018 at 12:59 pm

      I feel you! It happens to me always, that I feel tired by the time I cook and click, that sometimes I really don't want to blog! I guess then slowly it becomes cumbersome... slow down and get thinking dear... maybe you should plan better or do something else... the dal looks delicious... want to try this mainly because of he coconut milk... hehe...

      Reply
    4. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      January 26, 2018 at 4:33 am

      Isn't this the story of every food blogger?!! I love Masoor dal and use it very often. I need to try this version now with coconut milk. I am sure the dal would have been so creamy and delicious!

      Reply
    5. Suja Ram says

      January 26, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      Valli, can relate to your state.. Most times, I end up with not-so-good pics or stop Blogging itself for a long time because I could'nt manage time and cannot take any more stress. Dal with coconut milk sounds nice.

      Reply
    6. Mireille Roc (@ChefMireille) says

      January 27, 2018 at 12:54 am

      I made a similar Sri Lankan style dal that I will be posting later Your version looks just as delicious. Love the richness the coconut milk adds to dal

      Reply
    7. Harini-Jaya R says

      January 27, 2018 at 6:12 am

      Wow! coconut milk in dal? I already love it. I am so trying it soon.

      Reply
    8. Pavani says

      January 27, 2018 at 8:28 am

      I love dals with coconut milk, makes them sooo creamy and delicious.

      Reply
    9. Priya Kumar says

      January 27, 2018 at 11:41 am

      Dal looks yummy with rice. Again coconut milk in dal no idea how it would taste. But it definitely a new variety of making masoor dal/lentil. With BM you have already created a base Srivalli. You can do easily, don't worry.

      Reply
    10. Priya Suresh says

      January 27, 2018 at 7:42 pm

      Even am was tempted to cook this dhal while i was looking for a dhal curry in SInhalese cuisine. Will definitely make this dhal soon.

      Reply
    11. Padmajha PJ says

      January 27, 2018 at 8:35 pm

      Fortunately I have more than a kilo of masoor dal in the pantry right now. I think I will try this out tomorrow itself. And as you said, the energy we put into cooking a dish diminishes by the time we click it. Yes, mega marathon clicks are giving me chills now!!!

      Reply
    12. Sapana Behl says

      January 31, 2018 at 4:42 pm

      Curied masoor dal looks very inviting an must have tasted amazing with rice.

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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