Running short on time? Want to cook something fast, healthy, tasty, and other than daily cooked curries and dry vegetables? Here’s the solution! Today we are back with a delicious curry cum side dish, which is easy to prepare and not wrong if said as a last-minute recipe!
This is Dahi tadka or Dahi fry. As the name suggests, the key ingredient of this recipe is Dahi or Curd. Curd, as we all know, is a dairy product that can be considered a bowl of nutrition. Curd is made by curdling milk, which means it is fermented. During this process, lactose present in the milk is converted into lactic acid by a healthy bacteria called ‘Lactobacillus.‘
Lactobacillus is a healthy, probiotic bacteria that improves digestion and gut health. It also protects our body from harmful pathogens and helps prevent infestations of worms and infections.
Since time immemorial, curd has been used in Indian cuisine, either in food preparations or with sugar or plain. Curd has many versions: it can be made into lassi, buttermilk, raita, chaat, kadhi, and many more. It is a major part of our wholesome diet. Being light, easily digestible, and nutritious, curd is a favourite food for all. Kids love to eat it chilled, topped with sweet fruits, like an Indian version of ice cream!
Nutritional elements in curd:
Curd is packed with several essential nutrients, such as proteins, potassium, magnesium, vitamins B2, B12, D, phosphorus, zinc, probiotics, and many more. In short, eating curd daily can improve immunity and support overall development.
Now, let us move to our dahi tadka recipe. It is easy to prepare and requires very few ingredients. It goes well with phulkas, steamed rice, or any rice or chapati item.
Ingredients for Dahi tadka:
- Fresh curd- 1 cup
- Finely chopped onions/shallots- 2 big
- Chopped green chillies
- Curry leaves- 12-15
- Crushed ginger and garlic paste- 2 tablespoons
- Mustard oil- 2 tablespoons
- Chopped cilantro- a handful
- Salt as per taste
- Turmeric powder– 1 ½ teaspoons
- Coriander powder- 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper and jeera powder two teaspoons
- Crushed coriander seeds- 1 teaspoon
Serves 2
Methods of preparation of dahi tadka recipe:
- First, we need to prepare the curd mix. To do that, take the curd and dried spices. Transfer them to a mixing bowl and whisk until you get a creamy, lump-free texture. Cover and set aside.
- Now, we will prepare our tempering or tadka. Heat the oil in a pan or kadai. Once it is hot, add crushed cumin (jeera), coriander seeds, chopped green chillies, and curry leaves. Let them crackle.
- Add chopped onions and fry them until they turn pink-purple. Keep the flame on medium.
- Add freshly crushed ginger and garlic to the frying onions and mix well. Make sure to use ginger and garlic crushed in a mortar and pestle, not the packaged ones, as they will not provide authentic flavour and desirable results.
- Keep stirring until the oil separates. Frying on a low-medium flame will ensure that the spices and onions are cooked, not just burnt. If you turn the flame to high, the onions will fry quickly, but you won’t get that barista flavour; instead, you’ll end up with a burnt taste.
- Now, put the turmeric powder and some salt (not adhering to the taste) in it and mix well.
- At this moment, please turn off the flame and let it cool a little before adding the prepared curd mix. This step is crucial and often confusing for many. Adding the curd mix directly to the hot-fried onions may curdle and ruin the entire preparation. You won’t achieve the creamy and soft dahi fry you desire.
- First, turn off the flame and slowly add the curd mix to the pan, giving it a good mix. At this step, turn the flame back on and cook on low heat for a minute or two to ensure all the flavours blend.
- Garnish with chopped dhania (coriander leaves), and here you go with your yummy and aromatic Dahi fry.
The steps may look lengthy, but once you start preparing, you’ll see it’s easy—just like making instant noodles! Make sure you have all the ingredients ready beforehand to reduce cooking time. This straightforward recipe goes well with anything: phulkas, fried rice, steamed rice, etc. Serve it hot, and your taste buds will thank you!
Summary
I hope you like the recipe for dahi fry or dahi tadka. Be sure to give it a try and share your experiences with us. If you’re running out of time or want to try something tasty that can be prepared quickly, this recipe is perfect. As for the taste, it’s fantastic for everyone, especially for kids. Even those fussy eaters will love it because of its flavour and creaminess. It’s a perfect example of combining taste with health. Eat well and stay healthy.
For quick reference, you can watch this video as well.
