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Skip to content Berhampur Bengali Lentils 🇮🇳 Indian
Bengali lentils curry tempered Bengali-style with mustard oil and panch phoron: lentils cooked in an onion-tomato masala with ginger, garlic and warm spices. A practical Indian recipe ready in about 41 minutes.
Ingredients 🧅 Onion 2 medium, finely chopped 🍅 Tomato 2 medium, chopped 🧄 Garlic 4 cloves, minced 🫙 Ginger 1 tbsp, grated 🌶️ Cumin Seeds 1 tsp 🌶️ Coriander Powder 1 tsp 🌶️ Turmeric Powder 1/2 tsp 🫙 Lentils 1 cup, rinsed 🌶️ Red Chili Powder 1 tsp 🫙 Mustard Oil 2 tbsp 🌿 Panch Phoron 1 tsp Optional extras 🌿 Fresh Cilantro 2 tbsp, chopped 🍋 Lemon 1/2, juiced Instructions 1 Prepare the lentils and chop the onion, tomato and aromatics.
2 Heat the mustard oil, crackle the cumin seeds and panch phoron, then fry the onion until deep golden.
3 Add ginger, garlic and tomato with turmeric, chili and coriander powders; cook until the oil separates from the masala, then stir in the panch phoron.
4 Add the lentils with 1½ cups water and simmer until thick and creamy, mashing a few pieces to thicken.
5 Finish with cilantro and lemon; taste for salt and serve hot with rice or roti.
Chef's tip
Bhunao patiently: fry the masala until the oil separates before adding the main ingredient.
Berhampur Bengali Lentils
Time 41 min
Serves 2
Level Medium
Prep / cook 16 / 25 min Ingredients 🧅 Onion 2 medium, finely chopped 🍅 Tomato 2 medium, chopped 🧄 Garlic 4 cloves, minced 🫙 Ginger 1 tbsp, grated 🌶️ Cumin Seeds 1 tsp 🌶️ Coriander Powder 1 tsp 🌶️ Turmeric Powder 1/2 tsp 🫙 Lentils 1 cup, rinsed 🌶️ Red Chili Powder 1 tsp 🫙 Mustard Oil 2 tbsp 🌿 Panch Phoron 1 tsp Optional 🌿 Fresh Cilantro 2 tbsp, chopped 🍋 Lemon 1/2, juiced Steps Prepare the lentils and chop the onion, tomato and aromatics. Heat the mustard oil, crackle the cumin seeds and panch phoron, then fry the onion until deep golden. Add ginger, garlic and tomato with turmeric, chili and coriander powders; cook until the oil separates from the masala, then stir in the panch phoron. Add the lentils with 1½ cups water and simmer until thick and creamy, mashing a few pieces to thicken. Finish with cilantro and lemon; taste for salt and serve hot with rice or roti. 
