Red Split Lentils Recipe (Masoor Dal)

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 4 ½ cups water, divided
• 1 cup red lentils (masoor dal), rinsed
• ½ cup finely chopped red onion (Optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (Optional)
• ½ teaspoon cayenne powder (Optional)
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 cup broccoli florets (Optional)
• 1 cup diced tomatoes (Optional)
• 1 cup frozen peas (Optional)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms (Optional)
• 1 tablespoon peeled, finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, finely grated

Step 1

Rins the rice a few times until the water runs clear, then soak it in a bowl of water for at least 15 minutes, or up to an hour if you have the time. Once soaked, drain the rice. In a large pot, combine the red lentils with 3 cups of water and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. You might notice some foam on top—just skim that off as it forms. Add the chopped onion along with cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and turmeric. Turn the heat down to low, cover the pot partially, and let it simmer until the lentils are tender, about half an hour.

Step 2

Stir in the broccoli, tomatoes, peas, and a bit more salt. Keep cooking, stirring often, until the lentils are really soft and everything is well combined, which should take another 30 minutes or so. Meanwhile, take the drained rice and put it in a separate pot with 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to the lowest setting, cover tightly, and let it cook until the rice is tender and all the water is absorbed—about 20 minutes.

Step 3

While the rice is cooking, heat some oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, ginger, and garlic, cooking and stirring for a few minutes until everything smells amazing. Pour this mixture over the lentils and give it a good stir. Let the lentils cook together with the mushrooms and spices for another 5 minutes so the flavors meld nicely. Serve the lentils alongside the rice and enjoy!