Red lentils

मसूर दाल / masoor dal · kırmızı mercimek

Flavor and role

Hulled orange lentils that need no soaking and break down into a puree in 15-20 minutes. They thicken soups and stews.

Typical dishes and uses

Misir wot, masoor dal, Turkish mercimek corbasi

Substitutes

Replace 1:1 with yellow lentils (moong dal). Brown lentils keep their shape, so the texture differs.

Storage

Keep sealed in a cool place at room temperature for 1 year. Rinse until the water runs clear before use.

Main countries

India · Türkiye · Ethiopia

Used in this book

Misir Wat (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew)Mercimek Çorbası (Turkish Red Lentil Soup)Dhaba-Style Double Tadka Dal with Coal SmokeThai Red Curry Coconut Dal with Lemongrass TadkaSizzling Tadka Lentil HummusSlow-Simmered Ful with Tahini and Garlic TashaChicken Harira Tortilla SoupHarira Chickpea Toast with Lemon YogurtKhichdi-Style Koshari with Ghee TadkaLokanta-Style Velvet Lentil Soup with CroutonsThai Red Curry Coconut Lentil SoupLentil Soup Shakshuka with Garlic Yogurt & Chili ButterMisir Wat with Homemade Niter KibbehBerbere Lentil Ragù RigatoniMisir Wat Lentil Toast with Jammy Egg

Updated 2026-10-10