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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Curry

    Yellow Lentil Dahl

    Published: Sep 24, 2020 · Updated: Jul 27, 2022 by Neil 10 Comments

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    A bowl of yellow lentil dahl / dal tadka with serving spoons beside and a bowl of rice. Pin title text overlay at top.
    Two bowls of yellow lentil dahl with a bowl of rice to the side and spoons to eat with. Pin title text overlay at top.

    Yellow lentil dahl. This is an easy to make healthy and hearty vegan curry recipe. Delicious served with rice, naan or on its own!

    Two bowls of yellow lentil dahl one in front of the other garnished with coriander. A bowl of rice and spoons to the left hand side.

    Folks, today's recipe is my yellow lentil dahl.

    This curry is full of deliciousness as well as being one that I can guarantee will stick to your bones.

    You'll be left feeling satisfied and content after you've enjoyed a bowl of this.

    It's a really easy vegan yellow lentil dal recipe to make.

    There's cinnamon, ginger, chilli, garlic and turmeric all added to this yellow curry making it so flavourful!

    And doesn't it look so bright and cheery too?

    A bowl of yellow lentil dahl garnished with coriander at the front. Serving spoons to the left, a bowl of rice and salt and pepper cellars in the background.

    It's been over six years since I published my extremely popular and tasty low fat Indian dahl.

    That dahl was made from red lentils.

    This yellow lentil dahl is made from yellow lentils. Also known as yellow split peas.

    This dahl made from yellow lentils is more traditionally known as a yellow dal Indian recipe called Dal Tadka.

    It's a much simpler and healthier version though not requiring the use of Ghee for tempering which is often used in Indian cooking.

    Dal is a common staple in most Indian households as it's so cheap and versatile.

    Close up of a bowl of yellow lentil dahl garnished with coriander.

    You can practically make dahls from any lentils.

    Just check out my list of other lentil dahl recipes I've made further down this post.

    Being brought up in Scotland I always thought yellow split peas / yellow split lentils were for soup only.

    A classics lentil soup like yellow split pea and ham soup was served often.

    Little did I know until I developed my passion for cooking that they were versatlile enough to make excellent curries like this yellow lentil dahl!

    Birds eye view of two bowls of yellow lentil dahl garnished with coriander. A bowl of rice and spoons to the left.

    Indian recipes like this yellow lentil curry are great addition to your list of healthy recipes.

    This version of yellow dal tadka is a classic Indian food using many Indian spices to create classic Indian cuisine.

    You'll find this recipe a great comfort food suitable for all the family.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Why This Yellow Lentil Dahl Is Good For You
    • How To Make Yellow Lentil Dahl
    • FAQ's
    • My Other Lentil Dahl Recipes You Might Also Like
    • Yellow Lentil Dahl Recipe
    • Nutrition Label
    • Rate The Recipe

    Ingredients

    • Yellow Split Peas / Pigeon Peas
    • Vegetable Oil
    • Cinnamon Stick
    • Onion
    • Ginger And Garlic Paste
    • Chilli Powder
    • Green Chilli / Green Chili Peppers
    • Red Chilli / Red Chili Peppers
    • Turmeric
    • Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
    • Water
    • Freshly Ground Salt And Black Pepper
    • Coriander / Cilantro (optional garnish)

    See recipe card for the actual quantites of ingredients for this yellow lentils recipe.

    Substitutions

    • Yellow Split Peas / Pigeon Peas - you could also substitute with toor dal or moong dal / mung dal (cooking time may differ).
    • Vegetable Oil - I don't recommend olive oil here for an Indian dish but canola oil would be an ideal substitute.
    • Cinnamon Stick - you could use a pinch of cinnamon powder instead but not too much or it will make the dal recipe powdery.
    • Onion
    • Ginger And Garlic Paste - if you don't have the paste just finely grate some fresh ginger and mix with crushed cloves garlic.
    • Chilli Powder - I use red chili powder.
    • Green Chilli / Green Chili Peppers - if you don't have a fresh green chili pepper you could add a little curry powder instead.
    • Red Chilli / Red Chili Peppers - you can use dried chilli flakes, red pepper flakes if you want or red chilies.
    • Turmeric
    • Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
    • Water
    • Freshly Ground Salt And Black Pepper
    • Coriander / Cilantro (optional garnish)

    Why This Yellow Lentil Dahl Is Good For You

    • Made from yellow split peas they're are a member of the pulse family.
    • Pulses such as yellow split peas are highly nutritious and healthy.
    • High in fibre and protein they're also a great source of various vitamins and minerals whilst being low in fats.
    • Eating a diet with more pulses in can help reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
    • Pulses are said to be extremely beneficial to your diet to help you maintain a healthy weight.

    How To Make Yellow Lentil Dahl

    Detailed instructions for this easy yellow lentil dal recipe are in the full recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to quickly make the recipe:

    1. Rinse the yellow split peas in cold water.
    2. Heat oil. Add cinnamon stick, onion and ginger and garlic paste. Sauté until the onion is softened.
    3. Stir in yellow split peas, chilli powder, chopped chillies and turmeric. Then add the tomatoes, stirring well.
    4. Remove cinnamon stick, pour in cups of water. Bring to the boil and simmer over a medium heat the split peas have softened and broken down.
    5. Press the split peas against the edge of the pan with the back of a spoon to speed up the cooking or mash them if you like.
    6. Season to taste, stir in the coriander and serve with Indian breads or basmati rice.

    FAQ's

    What To Serve With This Yellow Lentils Recipe?

    Simply serve this yellow lentil dahl with some plain basmati rice, jeera rice or any other kind of white rice if you're looking to keep things simple

    Or if you're feeling a little more adventurous then why not make some home made naan bread to compliment?

    How To Store Lentil Dahl?

    You can store this dahl in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 - 5 days.

    Can You Freeze Lentil Dahl?

    Yes. I like to portion it up into individual containers before freezing. That way it's easy to take out what I need to reheat for a quick easy recipe for dinner.

    How To Reheat Dahl?

    Make sure it's fully defrosted first then you can either reheat it in a small pan or in your microwave.

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    My Other Lentil Dahl Recipes You Might Also Like

    • Mung bean (moong dall) dahl is an absolutely delicious vegan curry. As a quick healthy meal it’s ready in an hour and for those watching their waistlines it comes in at only 259 calories per serving!
    • Green lentil dahl is simply delicious, mouth-watering and perfect as a meat free dinner. Filling and with just the right amount of chilli spice, even meat eaters will find this agreeable too!
    • One pot chickpea and red lentil dahl is just packed with flavour. A delicious easy healthy and vegan recipe that’s great served with rice or naan breads!
    • One pot vegetable dhal is a delicious healthy and easy to make weeknight dinner. This vegan recipe serves up to six and goes great with some naan breads!
    Two bowls of yellow lentil dahl one in front of the other garnished with coriander. A bowl of rice and spoons to the left hand side.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    5 from 7 votes

    Yellow Lentil Dahl Recipe

    Yellow lentil dahl. This is an easy to make healthy and hearty vegan curry recipe. Delicious served with rice, naan bread or on its own!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time50 mins
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 329kcal
    Author: Neil

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Kitchen scale
    • Measuring spoons
    • Chopping board
    • Kitchen knives
    • Sieve
    • Saucepans
    • Wooden spoon

    Ingredients

    • 300 g yellow split peas
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 1 small onion diced
    • 1 tablespoon ginger and garlic paste
    • 1 teaspoon chilli powder
    • 1 small green chilli deseeded and finely chopped*
    • 1 small red chilli deseeded and finely chopped*
    • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 tin chopped tomatoes drained
    • 1 L water
    • Freshly ground salt and pepper
    • 1 tablespoon fresh coriander chopped
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Rinse the yellow split peas in cold water.
    • Gently heat the oil in a medium sized pan then add the cinnamon stick, onion and ginger and garlic paste. Sauté for 4 -5 minutes until the onion is softened.
    • Stir in the rinsed yellow split peas, chilli powder, chopped chillies and turmeric. Cook everything together, stirring for 2 - 3 minutes. Then add the drained tomatoes and cook again, stirring for another 2 - 3 minutes.
    • Remove cinnamon stick, pour in the water, and bring to the boil then turn down to simmer for about 40 minutes until the split peas have softened and broken down.
    • Press the split peas against the edge of the pan with the back of a spoon to speed up the cooking or mash them if you like.
    • Season to taste, stir in the coriander and serve with Indian breads or basmati rice.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Notes

    *Leave the seeds in if you want a hotter curry.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 223mg | Potassium: 1032mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 539IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 5mg

    Nutrition Label

    Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.

    Nutrition Facts
    Yellow Lentil Dahl
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 329 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Sodium 223mg10%
    Potassium 1032mg29%
    Carbohydrates 55g18%
    Fiber 22g92%
    Sugar 11g12%
    Protein 20g40%
    Vitamin A 539IU11%
    Vitamin C 30mg36%
    Calcium 96mg10%
    Iron 5mg28%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Rate The Recipe

    If you’ve made this yellow lentil dahl recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.

    I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

    Related

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David @ Spiced

      September 24, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      5 stars
      This curry sounds delicious, Neil! We're hitting soup season here with the evenings getting rather chilly. A good bowl of this curry would be the ideal comfort food on a cold night. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Neil

        September 25, 2020 at 6:35 am

        Just put the heating back on here today David so that's likely on for the rest of winter! Yep, there'll be plenty of hot soups too. Glad you like the recipe. Thanks for the comment!

        Reply
    2. Ron

      September 28, 2020 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      Neil, we just had our first major cold snap come through today so your Yellow Lentil Dahl is looking mighty tasty. Ham and pea soup is hughly popular over our way as well. It's common for families to have ham and pea soup Thursday nights and then waffles with jam and whipped cream for dessert. So, I'm going with your dahl this Thursday and still having waffles for dessert...

      Reply
      • Neil

        September 28, 2020 at 3:46 pm

        It's not exactly warm here either Ron. As I said to David in the previous comment I'd just put the heating back on. And it's still on! Enjoy the dahl and of course the waffles, jam and whipped cream for dessert after! Ha ha! 🙂

        Reply
    3. ChefMimi

      September 30, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is a beautiful Dahl. I love all lentils, and the yellow are so pretty. I’m not vegan, so I’d have to add a dollop of sour cream on top!

      Reply
      • Neil

        October 01, 2020 at 6:08 am

        Thanks Mimi. If you love all lentils, you'll especially love this dahl! We're not vegan either but try to eat less meat and more veggies nowadays. Both from a health and trying to have less impact on the planet perspective.

        Reply
    4. Laura

      October 02, 2020 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      Neil, I'm a huge fan of legumes, and lentils are one of my all-time favorites. But I've never cooked yellow lentils. I love all of the flavors and spice levels you've included here, this dish looks and sounds delicious!

      Reply
      • Neil

        October 04, 2020 at 3:29 pm

        Thanks Laura. With you being a huge fan of lentils I can guarantee that you will love this yellow lentil dahl! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jeff the Chef

      October 04, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      5 stars
      We just put our heat on for the first time of the season, too! And I just got back from apple picking, and I needed a coat and gloves. So, time for soup! I've never had a soup like this before, I don;t think. It does look like the perfect thing for sopping up with naan.

      Reply
      • Neil

        October 05, 2020 at 5:26 am

        Definitely time to consider a coat and gloves Jeff! This isn't actually a soup, so to speak. It's an Indian Dahl. A thick lentil curry. But if you think it's more of a soup to you, I'm fine with that as long as you enjoy it!

        Reply

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