Masoor Dal Gassi Recipe - Lentils in Tangy Coconut Curry

Masoor Dal Gassi Recipe is a delicious and spicy masoor dal curry which is cooked in freshly ground spices and tamarind water and chillies. It makes a perfect curry to go along with hot steamed rice topped with ghee.

Archana's Kitchen
Masoor Dal Gassi Recipe - Lentils in Tangy Coconut Curry
5405 ratings.

The Masoor Dal Gassi Recipe is a spicy, tangy gravy made with whole masoor dal with the skins on, is a typical Mangalorean specialty. Gassi is a staple curry in the Mangalore and Malnad areas of Karnataka that is essentially made of fresh spices ground down with coconut to form the base of the gravy. 

Did You Know: Masoor dal contains high levels of proteins, including the essential amino acids isoleucine and lysine. Apart from a high level of proteins, masoor dal also contains dietary fibre, potassium and iron, Folate, vitamin B1, and minerals, all with virtually no fat.

Serve the Masoor Dal Gassi along with Steamed Rice topped with ghee,Kadalai Manoli and Dhangar Pachadi.

If you like this recipe, you can also try other Dal recipes such as

  1. Gujarati Dal Recipe
  2. Amritsari Dal Recipe
  3. Dal Palak Recipe

Cuisine: Mangalorean
Course: Dinner
Diet: High Protein Vegetarian
Prep in

10 M

Cooks in

40 M

Total in

50 M

Makes:

4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup Masoor Dal (Whole)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • Salt , to taste
  • Ingredients to be ground to paste
  • 1/3 Fresh coconut , grated
  • 20 grams Tamarind
  • 3 Dry Red Chillies
  • 2 teaspoons Coriander (Dhania) Seeds
  • Ingredients for Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
  • 3 cloves Garlic

How to make Masoor Dal Gassi Recipe - Lentils in Tangy Coconut Curry

  1. To begin making the Masoor Dal Gassi Recipe, we will first cook the dal in the pressure cooker. Place the dal in the pressure cooker, add salt, turmeric powder and 2-1/2 cups of water. Cover the cooker, place the weight on and pressure cook for a couple of whistles.

  2. After a couple of whistles, turn the heat to low and simmer for about 4 minutes and turn off the heat. Allow the pressure cooker to rest until the pressure releases naturally. After the dal is cooked keep it aside.

  3. Our next step is to make the masala for the gassi. In a small frying pan, dry roast the coriander seeds and red chillies until fragrant. Once roasted, allow it to cool.

  4. Once cooled, place the roasted coriander, red chillies, coconut, tamarind and garlic into a blender. Add a little warm water and grind to make a smooth gassi masala paste.

  5. Add this masala, to the cooked dal mixture and bring the dal to a brisk boil for about 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust the consistency of the Moong Dal gassi, but adding a little water, as the mixture can thicken when the masala is added. The gassi is traditional is not in a liquid form but, if of a thick gravy consistency.

  6. Check the salt and spice levels and adjust to suit your taste. Transfer the Masoor Dal gassi to a serving bowl.

  7. The final step is to prepare the seasoning for the Masoor Dal gassi. Heat a small tadka pan on medium heat; add the mustard seeds and allow it to crackle. Add the garlic, red chillies and curry leaves and roast for a couple of minutes.

  8. Pour the seasoning over the Masoor Dal gassi and serve.

  9. Serve the Masoor Dal Gassi along with Steamed Rice topped with ghee,Kadalai Manoli and Dhangar Pachadi.