🥣 Bengali Five Spice Red Lentil Dal

This Bengali Five Spice Red Lentil Dal is warming, nourishing and wonderfully simple. Red lentils simmer with tomato, garlic and ginger until creamy, then a fragrant tempering made with our Bengali Five Spice blend is spooned over the top.

It is naturally vegan, budget-friendly and ideal for batch cooking or an easy midweek dinner.

🥣 Ingredients

• 250g red lentils, rinsed thoroughly
• 1 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 750ml vegetable stock
• ½ tsp turmeric
• Salt, to taste

For the tempering:

• 1½ tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil
• 2 tsp Bengali Five Spice blend
• ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
• Fresh coriander and lemon juice, to serve

⏱ Timings

• Preparation: 10 minutes
• Cooking: 35 minutes
• Serves: 4

🍳 How to Make Bengali Five Spice Red Lentil Dal

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a saucepan. Add the chopped onion and cook for 6–8 minutes until soft.
2. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute.
3. Stir in the lentils, tomatoes, stock and turmeric. Bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are soft and creamy. Add a splash of water if the dal becomes too thick.
5. For the tempering, heat the remaining oil in a small frying pan. Add the Bengali Five Spice and cook for 30 seconds until sizzling.
6. Add the sliced red onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until lightly golden.
7. Season the dal, spoon over the hot tempering and finish with coriander and lemon juice.

🍚 Serving Suggestions

Serve with basmati rice, naan or chapatis. Add spinach during the final few minutes or top with plant-based yoghurt for extra freshness.

✨ Why This Recipe Works

Cooking the lentils slowly creates a creamy base, while adding the whole-seed tempering at the end preserves its fragrant aroma and gentle crunch.

🌶 Spice & Dipity Product Used

Our Bengali Five Spice blend brings traditional whole-seed character to dal, potatoes, vegetables and curries.

🔗 More Bengali Five Spice Recipes

• Crispy Bengali Five Spice Roast Potatoes
• Bengali Five Spice Red Lentil Dal
• Bengali Five Spice Aubergine & Tomato Curry
• Bengali Five Spice Fish & Coconut Curry
• Bengali Five Spice Chicken & Vegetable Traybake
• Bengali Five Spice Tomato Chutney

Browse more inspiration in our Spice & Dipity recipe collection.

Shop Bengali Five Spice →

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🛒 Get the Blend

Make this recipe with our Bengali Five Spice.