Yellow Lentil Dal with Cumin-Scented Rice

A fragrant and quick-cooking Indian yellow lentil dal, subtly spiced and creamy, served alongside fluffy basmati rice infused with cumin.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 30 min
• Servings: 4
• Cuisine: Indian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $1.66/serving

Dietary

• Dairy-Free
• Egg-Free
• Gluten-Free
• Halal
• High-Fiber
• High-Protein
• Kosher
• Low-Sugar
• Nut-Free
• Pescatarian
• Soy-Free
• Vegan
• Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 0.5 yellow onion (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (minced)
• 2 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.5 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 cup split lentils (rinsed)
• 3 cup vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup basmati rice (rinsed)
• 2 cup water
• 0.5 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
• 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro (chopped)

Instructions

1. For the Dal: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium pot or Instant Pot on sauté mode over medium heat. Add the finely chopped yellow onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Stir in the minced fresh ginger and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the ground turmeric and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, stir for 30 seconds.
3. Add the rinsed split lentils and 3 cups of vegetable broth to the pot. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes on the stovetop, or pressure cook for 5 minutes with a natural release, until lentils are tender. The dal should be thick and creamy; add a splash of water or broth if it's too thick.
4. For the Cumin-Scented Rice: While the dal cooks, combine 1 cup rinsed basmati rice, 2 cups water, and 1/2 teaspoon whole cumin seeds in a rice cooker. Cook according to manufacturer's instructions. If using the stovetop, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Fluff the rice with a fork once cooked. Serve the warm Yellow Lentil Dal over the cumin-scented basmati rice, garnished with fresh cilantro if desired.

Notes

If you prefer a smoother dal, you can use an immersion blender to partially blend it after cooking. Adjust the spice level with a pinch of cayenne pepper if you enjoy more heat.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 480
• Protein: 24.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fat: 11.5 g
• Fiber: 15 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Sugar: 2 g