The everyday tadka: cooking with cold pressed black mustard oilरोज़ का तड़का
रोज़ का तड़का2026-10-03 · 6 min read
Jump to recipeMustard oil is the oil many North Indian kitchens reach for when the tadka pan comes out. Cold pressed black mustard oil keeps that sharp, familiar aroma.
Heat it, then lower the flame
Many families heat mustard oil until it just starts to smoke, then turn the flame down before the spices go in. The smoke point moment is brief. You are not trying to burn the oil. You are taking the edge off the raw sharpness so the tadka tastes rounder.
The order of spices
Cumin and dried red chilli go in first, while the oil is hot and the flame is low. Hing follows if you use it. Garlic, onion and curry leaves come next, and they should soften, not blacken.
The dal itself can be plain. The tadka is what makes the bowl smell like dinner.
Keep the bottle
Keep the cap tightly closed, away from the stove and direct sun.
Recipe
Serves 4 · Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup (about 200 g) toor dal, rinsed
- 3 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cold pressed black mustard oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 dried red chillies
- 1 pinch of hing (asafoetida)
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- A few curry leaves
Method
- Rinse the dal until the water runs mostly clear. Cook it with the water, turmeric and salt until it is soft. Mash it lightly so it is creamy, not dry.
- Heat the mustard oil in a small pan until it just starts to smoke, then lower the flame. This mellows the sharpness.
- Add the cumin, dried red chillies and hing. When the cumin crackles, add the garlic, onion and curry leaves. Cook until the onion softens.
- Pour the tadka over the hot dal, cover for a minute, and serve with rice or rotis.
Products used in this recipe
- Featuredखास
Cold pressed oilsकोल्ड प्रेस्ड तेल
Cold pressed black mustard oilकाली सरसों का तेल
1 L1 लीटर
₹300
The sharp, familiar mustard oil of North Indian kitchens, cold pressed.उत्तर भारत की रसोई का तीखा, जाना-पहचाना सरसों का तेल, कोल्ड प्रेस्ड।