Lentil dhal & tarka fried onions with spinach

Frying the onions and spices separately and adding to a dhal at the end of cooking is a technique known as ‘tarka’. Cook your onions on a higher heat than feels normal, so they take on a golden colour. Cook the lentils on a low heat; too hot and they will stick to the base of the pan as they absorb water and thicken. Curry powder can be quite mild but, if you’re unsure how spicy you’d like it, add two-thirds then the rest halfway through cooking, to taste.