Masoor Dal (Split Red Lentils)
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Quick-cooking with a mild flavor and hearty texture. A pantry staple of the Indian kitchen.
We've been slowly expanding our lentil offerings, and we find we love each new variety more than the last. These tender, flavorful lentils are easy to love, and have quickly become a staff favorite.
According to Indian chef Arnab Chakladar:
"Masoor dal is typically used in South Asia in one of two variants: either whole and unpeeled (these look like tiny dirty brown pebbles) or split and peeled (these span the colour gamut from orange to red to pink). Despite starting out on the orange-red-pink spectrum, split masoor dal will turn yellow when cooked (and will also completely fall apart when cooked).
The word 'dal' both refers to the ingredient (lentils) and to one specific class of dishes made with the ingredient ('stewed' lentils)."
To learn more about masoor dal from an expert, check out this post with cooking advice and variations.
Please note: These lentils were harvested on equipment shared with wheat. We are finding some wheat kernels mixed in with the lentils and if wheat is an allergen for you, we recommend avoiding this crop. As with all our crops, we recommend sorting and checking for organic debris, and rinsing well.
Cooking Suggestions
Use in your favorite Indian recipes, stews, and curries
From the Rancho Gordo Kitchen
You don’t have to make Indian/South Asian dishes with red split lentils, but we've found a simple dal with turmeric, cumin, and onion is hard to beat.
Cooking Instructions
Check lentils for debris, and rinse thoroughly. For a thicker dal, use 3 cups of water for 1 cup of lentils. For a soupier dal, you can go up to 5 cups of water for 1 cup of lentils. Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, if desired. Bring to a full boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer, using a lid to help regulate the heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft, 20 to 30 minutes. Salt to taste. To finish, in a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon ghee or oil over medium heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds and saute until fragrant. Add 4 tablespoons chopped onion; when browned, mix in with the cooked dal.
Latin name
Lens culinaris
Country of origin
Canada
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