How To Make Spiced Dal Breakfast Bowl With Yogurt And Pickled Dai

Start your day the dal way

We're calling it breakfast, but this is a dish you can have any time of the day (although it's best enjoyed on a slow Sunday morning on the couch).

Masoor dal (split red lentils) are cooked with some lightly browned onions and warm spices before being topped with lemony yogurt, jasmine rice, soft scrambled eggs and pickled julienned radishes. It's a little spicy and extremely satisfying. Bonus: You don't even have to soak the lentils; just take them out of the bag, and they're ready to go.

To learn more, read "Dal That and Then Some."

Recipe from the Tasting Table Test Kitchen

Spiced Dal Breakfast Bowl With Yogurt And Pickled Daikon
5 from 1 ratings
Learn to make this spicy dal for breakfast. 
Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
40
minutes
Servings
2
to 4
Total time: 1 hour
Ingredients
  • For the Pickled Daikon
  • ½ cup boiling water
  • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 small daikon (Japanese white radish, about 6 ounces), cut into 3-inch lengths and julienned
  • For the Spiced Dal
  • One 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons ghee, butter or canola oil
  • 1s small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¾ cup masoor dal, rinsed
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • For the Breakfast Bowl
  • ½ cup whole-fat Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • ½ cup pickled daikon
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
  • 1 cup cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper, for garnish
Directions
  1. Make the pickled daikon: In a small, nonreactive bowl, whisk the water, vinegar, sugar and salt until the sugar dissolves. Add the daikon, then cover and chill the bowl. Make ahead: The daikon can be made up to a week ahead.
  2. Make the spiced dal: In a blender, purée the ginger and garlic with ¼ cup water; set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the ghee, butter or canola oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic-ginger mixture along with the coriander, cumin, turmeric and red pepper flakes and simmer until most of the water has evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the dal along with 2 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the dal is very tender and has broken, 16 to 20 minutes. Season with salt; keep warm.
  4. Meanwhile, make the breakfast bowl: In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, water, lemon zest and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
  5. In a bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, add the butter. When the butter begins to foam, add the eggs and cook, stirring occasionally using a rubber spatula, until the eggs just begin to set, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  7. Divide the dal among 2 bowls. Top each serving of dal with half of the yogurt, rice, scrambled eggs, pickled daikon, scallion and cilantro. Sprinkle with Aleppo pepper and serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 569
Total Fat 23.7 g
Saturated Fat 8.1 g
Trans Fat 0.3 g
Cholesterol 299.1 mg
Total Carbohydrates 65.8 g
Dietary Fiber 8.7 g
Total Sugars 14.5 g
Sodium 1,000.4 mg
Protein 25.1 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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