Indian Split Peas

Indian Split Peas is a medium Indian recipe that serves 4. 380 calories per serving. Recipe by Pankaj Sharma on YouTube.

Prep: 30 min | Cook: 59 min | Total: 1 hr 44 min

Cost: $4.55 total, $1.14 per serving

Ingredients

  • 250 g Split peas (Rinsed then soaked 15 min in warm water)
  • 2 gousses Garlic (Minced)
  • 15 g Fresh ginger (Peeled and cut into thin strips)
  • 1 Medium onion (Finely chopped)
  • 20 g Fresh coriander leaves (A good handful, coarsely chopped)
  • 4 c. à soupe Vegetable oil (Ex. sunflower or canola oil)
  • 1 c. à soupe Mustard seeds (Yellow or brown)
  • 2 c. à soupe Curry powder
  • 1 c. à café Garam masala
  • 950 ml Water (For the first cooking)
  • 350 ml Additional warm water (Added after 20 min of cooking)
  • 1 c. à café Salt (Or to taste)
  • 100 ml Tomato purée (To thicken the sauce)
  • 30 ml Coconut milk (A drizzle just before serving)

Instructions

  1. Soak the split peas

    Rinse the split peas under cold water, then place them in a bowl with warm water and let soak for 15 minutes.

    Time: PT15M

  2. Prepare the aromatics

    Mince the garlic, cut the ginger into thin strips, chop the onion and the coriander.

    Time: PT10M

  3. Pop the mustard seeds

    Heat 4 c. à soupe of oil in the pot over medium‑high heat, add 1 c. à soupe of mustard seeds and wait for them to pop.

    Time: PT1M

  4. Sauté the aromatics

    Add the chopped onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent.

    Time: PT5M

  5. Add the spices

    Sprinkle 2 c. à soupe of curry powder and 1 c. à café of garam masala, cook for 1 minute while stirring to release aromas.

    Time: PT1M

  6. Add the peas and water

    Pour the drained split peas into the pot, add 950 ml of water and bring to a boil.

    Time: PT5M

  7. High‑heat cooking

    Let it boil vigorously for 10 minutes.

    Time: PT10M

  8. Medium‑heat cooking, covered

    Reduce heat to medium, cover the pot and let simmer for 10 minutes.

    Time: PT10M

  9. Add warm water and salt

    Pour in 350 ml of warm water, add 1 c. à café of salt, cover again and cook for 20 minutes.

    Time: PT20M

  10. Thicken with tomato purée

    Stir in 100 ml of tomato purée, mix and let simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust consistency with a little water if needed.

    Time: PT5M

  11. Finish with coconut milk and serve

    Remove from heat, add 30 ml of coconut milk, stir quickly and sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander before serving.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
380
Protein
20 g
Carbohydrates
55 g
Fat
10 g
Fiber
8 g

Dietary info: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, low-calorie, high-fiber

Allergens: Mustard, Coconut

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Indian Split Peas

Recipe by Pankaj Sharma

A vegetarian dish with Indian flavors, based on split peas, spices, coconut milk and fresh coriander. Simple to prepare, comforting and perfect for lunch or dinner.

MediumIndianServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
28m
Prep
56m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 34m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$4.55
Total cost
$1.14
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Soak the split peas long enough.
  • Pop the mustard seeds without burning them.
  • Do not burn the spices after adding them.
  • Check the peas for tenderness before finishing cooking.

Safety Warnings

  • Hot oil can splatter: handle with care.
  • Mustard seeds pop quickly; keep them away from your face.
  • Use oven mitts to remove the pot from the heat.

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