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Home » Gluten Free

Yellow Split Pea Dal

Published: Mar 27, 2020 · Modified: Mar 15, 2022 by Janelle Hama

Jump to Recipe

A creamy, warm and hearty meal of yellow split pea dal, flavored with a sauce of tomato, spices, and onion. Enjoy on its own, with rice, or with steamed potatoes and a side of fresh vegetables. Vegan and gluten-free.

two bowls of yellow split pea dal garnished with coriander and chilli
Warming and hearty yellow split pea dal

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Jump to:
  • 😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • ✔️Ingredients You’ll Need
  • 🍛How To Make Yellow Split Pea Dal
  • ⭐ Pro Tips 
  • 🍛Variations
  • ❓FAQ
  • 🍚Serving Suggestions
  • 🍲Related Recipes
  • Delicious Yellow Split Pea Dal

😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make – made from scratch, easy to find ingredients
  • Extra flavorful – cooked in fragrant spices
  • Ultra-comforting – so warming, perfect for cooler weather
  • Nutritionally dense - filled with vegetables and healthy starches
  • Delicious as leftovers - make a big batch for later
  • Dietary suitable - this is a vegan dal that is oil free*, gluten free, nut free, soy free and corn free.

✔️Ingredients You’ll Need

split pea, turmeric, salt and garam masala in bowls
coriander, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, salt in bowls

Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.

Yellow split peas, known as dal, can be easily found in the dry food section where legumes and beans are found. Wash before using.

Tomato and brown onion are used in the sauce and should be finely diced.

Fresh ginger and garlic are used for flavoring the sauce, you can adjust the amount slightly to suit your taste.

Olive oil* this is optional, you can make this an oil-free dal. As per the video.

Turmeric powder a small amount goes a long way. It’s mild in flavor and gives a gorgeous golden hue. Don’t be tempted to add more as it can be bitter. 

Cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds (affiliate link) are toasted to release the flavor and make this meal so aromatic. Both are generally found in your local supermarket.

Chili to add a little depth and heat. You can use any of your preferred small chili varieties or you can leave it out.

Garam masala only a small amount is needed. This blend of spice (affiliate link) can be found at your local supermarket.

Coriander aka cilantro will be split into two portions, one for stirring through the dal and the other as garnish.

dal in a bowl with herbs and chill on the side

🍛How To Make Yellow Split Pea Dal

There are two parts to the cooking method of this vegan dahl, which can be done simultaneously; 

Cooking Split Peas 

Add the yellow split peas, water, and salt to a large pot and bring to a bowl on high heat. 

Turn heat down to medium-low and allow to simmer for 45 minutes without the lid. You will need to skim off the froth a few times.

Around the 40 minute mark, stir in turmeric powder, garam masala, and half of the chopped coriander (cilantro).

Check the split peas every so often and give them a stir, if you feel it could do with a little bit more water, add some.

Spiced Tomato and Onion Sauce  

dry toasting cumin seeds in a black pan

Dry toasting cumin and fenugreek seeds

sweat onion with cumin seeds without oil

Sweating onion without oil with the seeds

In a frypan/skillet over med-high, add optional oil, cumin, and fenugreek seeds. Heat up until the aroma is released, by stirring. 

If using oil, add the diced onion and sweat until they are translucent. 

If you’re not using oil, add 4 tablespoons of water with onion and sweat until they are translucent and start to change color.

Stir in the garlic and ginger and then add the diced tomatoes and cook them down for about 15-20 minutes on medium heat. 

Combining The Sauce and Dal

Once the dal is completely cooked, it should be goopy, add the aromatic sauce to it and stir through thoroughly. Taste to see if you'd like to adjust the salt.

Serve warm. 

⭐ Pro Tips 

Prepare your food before getting onto the cooking part of this dal recipe.

You can macerate the dal once it is cooked by using a masher. This will help break it up. However, I find that this isn't necessary as it is well cooked.

Storage  - this dal recipe is also perfect as leftovers, I find the flavor to be better infused the next day. Store in an air-tight container in your fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

As the dal cools down, it will thicken up considerably. 

Yellow Split Pea Dal Recipe - Vegan - Plant Based Folk

🍛Variations

Leafy greens can be added, such as chopped kale or spinach. Stir them through the dal in the last five minutes of cooking.

❓FAQ

What is dal?

Dal is the Indian term for legumes and pulses - peas, chickpeas, beans etcetera. Spelling variations can include dahl, dhal and dal.

How do I reheat this dal?

Once portioned, heat up as desired and add a few spoonfuls of water (as it will be quite thick), stir through until the desired consistency is reached.

a white bowl of cooked yellow split pea with roti on the side

🍚Serving Suggestions

Serve with freshly chopped coriander/cilantro, chili and enjoy with a side of rice, steam potato or bread, and fresh salad.

🍲Related Recipes

If you're in the mood for a hearty curry try this easy spinach chickpea curry or my simple and cozy barley porridge or my super flavorful curried mung beans.

You might be interested in the below lentil or bulgur recipes.

  • a white bowl filled with leafy greens, lentils and potato soup
    Lebanese Lemon Lentil Soup (Adas bi Hamod)
  • Lebanese Lentil Porridge
    Lentil Porridge (Mujadara Makhbousa)
  • a white plate with cooked brown lentils and wheat
    Mujadara Hamra (Lentils & Bulgur)
  • bulgur pilav in tomato in a red pot
    Bulgur Pilav (Burgul bi Banadoora / Tomato)

Did you enjoy making this oil free vegan yellow split peas dal recipe? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo of your food? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group. If you’re into fast cooking vids, join me on Tiktok.

a white bowl of cooked yellow split pea with roti on the side

Delicious Yellow Split Pea Dal

A creamy, warm and hearty meal of yellow split pea dal, flavored with a sauce of tomato, spices, and onion. Enjoy on its own, with rice, or with steamed potatoes and a side of fresh vegetables. Vegan and gluten-free.
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

Yellow Split Peas Dal

  • 2 cups yellow split pea dal
  • 6 cups Water 5 cups for cooking dal, one as a spare to adjust consistency
  • ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt adjusted to taste
  • ½ teaspoon Garam masala
  • 1 handful Coriander roughly chopped

Tomato and Onion Sauce

  • 1 medium Onion finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • ¾ teaspoon Fenugreek seeds
  • 2-3 medium Tomatoes chopped small
  • 2½ centimeters Fresh ginger finely chopped
  • 4-5 cloves Garlic crushed
  • 4-8 tablespoons Water use the amount needed for sweating onions if not using oil
  • 1 handful Coriander Cilantro. Roughly chopped.
  • 1 small Red chilli chopped - optional
Metric - US Customary
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Yellow Split Pea

  • Add the yellow split peas, water and salt in a large pot and bring to a boil on high heat. 
    Turn heat down to medium - low and allow to simmer for 45 minutes without the lid. You will need to skim off the froth a couple of times. Around the 40 minute mark, stir in turmeric powder, garam masala and half of the chopped coriander (cilantro).

Sauce

  • In a frypan/skillet over med-high, add optional 1-2 tablespoons olive oil (just leave out if not using oil), and cumin and fenugreek seeds. Heat up until the aroma is released, by stirring. 
    If using oil, add the diced onion and sweat until they are translucent. 
    If you’re not using oil, add 4 tablespoons of water with onion and sweat until they are translucent and start to change color.
    Stir in the garlic and ginger and then add the diced tomatoes and cook them down for about 15-20 minutes on medium heat. You may need to add more tablespoons of water.

Combining

  • Once the dal is completely cooked, it should be goopy, add the aromatic sauce to the yellow split peas dal and stir through thoroughly. Taste to see if you'd like to adjust the salt. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

Serving - 4 large portions or 6 small portions.
Wash the split peas prior to cooking.
Check the split peas every so often and give them a stir, if you feel it could do with a little bit more water, add some.
You can macerate the dal once it is cooked by using masher. This will help break it up. However, I find that this isn't necessary as it is well cooked.
Storage  - this dal recipe is also perfect as leftovers, I find the flavor to be better infused the next day. Store in an air-tight container in your fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
As the dal cools down, it will thicken up considerably.
 
You may also be interested in:
Lentil Porridge
Lebanese lentil soup

Equipment

1 pot

Nutrition

Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 623mg | Potassium: 1251mg | Fiber: 27g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 803IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 6mg

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

Mariam from Recipe 52, also has a lovely masoor dal recipe.

For more lentil inspiration, try Emese and Nandi's Quick Broccoli and Lentil Story Fry. Or for more delish Indian recipes, try South Indian Chana Masala for Chana Puri.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Vania

    July 21, 2022 at 4:59 am

    5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe many times but am I crazy or did it change? The tomatoes used to be added to the split peas not the spice mixture. There were also more spices like curry leaves and I believe curry powder. I also don’t remember sautéing the onions in with he spices. Is there any way to get the original recipe? Apologies if I’m confused. Thank you

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      July 21, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Hi Vania,

      So sorry for the confusion. Yes there was an update, hopefully the following can assist;
      - 2 bay leaves and 1 tablespoon of curry powder can be added to cooking the yellow split peas stage

      Previously, the sauce was made (onion and tomato) and then the dal was cooked on top.

      Hope this helps.

      J

      Reply
      • Martha S.

        December 27, 2022 at 3:56 pm

        5 stars
        I made this tonight and it was a perfect meal for a cold, rainy winter night. Bookmarking it for later!

        Reply
        • Janelle Hama

          December 28, 2022 at 9:22 am

          So glad you enjoy this soup. I can never get enough of it.

          Reply
    • Anna

      March 21, 2023 at 4:40 am

      Hi, I book marked this recipe as absolutley loved it! I thought it had cardamom in it?! or as an option? maybe I'm mistaken but we'll see how it tastes very soon! thanks for your lovely recipes!

      Reply
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Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

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