V's Crockpot Lentil Recipe
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: crockpot, slow cooker, lentils, dinner, lunch, entree
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 3-4
Ingredients
What you need for the slow cooker:
  • 1 cup split pigeon peas (toovar dal)
  • 3.5 cups water
  • 3 roma tomatoes, cut in big slices
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • Salt, to taste
For the tadka, you need:
  • 3 garlic cloves, cut lengthwise, in slivers
  • 2-3 tbsp ghee (V adds more, I think but, so that I don't freak out he mentioned a "smaller" amount)
  • 3 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1-2 tsp red chilli powder
Instructions
  1. Take the dal (split pigeon peas), and wash it properly. Add the water, tomatoes, turmeric and salt. Put the lid on the crockpot and turn it on HIGH. Let cook for 4 hours.
  2. After 4 hours, the lentil should be cooked. Now comes the part that holds the key to the dal being so freakingly good.
The secret to his dal, according to V is the tadka (the tempering of spices).
  1. To temper, heat clarified butter (ghee) to a real hot temperature in a saucepan. Add the garlic, fry til they turn brown. Add the cumin, coriander and red chilli powder. (You might want to open a window, because the spices do tend to get into your system). Fry till it looks a little burnt. (I confirmed with V and he said thats how its supposed to be.)
  2. Add the burnt looking tempered spices to the crockpot and quickly close the lid. After a few seconds, lift the lid- with a ladle take out some dal and put in the saucepan used for tempering. Scrape out any remaining spices in the saucepan, and add the liquid back to the crock pot.
  3. Serve it warm with rice and some curd. The dal has a very strong flavor of garlic but I think thats what adds to the beauty of it. :)
Variations:
  1. These days besides the tadka/tempering ingredients above, I also add the following- pinch hing, 1 tsp ginger julienned, 2-3 dried red chillies, 1 small onion finely chopped, 1 tsp sambhar powder. After I add the ghee, I add the cumin seeds and hing and let sizzle. Then I add the dried red chillies, followed by the onions and cook till translucent. Then I add the ginger and cook till ginger changes it color slightly, sprinkle in the sambhar powder- saute for a few seconds and then add it to the dal. Instead of coriander powder I add fresh dhania to the dal.
Recipe by The Novice Housewife at https://novicehousewife.com/2011/01/19/a-bachelors-answer-to-home-made-meal-vs-crockpot-lentil-recipe/