Growing up in an Indian household, lentils were a staple for dinner. From different types of curried dals (soups) to home-made tortilla stuffed with lentils, they were always incorporated into our Indian meals. I’m thankful to my mom for introducing us to the flavors of different lentils early on, and I have tried to do the same with my kids. Lentils are a great source of nutrients and protein, each one being slightly different in taste and nutrition than the other. I try to cook Indian food (specifically traditional Gujarati Indian Food) twice a week in our house. Not only is it one of the most nutritious plant-based meals consisting of veggies and lentils, but it’s also very quick and easy for me to make. I know you’ve heard me say this before, but I don’t post nearly enough Indian recipes, mainly because it’s second nature to me and I rarely write down the recipe when I make it. So here’s me bringing more Gujarati dishes to you passed down from my mom, starting with this Curried Black Lentil (Urad) Soup!
Whole black lentils, also known as urad or black garam, are very similar to whole mung beans in size and shape, but are very different in taste and texture. I’ve posted a previous recipe using split black lentils without the skin (Urad Dal Soup), but this recipe is very different in taste, texture, and flavor since the lentils are still skinned. Urad dal has great health benefits, which is why I love incorporating them into our meals. It’s is one of the richest sources of proteins and Vitamin B, and contains iron, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. It’s also rich in fiber, making it easy to digest.
Curry leaves, black mustard seeds, onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, and a few other spices all come together with the cooked black lentils to bring you this delicious, hearty, creamy, and flavorful curried soup! It’s a favorite for my entire family. When my kids were babies, I used to serve them a pureed version of this soup and they loved it! I typically plan ahead and cook a bunch of whole black lentils (see notes section in the recipe below on how to cook them) at once in my pressure cooker and freeze them for later use. Once I’m ready to make this soup, I simply pull the cooked lentils out the night before, place in the fridge to defrost, and make this recipe for a quick meal. I’m also loving the new plant full of curry leaves growing in my yard. They smell wonderful and bring so much flavor to dishes such as this one! You can serve this soup (dal) with a side of your favorite vegetable dish (such as the Curried Tindora & Spiced Fresh Jalapenos pictured above), or simply enjoy it with a slice of toasted bread.
Who doesn’t love a bowl of comforting lentil soup? Especially one that’s healthy, tasty, and easy to make! What’s your favorite lentil?
- 2 cups cooked whole black urad dal , also known as black gram or black lentil (see notes below)
- 1 cup white onion , finely chopped
- 1 roma tomato , finely chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teasp ginger , freshly grated
- 4-5 curry leaves
- 1 tbsp green jalapeno chili , finely chopped OR red chili powder for spice (optional )
- 1 teasp black mustard seeds
- 1/4 teasp asafetida or hing powder , optional (may need to omit for gluten-free , see notes below)
- 1/2 teasp ground turmeric
- 1.5 teasp ground cumin
- 2 teasp fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 tbsp jaggery , or dark brown sugar or raw sugar
- 1/2 teasp salt , to taste
- 2 tbsp cooking oil , such as grapeseed oil
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro + some for garnish
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In a large non-stick pot, heat the oil on medium heat.
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Tear the curry leaves in half and add it to the pot, along with the black mustard seeds and asafetida. Fry for a few seconds until fragrant.
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Immediately add the garlic and ginger. Fry for a few seconds. Add the onions and green jalapeno chili. Saute until fragrant and the onions start to become translucent. Be sure not to burn the mixture. If you find this happening, either add some more oil or turn down the heat.
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Add the cooked black lentils, 1 cup water, turmeric powder, and salt. Combine and bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Turn down the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer.
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Add the chopped tomato, ground cumin powder, lemon juice, and jaggery.
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Continue to simmer on low heat. uncovered, until some of the water boils off and the soup becomes thick in consistency (about 10-20 min), mixing occasionally. If you start to feel the soup becoming too thick, you can add a little more water.
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Add the chopped cilantro. If needed, season once more with salt, lemon juice, and/or jaggery to taste. Simmer for additional 3-5 minutes.
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Garnish with some fresh cilantro and serve warm with some fresh roti, naan, or toasted french bread.
To Cook Black Lentils - Add the black lentils in a bowl. Wash and soak in water for about 20-30 minutes. Drain the water and cook using one of two methods: (1) Pressure Cooker , or (2) Pot of boiling water. Cook the Dal until soft, but not mushy. Drain the water after cooking the dal.
I typically cook a bunch at once in my pressure cooker, cool, and freeze leftover plain cooked black lentils in a freezer bag. Then simply thaw and use to make this soup for a quick meal when needed.
Asafetida (hing) - Although this powder is naturally gluten-free, it is almost always manufactured by diluting it significantly with wheat flour. There are some brands you can find that make it with rice flour. If you are uncertain and have a gluten-free diet, then you can easily omit this ingredient.
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