Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe (2024)

Home » Recipes » Indian Recipes

Published: · Modified: by Geetanjali · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

Learn to make egg tadka recipe Bengali style with step-by-step photos and a guide. Egg tadka or dimer torka is a Bengali favorite recipe. Hot and spicy moong and chana dal with spices and scrambled egg is a true delight with a choice of tawa roti, tandoori roti, or rumali roti.

Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe (1)

Tadka dal is a popular dhaba delicacy, especially in North And East Indian states. People simply call it 'tadka', which is basically a modified version of the Punjabi dal. Unlike other dals, it is prepared in gravy form and is inexpensive.

But In Bengal, the appeal of tadka is not limited to dhaba only. In Calcutta, you get tons of roadside restaurants and street vendors selling tarka-roti every day. Along with veg tadka and egg tadka, you will also find chicken tadka or mutton tadka in some places.

Making Bengali egg tadka at home is easy. This main dish recipe involves soaking and pressure cooking the dals followed by tempering them with spices, and then mixing scrambled eggs into the gravy.

Not fond of eggs, skip the egg, the plain version tastes equally good. You can also make it lighter or vegan by omitting butter. You can even use your choice of dals to make it more nutritious.

Jump to:
  • Instructions (Step By Step)
  • To make it ahead
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Recipe Notes
  • More dal recipes:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Instructions (Step By Step)

  • Wash and soak the dals together for 2-3 hours.
  • Wash again and take the dals in a pressure cooker along with salt, turmeric powder, and water. Pressure cook the dal for 3 whistles over low flame.
  • Once done, turn off the flame and allow the pressure to release on its own.
  • In the meantime, beat the egg along with a pinch of salt.
  • Heat a little oil in a pan. Once the oil turns hot, pour the beaten egg, wait for a few seconds then slowly stir it over medium flame until cooked.
  • Then transfer it to a plate and set it aside to use later.
  • Heat vegetable oil and butter in the same pan.
  • Add bay leaf and chopped onion. Fry until light golden brown.
  • Now add chopped ginger, garlic, and green chili. Sauté for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe (2)
  • Add turmeric and chili powder. Saute to mix.
  • Add chopped tomato, followed by salt. Saute until the tomato becomes soft and pulpy.
  • Add cumin powder and coriander powder. Saute for a minute.
  • Sprinkle a dash of water and saute until the masala releases oil.
  • Pour the boiled dal followed by the excess water into the tadka masala and let it boil over a medium flame for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add scrambled egg, along with kasuri methi powder (dried fenugreek leaves powder), and garam masala powder. Stir to mix. Cover and turn off the flame and allow it to rest for 5 minutes to combine the flavors.
  • Calcutta-style egg tadka is ready to serve. You can serve hot adding a dollop of butter on top.
Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe (3)

To make it ahead

You can make the tadka masala ahead of time. Don't add dal and egg to it. Cool completely and refrigerate as needed in an airtight glass container. When you prefer to consume, heat the tadka masala, sprinkle a dash of water, and saute it for 2 minutes. You can use a little butter if you like. Then add the cooked dal, and scrambled egg, and cook for 2 minutes. Add garam masala powder, kasuri methi powder, and serve.

Serving Suggestions

  • Most of the time I pair egg tadka with plain roti. However, it goes well with all Indian breads. Like rumali roti, tandoor roti, paratha, lachha paratha, naan, butter naan, and so on.
  • It could be served with plain rice, basmati rice, or jeera rice as well.
  • If you plan for a simple Indian meal then tadka, roti, Kachumber salad, and plain sweet lassi go well together.

Recipe Notes

Dal: green moong dal and chana dal is a must. In addition, you could use your choice of dals as well.

Chili: Both green chilies and red chili powder are used for heat and flavor. You could reduce the amount or use non-spicy ones as well.

Kasuri methi powder has a more intense flavor than plain Kasuri methi. However, either one could be used. For Kasuri methi powder, dry roast Kasuri methi on a tawa or pan for a minute and transfer to a plate. Then once cool down crush with a hand to make a powder.

Garam masala powder - Homemade or storebought. Any garam masala powder would do the job.

Make sure not to add too much water. The gravy should not be very thick or thin.

Increase the quantities of dals and all ingredients, if serving more than three persons.

For plain tadka or veg tadka skip the egg.You can even skip butter for a lighter version.

More dal recipes:

  • Arhar Dal
  • Ghugni Recipe
  • Arhar Dal Palak

If you try this recipe, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating. I love hearing from you and it also helps other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.

Recipe

Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe (4)

Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe

A simple, flavorful, and extremely delicious gravy dish made with mixed dal and scrambled eggs.

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Course: Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Dimer torka, Egg tadka

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 234kcal

Author: Geetanjali

Ingredients

For cooking dal

  • ½ cup whole green moong dal
  • ¼ cup chana dal/Bengal gram dal
  • Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 3 cups water

For scrambled egg

  • 1-2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 1 pinch salt

For tadka masala

  • 1 tablespoon oil (I used sunflower oil)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 medium-sized onion finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ginger finely chopped
  • 1 green chili chopped
  • 1 large tomato chopped
  • Salt as required
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder non-spicy
  • 1 pinch turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi powder (dried fenugreek leaves powder)

Instructions

Cooking the dal

  • Wash and soak the dals together for 2-3 hours.

  • Wash again and take the dals in a pressure cooker along with salt, turmeric powder, and water. Pressure cook the dal for 3 whistles over low flame.

  • Once done, turn off the flame and allow the pressure to release on its own.

Scrambling egg

  • In the meantime, beat the eggs along with a pinch of salt.

  • Heat a little oil in a pan. Once the oil turns hot, pour the beaten egg, wait for a few seconds, then slowly scramble it using a spatula.

  • Then transfer to a plate and set aside to use later.

Preparing tadka

  • Heat oil and butter in a pan.

  • Add bay leaf and chopped onion. Fry until light golden brown.

  • Now add chopped ginger, garlic, and green chili. Saute for 2 minutes or until fragrant.

  • Add turmeric and chili powder. Saute to mix.

  • Add chopped tomato, followed by salt. Saute until the tomato softens and pulpy.

  • Add cumin and coriander powder. Saute for a minute.

  • Sprinkle a dash of water and saute until the masala releases oil.

  • Pour cooked dal over the masala, stir it, and let it cook for about 2 minutes.

  • Add scrambled eggs along with Kasuri methi powder, and garam masala powder. Stir to mix, cover and turn off the flame. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes to combine all the flavors.

  • Calcutta style egg tadka is ready to serve. You can serve hot adding a dollop of butter on top. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Dal: green moong dal and chana dal is a must. In addition, you could use your choice of dals.
  • Chili: Both green chili and red chili powder are used for heat and flavor. You could reduce the amount or use non-spicy ones as well.
  • Kasuri methi powder has a more intense flavor than the plain Kasuri methi. However, either one could be used. For Kasuri methi powder, dry roast Kasuri methi on a tawa or pan for a minute and transfer to a plate. Then once cool down crush with a hand to make a powder.
  • Garam masala powder - Homemade or storebought. Any garam masala powder would do the job.
  • Make sure not to add too much water. The gravy should not be very thick or thin.
  • Increase the quantities of dals and all ingredients, if serving more than three persons.
  • For plain tadka or egg-free version skip the egg. You can even skip butter for a lighter option.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 607IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg

More Easy Indian Recipes

  • Creamy Indian Butter Chicken Meatballs
  • Mughlai Chicken Changezi Recipe (Restaurant Style)
  • Easy Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe (Restaurant Style)
  • Easy Authentic Chicken Korma Recipe

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Easy Bengali Egg Tadka Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is egg tadka made of? ›

Soak tadka'r daal (green moong beans) and chhola'r daal (split Bengal gram) overnight. The next morning, drain them over a colander. Make a spice mix combining cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, kashmiri red chilli powder, and gorom moshla. Finely chop ginger, green chillies, onions, and coriander leaves.

Should you add tadka before or after cooking? ›

The high temperature causes the spices to release their essential oils and aromatic compounds, resulting in a burst of flavour. Tadka can be added to a dish before or near the end of the cooking process, giving the final preparation its unique and distinct taste.

What is the tadka technique? ›

In English, tadka is known as “tempering.” It is the technique in which whole or ground spices are briefly roasted in oil or ghee (clarified butter) in order to release their essential oils, thus making their flavor more aromatic.

Can I freeze tadka? ›

Notes. Tadka can be used immediately in fresh dishes you are cooking, or stored in the fridge for 3-5 days. You can also freeze tadka in ice cubes, pop it out and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What is the difference between Tarka and tadka? ›

Tadka, also known as tarka, refers to both a technique and the infused oil it produces, which adds an extra layer of flavor and texture in many Indian dishes.

What is the Indian seasoning that tastes like eggs? ›

Kala namak (or black salt) is a sulphurous salt used in Indian cooking, and is what gives this seasoning its signature flavour. Kala namak can be found in the Asian section of most large grocery stores, or through online shops such as Amazon.

Which oil is best for tadka? ›

Because of this, olive oil is not recommended for making tadka, as it burns at high temperatures. Use refined sunflower oil, coconut oil or even mustard oil instead when preparing tadka.

Can I use olive oil for tadka? ›

Oxidized oils have free radicals. Not only this, cooking on high heat with olive oil can release toxic smoke which contains compounds harmful to our health. So avoid using olive oil for Indian tadka, frying, etc. Some refined olive oils may claim that its fit for frying, etc.

What does tadka mean in English? ›

When translated, the word tadka simply means tempering. For South Asian cooking, this means cooking the spices before adding to the dish to create a much more aromatic flavour. When spices are cooked, they release their essential oils therefore releasing more flavour.

What is another name for tadka? ›

Breaking Down Tadka

The process goes under many names, like chhonk, baghaar, phoron, or blooming. Tadka is famous all across India – though the methods vary by region. Most Indian restaurants utilize this process and its benefits. The process can occur at the beginning or end of making a dish.

Is tadka good for health? ›

It is also known to boost the immune system, reduce cholesterol levels, and regulate blood pressure. Incorporating garlic tadka into your cooking can not only enhance the taste but also provide a range of health benefits.

What are the spices in Indian tadka? ›

The key ingredients used in South Indian tadka or tempering are typically mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dried red chilies, urad dal (husked, dried, split black gram), chana dal (husked, dried, split chickpeas) and sometimes asafoetida.

How long does tadka last? ›

Once you get the hang of it, make a couple of batches of these tadka cubes, and pop them in the freezer for a rainy day. (Or a Thursday night when you have to be at swimming lessons and tutoring at the same time.) I usually make a triple batch (36 cubes), and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What is the difference between Chauk and tadka? ›

Tadka and chonk both are actually names for a kind of tempering. When we say chhonk we refer to a tempering or condiment with curry leaves,mustard seed, cumin and asafoetida and things like that. When we say tadka we usually mean blend of spices along with onion or garlic .

What is Punjabi tadka made of? ›

Potatoes, Peanut Oil, Gram Pulse Flour, Tepary Beans Flour, Edible Starch, Edible Common Salt Powder, Sugar Powder, Maltodextrin Powder, Sodium Diacetate, Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Cumin Powder, Mango Powder, Ginger Powder, Maca Powder, Nutmeg Powder, Capsicum Oleoresin And Paprika Extract.

What does tadka contain? ›

A tadka almost always consists of oil or ghee, and whole spices. The combination of spices used depends both on the dish being prepared as well as the region in which it is being prepared. For example, a tadka for a simple dhal will most often involve both cumin or mustard seeds hing (asafoetida) which aids digestion.

What is tarka made of? ›

Tarka (also known as tadka, bagari or chownk) is an Indian cooking technique of tempering spices in oil. Tempering spices helps to add a layer of flavour and texture to many Indian dishes and curries. Whole or broken spices are quickly fried in hot oil to release their essential oils and flavour the cooking oil.

What do you mean by tadka? ›

Tadka is the tempering. Usually, after a dish (particularly dal) has been prepared, some spices are tempered in a little ghee/oil and added at the top of the dish. Spices like cumin seeds and / or mustard seeds, heeng (asafoetida), dry red chillies are usually used in the tempering.

What is the difference between fry and tadka? ›

Dal tadka - You temper the boiled dal with spluttered mustard, cumin and dry chilli. And then add turmeric and salt. You won't simmer this. Dal fry- we cook the tur dal till its soft and then add onions,tomatoes and chillies to it along with masalas and boil it till the masalas (spicies) marry each other.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Last Updated:

Views: 5755

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Birthday: 1992-02-16

Address: Suite 851 78549 Lubowitz Well, Wardside, TX 98080-8615

Phone: +67618977178100

Job: Manufacturing Director

Hobby: Running, Mountaineering, Inline skating, Writing, Baton twirling, Computer programming, Stone skipping

Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.