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32 Quick and Easy Indian Recipes - The Spruce Eats
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yellow split pea dal
Vegetarians and vegans have lots of options in Indian cuisine, many of which couldn't be easier. This version of <anchor>yellow split pea dal</anchor> requires just a handful of ingredients, simmered together until soft and fragrant. It's also gluten-free, especially if you an additive-free broth.
Indian Yellow Split Pea Dal Recipe
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# Indian Yellow Split Pea Dal

By

Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.

Updated on 08/22/24

Tested by

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Total: 50 mins

Servings: 4 servings

Yield: 2 cups

174 ratings

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Cook up an easy vegetarian yellow split pea dal for dinner. Dal (sometimes spelled dahl or dhal) is a staple of Indian vegetarian cuisine and the spice lists can get lengthy. This recipe is nice and simple, requiring just a handful of common ingredients to create a flavorful dal featuring yellow split peas.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

The dish is straightforward. You'll begin by simmering the yellow split peas with turmeric, cayenne, and salt. Then, you'll make a tadka (a tempered mix of onion, cumin, and clove) that's added to the split pea dal to give it a great flavor. It does have a bit of a kick, and you can eliminate or reduce the cayenne for a milder version. For vegan diets, make sure the margarine you're using doesn't contain animal-derived ingredients. Use water or an additive-free vegetable broth, and this recipe is also gluten-free.​

Serve the dal with rice for a simple vegetarian Indian meal, or add extra liquid and cook it a little longer to make the dal more like a soup. Add a side of paneer pakoras or baked samosas, and you'll have a complete Indian meal that's still light and flavorful.

## Do Yellow Split Peas Need to Be Soaked or Rinsed Before Cooking?

Generally, split peas do not need to be soaked because they're small and cook quicker than other legumes. Some people prefer to soak split peas, either for a few hours or overnight, and this can reduce the cooking time. Rinsing is a good idea if you're not soaking them. Pick through the split peas first and remove any debris that found its way into the package, then rinse quickly in a colander to wash away dirt.

## What's the Difference Between Yellow Split Peas and Yellow Lentils?

Both split peas and lentils are pulses (dried legumes). They break down well and are called dal in Indian cuisine; dalis also used to describe the stew-like dishes that feature the pulses. While the yellow varieties of each look similar, they are from different plants.

- Split peas are field peas that are grown specifically to be dried. The whole round pea is split in half before packaging for quicker cooking. Green split peas are a little sweet, while yellow split peas are mild and somewhat earthy.
- Yellow lentils are a little more confusing and may be different depending on where you shop. The name may refer to any yellow-colored lentil or a specific variety, such as mung dalor toor dal. Lentils are flatter than peas and are often packaged split. If they have a red interior, yellow lentils might be called red lentils once split. To make it even more confusing, sometimes split lentils are labeled "yellow split peas" in international food markets.

What You'll Need to Make This Indian Split Pea Dal Recipe

"This dish was tasty and easy to fix. I used water, but vegetable broth would give it richer flavor. This dish uses plain yellow split peas, not chana dal (split chickpeas) or toor dal (split pigeon peas). If using other kinds of yellow split peas, the cooking time might have to be adjusted." — Diana Rattray

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

## Ingredients

- 1cupyellow split peas (uncooked)

- 2cupswater (or vegetable broth)

- 1teaspoonturmeric

- 1/4teaspooncayenne

- 1/2teaspoonsalt, plus more to taste

- 1tablespoonmargarine

- 1mediumonion, diced

- 1 1/2teaspoons cumin, whole seeds or ground

- 2whole cloves

- Dashpepper, to taste

## Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

2. In a large pot, combine 1 cup yellow split peas (uncooked) and 2 cups water or vegetable broth. Bring to a slow simmer.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

3. Add 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and cover.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

4. Cook for at least 20 minutes, covered, until the yellow split peas are fully cooked, stirring occasionally. If you prefer a smoother texture, continue to cook the dal for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to allow the yellow split peas to break up even more.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

5. Once the split peas are almost done, in a separate large skillet or frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon margarine and add 1 medium onion (diced), 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, and 2 whole cloves. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the onion is soft.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

6. Add the spiced onion mixture to the split peas, and allow to simmer for at least 5 more minutes.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

7. Add a dash of pepper and more salt, if desired, and serve hot with rice or alone in a soup bowl. Enjoy!

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

### Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

- No split peas, no problem! - Yellow lentils will work great in this recipe, but will likely need a little less time to cook.
- Soak first- When using whole peas, soak them first or extend the cooking time.
- Add spices-If you happen to have asafoetida hing spice on hand, add a little to the onion mixture during the last 30 seconds of cooking for extra flavor.
- Add tomatoes- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to the dal along with the tadka.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)222Calories4g Fat36g Carbs13g Protein

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Nutrition FactsServings: 4Amount per servingCalories222% Daily Value*Total Fat 4g5%Saturated Fat 1g3%Cholesterol 0mg0%Sodium 608mg26%Total Carbohydrate 36g13%Dietary Fiber 13g47%Total Sugars 6gProtein 13gVitamin C 3mg14%Calcium 36mg3%Iron 3mg19%Potassium 500mg11%*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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