Sri Lankan Dhal curry(parippu, dal, daal).
This dhal curry recipe is an authentic Sri Lankan recipe and can be cooked under 30 minutes.
Also known as “parippu” in Sinhalese, the dhal recipe is a popular and regular vegetarian side dish in most homes and restaurants.
This Sri Lankan lentil curry is also one of the easiest vegan comfort food you can cook under 30 minutes, some of us(including me)have no problem eating it every day.
It’s mildly spiced and creamy that most non-spicy food lovers would love it(even kids)!

A quick Sri Lankan menu when you are in a hurry.
When you’ve spent the morning on errands or you’ve just had a full day of chores to finish around the house and you need to make a meal for the kids who’ll be home in an hour. This is it.
Dhal, rice (on the rice cooker of course) and a chicken curry complete the menu for lunch.

Why Dhal curry is a popular Sri Lankan vegetarian dish.
It’s quick, simple and versatile.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed this but I’m amazed sometimes at how different the cooked red lentils tastes according to whose cooking it.
Some like the dhal curry(parippu)really spicy with loads of tempering and some like it light and more mild and heavy on the coconut milk.
It’s also a great beginner’s introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine.
Side dishes for dhal (parippu)curry.
Here are a few dishes you can serve with the dhal curry but really, the choices are limitless.
Parippu curry goes with almost any type of side dish, like a really good spicy coconut sambol.
Even if you are not cooking a Sri Lankan feast, you can add dhal(parippu) to almost any meal.
It’s that versatile and compliments any type of dish you serve.
Sometimes I cheat…
As I’ve mentioned earlier, we all have a busy schedule and sometimes doing the smallest thing takes the longest.
Here’s what I do to make the whole cooking process a bit quicker, when I’m making the dhal curry for my family I usually do the tempering as follows.
Instead of removing it to a separate bowl, I just take a spoonful of the tempering ingredients and set it aside.
Then to the pan with the remaining tempering ingredients, I add the red lentils and water.
Cook as normal dhal curry recipe instructions and add the spoon of temper into the cooked dhal curry at the end.
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How much tempering ingredients should you use for the dhal recipe?
The recipe instructions given below gives you the standard amount of ingredients for tempering.
But for any special events where you want the dhal curry to be served, you can increase the amount of tempering ingredients to give the dhal curry a rich flavor.

What type of lentil is used to make the vegetarian dhal/dal curry?
You will be using masoor dhal/dal or red lentils for this recipe.
Most lentils will need a certain amount of hours of soaking but masoor dhal is quick to cook.
Which makes it easy to cook this popular Sri Lankan recipe under 30 minutes.
So here’s your recipe instruction on how to cook a Sri Lankan dhal curry.
More Dhal/red lentil recipes!
Spicy Sri Lankan chilli dhal fry(vegan,vegetarian).
Storing-Once cooled, refrigerate. use a glass container with a lid or an old plastic container as the turmeric will stain plastic. use within 2 days.
Freezing- If you’ve already added the coconut milk you can freeze for 2-3 days and use it for another meal.
If you find that you’ve cooked too much dhal what you can do is,
Before you add the coconut milk, save a portion of the cooked dhal and freeze and when you want to use this portion, bring it to room temperature, cook on low fire for 3 minutes and add coconut milk and tempering.
The dhal can be frozen for 2 weeks(without coconut milk).
Reheating-leave out to reach room temperature., microwave for 2 minutes or warm over the stovetop for 2-3 minutes.
Stop food waste by-Cooking dhal curry can be quite economical for any large family or gathering if you are on a budget.
A little dhal curry cooked in coconut milk can go a long way.
How to cook parippu
(lentil, dal, dhal)curry.
Ingredients
Please make sure to read the recipe instructions at least once to avoid mistakes.
Ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.
Tempering ingredients for dhal curry
3 tablespoons of oil
A sprig of curry leaves(a few to be used for tempering and half while cooking the dhal)
4 pods of garlic(a few to be used for tempering ad half while cooking the dhal)
1 large onion(a few to be used for tempering and half t while cooking the dhal)
A teaspoon of Turmeric powder(half to be used for tempering and half while cooking the dhal)
1 teaspoon of red chilies flecks or two whole dry red chilies
1/2 a teaspoon of mustard seeds
To cook the Dhal curry
1 cup Dhal(lentils,parippu)
1/2 a cup of water
A few of all the other ingredients mentioned for tempering above(turmeric, curry ;eaves, garlic, onions)
102 green chillies sliced
1 teaspoon of Salt
1/2 a cup of thick coconut milk
Method
Tempering
Cut the large onion and garlic(4 pods)into thin slices and set aside.
Add three tablespoons of oil to a pan, include the curry leaves, sliced garlic, onions, and turmeric powder(1 tsp).
Leave it to cook until the onions turn translucent over medium heat for 2 minutes.
Reduce heat and include the chilli flakes(1 tsp) or 2 whole dried red chillies, once you see the onions turning golden brown, add the mustard seeds(1 tsp)and cook for 2 minutes.
Once all the ingredients turn golden brown, remove the tempered ingredients from the heat and transfer to a separate dish.

How to Cook the dhal curry
Wash the lentils thoroughly.
Turn in the washed lentils/daal(1cup) to the pan you used for tempering(saves washing).
Pour in the water(1/2 cup)with a pinch of turmeric and a few slices of onions, garlic, green chillies and curry leaves.

Over medium heat, let the lentils/daal cook until the water evaporates, this takes 10-15 minutes.
When the lentils are cooked, gradually add the coconut milk(1/2cup)and let it simmer on low fire. 10-15 minutes, add salt to taste.
Finally, add the tempered onions to the curry and mix. if you are serving guests, keep a bit of the tempering.

Once you add the dhal curry to a serving bowl and top the lentils/dal with the remaining temper for a true, Sri Lankan presentation.
Serve warm with rice and curry.
Sri Lankan Dhal curry(parippu, dal, daal).

This dhal curry recipe is an authentic Sri Lankan recipe and can be cooked under 30 minutes.
Also known as “parippu” in Sinhalese, the dhal recipe is a popular and regular vegetarian side dish in most homes and restaurants.
Ingredients
Tempering ingredients for dhal curry
- 3 tablespoons of oil
- A sprig of curry leaves(a few to be used for tempering and half while cooking the dhal)
- 4 pods of garlic(a few to be used for tempering ad half while cooking the dhal)
- 1 large onion(a few to be used for tempering and half t while cooking the dhal)
- A teaspoon of Turmeric powder(half to be used for tempering and half while cooking the dhal)
- 1 teaspoon of red chilies flecks or two whole dry red chilies
- 1/2 a teaspoon of mustard seeds
To cook the Dhal curry
- 1 cup Dhal(lentils,parippu)
- 1/2 a cup of water
- A few of all the other ingredients mentioned for tempering above(turmeric, curry ;eaves, garlic, onions)
- 1-2 green chillies sliced
- 1 teaspoon of Salt
- 1/2 a cup of thick coconut milk
Instructions
Tempering
Cut the large onion and garlic(4 pods)into thin slices and set aside.
Add three tablespoons of oil to a pan, include the curry leaves, sliced garlic, onions, and turmeric powder(1 tsp).
Leave it to cook until the onions turn translucent over medium heat for 2 minutes.
Reduce heat and include the chilli flakes(1 tsp) or 2 whole dried red chillies, once you see the onions turning golden brown, add the mustard seeds(1 tsp)and cook for 2 minutes.
Once all the ingredients turn golden brown, remove the tempered ingredients from the heat and transfer to a separate dish.
How to Cook the dhal curry
Wash the lentils thoroughly.
Turn in the washed lentils/daal(1cup) to the pan you used for tempering(saves washing).
Pour in the water(1/2 cup)with a pinch of turmeric and a few slices of onions, garlic, green chillies and curry leaves.
Over medium heat, let the lentils/daal cook until the water evaporates, this takes 10-15 minutes.
When the lentils are cooked, gradually add the coconut milk(1/2cup)and let it simmer on low fire. 10-15 minutes, add salt to taste.
Finally, add the tempered onions to the curry and mix. if you are serving guests, keep a bit of the tempering.
Once you add the dhal curry to a serving bowl and top the lentils/dal with the remaining temper for a true, Sri Lankan presentation.
Serve warm with rice and curry.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 240Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 646mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 6g
Nutritional information on islandsmile is provided as a courtesy. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on the site. these figures should only be considered as estimates
Each recipe on this blog has been written with great care and love to the best of my ability with you in mind.
It’s free and on the blog, for you to try anytime.
All I ask is that you do not save it on any apps, recipe boxes or online groups which will affect me as a food blogger and the growth of this blog. I would appreciate if you only share the link rather than the full recipe.
Mr D F Hadfield
Sunday 21st of February 2021
I am enjoying this dish very much thank you.
jehan
Monday 22nd of February 2021
Cheers! And you are most welcome. Regards, J
Sri Lankan Dhal curry(parippu, dal, daal) ISLAND SMILE – KedaiPin
Monday 25th of January 2021
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Rosh
Sunday 5th of July 2020
I simply love how you explain the recipe in your own method of cooking inclusive of little cheats. I am not at all a fan of parippu but the image you shared is quite tempting and I'm sure it would pair well with some freshly baked pull-apart bread.
jehan
Monday 6th of July 2020
Hello Rosh, Thank you for your kind words. yes, any type of bread with a good Sri Lankan pol sambol and you are set for a meal. I simply write to my readers like I would like how I would explain the recipe if they were standing in front of me. Regards J
Tracey Herman
Tuesday 4th of June 2019
Hi, how many people does this dish serve?
jehan
Tuesday 4th of June 2019
Hi Tracey Herman< I've made this spicy Pineapple curry using a medium-sized Pineapple. Usually, with other side-dishes being served, you can serve 3 adults who might serve the curry twice. if it's a single serve per adult then 4 people can be served. Hope this helps, please reach out if you have any further questions regarding the recipe. regards, J
Ann Faulkner
Tuesday 7th of May 2019
In the ingredients you mention 1-2 green chilliest but these are not included in the instructions. At what stage do the green chillies need to be added? Thank you.
jehan
Tuesday 7th of May 2019
Hello Anne, Thank you for spotting the error and letting me know. recipe amended. the green chillies go in while you cook the dhal. I have also added a sidee note on the curry leaves. Half to be used for tempering and half while cooking the dhal, this would be 4 leaves each. hope this helps. Please contact me if you need further help with the recipe. regards, J