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Thecha dal, an Indian red lentil dal that you know and love with a spicy, nutty, umami-packed addition! Blistered chilies garlic are pounded with peanuts to make a chili chutney, and swirled to the lentil soup to make a flavorful dal!
Table of Contents
Thecha is a green chili condiment often served alongside many Indian dishes. This green chili chutney from the Indian state of Maharashtra is the preferred side with flatbreads like Bhakri( millet or sorghum flatbread). It is a spicy, nutty mix of green chilies, garlic, and peanuts, lightly blistered and then ground up with a mortar and pestle into a coarse mixture.
We make the Thecha chutney from scratch. It is a delicious spicy garlic chili chutney! You can also serve it as a side, like a chutney, or add to sandwiches or to your Indian spread.
In this Lentil dal, Thecha, the roasted green chili, garlic, peanut condiment gets swirled into this dal for a complex flavor and comforting meal!
Use whichever lentils of choice and make double protein of Thecha to use later in sandwiches or on garlic bread!
Why You’ll Love Thecha Dal
- cozy Indian dal with flavorful garlic-chili-peanut topping
- easy, 30 minute meal
- naturally soy-free and gluten-free
More Vegan Dal Recipes
- Masoor Dal Tadka
- Dhaba-Style Butter Dal
- Punjabi Dal Fry
- Turmeric Spinach Golden Lentil Dal
- Mom’s Moong Dal
Thecha Dal- Lentil Dal with Blistered Chilies and Garlic
Ingredients
For the dal:
- 1 cup split red lentils, washed and drained, or other lentils such as moong dal lentils, toor dal
- 3 cups water, or broth
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or paprika
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional dal additions:
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
For the thecha:
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 6-7 Serrano chilies, or Indian long chilies or other green chilies of choice
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons unroasted or roasted unsalted peanuts
- generous pinch of salt
For garnish:
- cilantro, lemon juice
Instructions
Make the dal.
- Add the drained lentils and the rest of the dal ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Partially cover and cook until the lentils are cooked to your preference. 13-17 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt and flavor. Add 1/2 cup of water or coconut milk, if needed for preferred consistency, and mix in. You can also add the chopped tomato and cilantro at this point and mix them in.
Make the thecha while the dal cooks.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot increase the heat to medium-high and add the green chilies. Cook until the green chilies are slightly brown and blistered. Add the garlic and toss for a few seconds then add the cumin seeds, toss those for a few seconds and add the peanuts. Add a generous pinch of salt and mix really well and switch off the heat.
- Keep stirring for the next few seconds to cook the garlic and peanuts in the remnant pan heat, until they get golden.
- Once the mixture has slightly cooled down, transfer it to a mortar and pestle and then press and mix to break down all the peanuts until you achieve a coarse mixture. You can also use a small food processor and process it until you achieve a coarse mixture.
Serve the thecha dal.
- When the dal is ready, switch off the heat, then top the dal with spoonfuls of thecha and just swirl the thecha into the dal but do not mix in entirely. Garnish with some cilantro and lemon juice and serve with rice, flatbread, or roti.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- red lentils – The base for this simple dal.
- water – To cook the lentils. You can use broth for even more flavor.
- ground spices – Turmeric, cayenne or paprika, garam masala, and salt season the dal.
- optional additions – You can add a chopped tomato, some cilantro, and some coconut milk to the dal, if you want.
- thecha – Blistered green chilis and toasted garlic, cumin, and peanuts with a little bit of salt make the topping for the dal. You can use Serranos or Indian green chilis or other green chilis of choice.
- garnishes – Cilantro and lemon juice finish the dish.
Tips
- When making the thecha, make sure that you cook the chilis properly. The skin should start turning brown and be blistering before you add the garlic and other thecha ingredients.
- You can use a mortar and pestle or a food processor to break down the thecha into a coarse mixture, not a paste.
- Don’t mix the thecha into the dal completely. Part of the joy of this dish is the texture and flavor contrast.
How to Make Thecha Dal
First, make the dal.
Add the drained lentils and the rest of the dal ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Partially cover and cook until the lentils are cooked to your preference. 13-17 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt and flavor.
Add 1/2 cup of water, if needed, and mix in. You can also add the chopped tomato and cilantro at this point and mix them in.
Make the thecha while the dal cooks.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot increase the heat to medium-high and add the green chilies.
Cook until the green chilies are slightly brown and blistered.
Add the garlic and toss for a few seconds then add the cumin seeds, toss those for a few seconds and add the peanuts. Add a generous pinch of salt and mix really well and switch off the heat.
Keep stirring for the next few seconds to cook the garlic and peanuts until they get golden.
Once the mixture has slightly cooled down, transfer it to a mortar and pestle and then press and mix to break down all the peanuts until you achieve a coarse mixture. You can also use a small food processor and process it until you achieve a coarse mixture.
When the dal is ready, switch off the heat, then top the dal with spoonfuls of thecha and just swirl the thecha into the dal but do not mix in entirely.
Garnish with some cilantro and lemon juice and serve with rice, flatbread, or roti.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thecha is an Indian green chili condiment. It is a spicy, nutty mix of blistered green chilies, toasted garlic, and toasted peanuts ground with a mortar and pestle into a coarse mixture.
Thecha dal is naturally soy-free and gluten-free. It does contain nuts. To make it without peanuts, use sunflower seeds instead
Whenever I’m feeling a bit low and need comfort food, I always crave a nice dal and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. I’ve tried a few of your recipes and they’re always lovely. I’m going to start working my way through all of the dal recipes this winter. Thanks so much xxx
Yay!! Good to hear.
Ah what a beautiful recipe, Richa!! I love the addition of the thecha! So versatile that we can use the thecha in any other dishes or sandwiches! Thank you again for another slam dunk Indian recipe! Do keep ’em coming!
Thanks maneesha !
Thank you for a recipe with not too any ingredients. This looks like something I can make. Thanks!
Hope you like it!