Masoor dal is a split red lentils, widely used in Asian cuisine, particularly in Indian. Lentil is a good source of protein and fiber. These lentils do not need to soak overnight, they cook very quickly, so the recipe is perfect for everyday cooking. Adding aromatic Asian spices enhances lentils’ taste and brings loads of flavour to the soup! Rich, amazingly good vegetarian thick soup; you should give this recipe a try! 🙂
Masoor dal (red lentil) Soup
You can skip chilli if you don’t want the soup hot, or add more if you like it really spicy.
The longer you cook the soup – more creamy it’ll be.
Ingredients
300g red lentils, washed
200g (2 small) potatoes, cut into small cubes
2 Tbsp olive or sunflower oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/3-1/2 tsp chilli seeds, optional
1 clove
2 bay leaves
5-6 pink peppercorns, crushed
sea salt, to taste
3-4 Tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
naan/flatbread, to serve
- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add mustard seeds, chilli (if using), cumin, bay leaves, clove and fry until fragrant. Add onion and garlic, cook for 5-7 minutes until soft. Stir in potatoes – fully coat it in oil and spices. Sprinkle with turmeric, pink pepper and salt, stir.
- Stir in lentils, add water to cover the mixture. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until vegetables are cooked. Add more boiling water or continue to simmer further to achieve your preferred consistency. Adjust the seasoning.
- Stir in fresh coriander. Serve with bread.
milkandbun 
A wonderful bowl of soup, love Indian flavors, the spices are so delicious. I prefer yellow or red dal more than the brown,
Totally agree with you Suzanne! Mix of different Indian spices is such an amazing thing! And I do love all lentil. 🙂 I add brown or puy lentil to salads.
Red lentils? I had never heard of them, they must taste so exotic! 🙂
Thanks for dropping by! Even thou they are called red, its color more orang-ish or salmon-ish. You can substitute it with yellow lentil. 🙂
Yum, I do love a good lentil dish! I was disappointed not to find one on the menu at the last Indian restaurant I visited – I’ll just have to try your recipe and make some at home 🙂 This looks delicious.
May be it was a sign to prepare it? 😀 You can regulate the chillis and thickness of the soup when you make it at home.
Beautiful pic and delicious recipe, thanks
Thank you! It’s simple, but tasty and aromatic soup! 🙂
love lentils and love new recipes for lentil soup. This would take the chill out of the air! It’s also so pretty 🙂
Lentils soups is also so easy and quick to prepare! 😉 Thank you, Liz!
I could eat red lentils every day!! Wonderful soup & lovely photo 🙂
Thank you! Do you have a favourite lentil recipe?
Of course!! Red lentil soups are my FAVORITE.
I have 2 soups already posted & have another almost ready to post… (I’ll try to post it shortly..) (it has links to the others)
& a pressure-cooker Masoor Dal:
This soup looks stunning. I love the flavor combos here. I MUST make this. So colorful with the red peppercorn too.
Thank you, darling! 🙂
I have some red lentils waiting to be used….
Hope you give it a go; it’s pretty tasty soup! 🙂
Stunning photo; we love Dal! Your recipe looks delicious! 🙂
I really love lentil dishes, so this looks superb 🙂