basic tadka for dahl

Ingredients.
1 tablespoon oil , ghee or mix of oil and ghee
1 clove garlic ( to taste and optional)
1. Cooking Onion.        ( to taste and optional)
Half teaspoon ginger chilli paste
2 tomatoes finely chopped
A few mustard seeds
1 stick cinnamon   ( to taste and optional)
Afew cumin seeds   ( to taste and optional)
3 curry leaves
Dry red chilli.   ( to taste and optional)
Masalas

2.5 ml or less turmeric
2.5 ml dhana jeera ( corrinader and cumin powder)
2.5 ml chilli powder to taste
optional masalas
Garam masala
Cinnamon powder
Jaggery
Lemon
Kokum ( star anise)


Put the oil/ghee in a saucepan and allow to heat
Check if oil is ready by adding a couple of cumin or mustard seeds until
they crackle
Add the rest of mustard seeds when these crackle add cumin seeds ,
lower heat and add dry chilli, cinnamon stick . Finally add the curry leaves
Turn heat to medium and add ginger , chilli paste and  garlic ( finrly chopped or puree)
Add onion and cook till translucent.
Add tomatoes and cover till they are soft.
Add the salt. Turmeric, dhana jeera.
You can add jaggery and kokum now too
Cook till oil separates.
at this stage you can add the boiled dahl.



This basic tadka can me made in a big batch snd frozen.
Use for any  dahl and pulses including tinned kidney beans