Goji Berry Dal Tadka

While wolfing down gobi manchurian, I wondered what to do next with my pack of wolfberries. That’s when sudden inspiration struck me. Allow me to present goji berry dal tadka, a happy marriage of Indian dal tadka with the Chinese “superfruit” goji.

Goji berry dal tadka is a treat to the senses. The matte-red of goji popping bright against the yellow of toor. The whiff of hot ghee and fried onions.  The tiny jolts of sweet-tart with each berry bite. You have to try it!

You Need:

[For 4-5 servings]

• Toor dal – 3/4 cup
• Dried goji berries – 1/4 cup (buy on Amazon)
• Water – 3 cups
• Red chili flakes – 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
• Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon (buy on Amazon)
• Salt – to taste

For the tadka:

• Red onions – 2 medium
• Green chili – 1 (optional)
• Asafoetida – a pinch
• Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
• Ghee – 1 tablespoon + more for garnish (buy on Amazon)

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In the picture above (clockwise from right): Toor dal, dried goji berries (wolfberries), turmeric powder & red chili flakes.

How To Make Goji Berry Dal Tadka:

1. Boil

Wash and soak toor dal in two cups of water for 30 minutes.

Drain.

In an Indian-style pressure cooker, place the soaked and drained toor dal along with 3 cups of water and goji berries, chili flakes, turmeric powder.

Lock the lid of the pressure cooker and cook on high heat till it whistles, then set the heat to low and cook for another two whistles.

Let the pressure release naturally, then unlock the lid.

Mash the boiled toor gently. Stir in salt to taste.

2. Do the tadka

[While the dal is still cooking, you can start off preparing the tadka.]

Peel and slice the onions. Slit the green chili if using.

In a thick-bottomed pan, heat a tablespoon of ghee.

Add to the ghee a teaspoon of cumin seeds.

When the seeds crackle, add a pinch of asafoetida powder. Follow with sliced onions and green chili.

Fry the onions on medium flame, stirring periodically.

Continue to cook the onions till they turn gold-brown at the edges.

This would take a good 15 minutes.

3. Put it all together

When the onions are brown and fragrant, pour the dal into the pan.

Close the lid and switch off the heat.

Let the dal stand for 4-5 minutes.

Goji berry dal tadka is ready.

Serve goji berry dal with plain rice, with some ghee drizzled on top.

Accompaniment suggestions: bhujiya, pickle.

Notes:

Want to do more zany stuff with dal? Try pumpkin masoor dal with chili garlic relish, moong dal with zucchini and coriander, toor dal with amaranth leaves and gooseberries.

For traditional dal tadka recipes, check out masoor dal tadka, toor dal tadka with spinach.