Turmeric and Carrot Dal is an easy to make homemade soup, loaded with Indian flavors and spices. This is THE health fix when you need some nourishing and comforting food.
Simple ingredients make for an easy homemade dal! Packed with carrots, turmeric, lentils and celery, this healthy Indian style soup is perfect for lunch, dinner, snack or as a starter. If you like comfort food soups, you may also like Cabbage Beef soup.
Turmeric, Lentil and Carrot Dal is naturally fat free and low in calories It's a cornerstone of Indian home cooking for centuries, offering comfort, balance, and nourishment in a single bowl.
What is dal
Dal is a thick soup made with lentils and is a staple in the traditional Indian cuisine. Dal soup is simmered with vegetables, spices and herbs until has a thick texture.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Light and fat free: This is the soup to make if you want to make something light, fat free, and without any animal protein or a soup that you could eat on a day you don't want to load your tummy with fats and heavy proteins.
- Indian style: This homemade turmeric and lentil dal reminds me of those Indian soups that usually come complimentary with any order of Indian food.
- Bright and powerful: The color of this lentil turmeric dal is always so bright and yellow because of curcumin in turmeric. This amazing spice creates so much power and health benefits in one little soup bowl.
Ingredients
- Lentils: Lentils break down as they cook, creating a creamy base without the need for cream or flour. They are nature's best thickener for soups and dal.
- Spices: For the sake of simplicity I used cumin and turmeric.
- Carrots: A perfect thickener and source of high quality fiber. Also contributes to the color of Dal.
- Celery: I used celery for its distinct taste and saltiness factor.
- Chicken stock: I used stock for maximum flavor, but you can also use spring water instead.
How to make homemade dal
I made this soup in two versions: regular lentil dal and pureed version of dal. For me, warm puréed days are the best, especially on a cold day. To make it pureed, I used Ninja Nutri Bullet Pro Blender.
1. Simmer vegetables
First, you will simmer your veggies in the medium size pot on the stove for about 20-25 minutes.
2. Chill and blend
Once the veggies are cooked, make sure to cool off your dal in the refrigerator because you cannot put hot liquids into the blender. If it's cool to the point where you can touch it with your finer and not get burned, add it to your blender's cup together with some water. Puree it in for 10-15 seconds.
3. Pour and serve
Once you blended and pureed your dal, pour it into a large bowl for serving.
Homemade Lentil Dal
Ingredients
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 cup dried red lentils
- 2 carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 3 cups chicken stock (+additional ½ cup for pureeing)
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt (or sea salt)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the medium size pot and bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes.
Make puree version of dal
- Cool the soup to room temperature in the refrigerator, then add to a blender in 2 batches.
- Add additional ¼ cup water to each batch before blending.
- Do not put to your Magic Bullet! Blend for 10-15 seconds.
- Serve hot or cold.
Notes
Tips for success
- Rinse the lentils: This will prevent the cooking liquid from becoming overly cloudy or foamy and improve flavor.
- Puree in batches: I pureed the entire dal by splitting it into two equal batches and adding ¼ cup of additional broth to each batch. Adding extra liquid will make the dal nice and smooth.
- Use green lentils: Green lentils hold their shape well, making them ideal for Dal, whereas red lentils break down to create a creamy consistency, perfect for curries and stews.
FAQ
- To make Dal vegetarian: Simple use vegetarian stock or spring water for your liquid.
- Is it gluten free? Yes, made with lentils which have no gluten at all.
- Is Dal dairy free? Made with chicken or vegetable stock, it's 100 percent dairy free.
- Can I use red lentils: Yes, red lentils are softer than green ones and will cook up super soft, until they're basically falling apart.
Delicious substitutions and variations
- Garam Masala: If you have this traditional Indian spice, add 1 tablespoon of Garam Masala to replace all the other spices in Dal.
- Garlic and fresh ginger will give the dal amazing flavor.
Equipment you'll need
- Large pot
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Blender: I used the Ninja Nutri Bullet blender.
Serving suggestions
Serve dal with naan, flatbread or a slice of Dutch Oven Bread. You can also dip these homemade crostinis in it for a delicious crunch.
Leftovers and storage
- Refrigerate: Store in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Rewarm covered in the microwave.
- Freezer: Make a large batch and save the extra dal in the freezer for days when you don't feel like cooking! To do so allow the dal to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or portion it into several containers if you're meal prepping. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through. The ingredients will have soaked up most of the broth while sitting in the freezer. You may want to add ¼ - ½ cup broth to the frozen portions when you reheat.
Enjoy and be healthy!
Karina says
Perfect recipe for gloomy nights
Olya says
Exactly!
Annabelle Hersel says
I make it very often. So healthy!!!! My husband is vegan and loves the soup. Thank you
Eva says
Very easy to make with just a few ingredients !