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Tomato Pappu recipe
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Tomato Pappu Andra style| tomato dal

Tomato Pappu, a traditional South Indian lentil dish infused with the tanginess of ripe tomatoes, is a culinary delight cherished across the region for its simplicity and rich flavors.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian, south indian
Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4
Calories
Author Swati Paathak

Ingredients

  • To Cook The Dal
  • 1 cup Toor dal rinsed & soaked for 20 minutes
  • 2 medium size Onion chopped
  • 3 medium size Tomato chopped
  • 1.5 tsp Chilli powder or as required
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tsp Oil/Ghee
  • 2.5 cup Water
  • 2 tsp Tamarind paste/pulp
  • For Tempering
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon white urad dal
  • 4-5 garlic cloves chopped or smashed
  • 2-3 dry red chilies broken into small pieces
  • 1-2 green chilies cut into small pieces
  • 15-20 curry leaves
  • 1/4 tsp Asaftida (hing)

Instructions

Cook The Dal

  • Rinse the dal and soak it in water for 20 minutes.
  • Add soaked dal, tomatoes, onions, salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder and oil in a pressure cooker.
  • Add 2.5 cups of water and stir to combine.
  • Close lid and cook over low-medium flame.
  • Pressure cook- 2 whistle.
  • let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
  • Then open the lid.
  • Mix the dal well with a spatula or a wire whisk.
  • Add tamarind paste and mix well.
  • Check for salt and tamarind paste, water, chilli, and add more if needed.

Temper the Dal:

  • Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
  • Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, brown mustard seeds, white urad dal, garlic cloves, dry red chilies, green chiles, hing and curry leaves.
  • Saute for 10-15 seconds.
  • Pour the tempering over dal.
  • Add 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro and mix well.
  • Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Tips for Perfection:
  1. Use ripe, juicy tomatoes for the best flavor.
  2. Adjust the spice level according to your preference by controlling the amount of dried red chilies.
  3. For added richness, you can temper the dal with ghee instead of oil.
  4. Experiment with additional ingredients like onions or green chilies for variations in flavor.
  5. To enhance the nutritional value, you can add vegetables like spinach or bottle gourd to the dal.