Dal Tadka

also called daal tadka · tarka dal · dal tarka · dal fry · dhal tadka · tempered lentils

The table

1 tspcumin seedsfry 1 mincook 6 minsimmer 5 minfinish
2dried red chiles
3 Tbsghee
1 small(finely chopped)onion
1 Tbsginger-garlic paste
1 medium(chopped)tomato
1 cup(200 g; rinsed)toor dalsimmer 45 min, whisk smooth
4 cups(950 mL; top up as it thickens)water
1/2 tspground turmeric
1 tspkosher salt
2 Tbscilantro
1 Tbslemon juice
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.12 things to get out.

1fry 1 min

2simmer 45 min, whisk smooth

3cook 6 min

goes in with what step 1 made

5finish

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Start to finish is the longest chain through the table, so branches that overlap are counted once. That is why the waits add up to more than the clock — and it only holds if you get them going together.

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 50 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
7 minof the steps that give a time

One of the 5 steps never says how long it takes, so both numbers are floors. 6 min of that is counted as needing you only because the step never said otherwise. The recipe itself says 1 hr.

  1. simmer 45 min, whisk smooth

    45 minwalk away(read off the step)from the start

  2. fry 1 min

    1 minneeds you(read off the step)from the start

  3. cook 6 min

    6 minneeds you(assumed)1 min in

  4. simmer 5 min

    5 minwalk away(read off the step)45 min in

  5. finish

    not timed50 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them. Bars that line up are happening at the same time. The minutes are always the recipe’s own; a dashed edge means we worked out from the step whether you have to be there, and a dotted one means nothing was said, so we assumed you are standing over it.

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Dal Tadka
>> category: Soups
>> tags: lentils, indian, vegetarian, stovetop
>> counters: Curry House
>> aka: daal tadka, tarka dal, dal tarka, dal fry, dhal tadka, tempered lentils
>> servings: 4
>> time: 1 hr
>> step.1: simmer 45 min, whisk smooth
>> step.2: fry 1 min
>> step.3: cook 6 min
>> step.4: simmer 5 min
>> step.5: finish

Simmer @toor dal{1%cup}(200 g; rinsed) for ~{45%min} with @water{4%cups}(950 mL; top up as it thickens), @ground turmeric{1/2%tsp}, and @kosher salt{1%tsp}, then whisk it smooth.

Fry @cumin seeds{1%tsp} and @dried red chiles{2} in @ghee{3%Tbs} until fragrant, ~{1%min}.

Cook @&(~1)tadka{} for ~{6%min} with @onion{1%small}(finely chopped), @ginger-garlic paste{1%Tbs}, and @tomato{1%medium}(chopped).

Pour @&(~1)masala{} over @&(~3)dal{} and simmer ~{5%min}.

Finish @&(~1)dal{} with @cilantro{2%Tbs} and @lemon juice{1%Tbs}.