Black Pepper Tadka Daal

A celebration of black pepper that was, at one time, more valuable than gold. Before chillies arrived in India with the Portuguese around 1500, black pepper was the most efficient way to infuse spicy heat into meals. Indian cooks were well accustomed to cooking with black pepper, and so they knew exactly what to do when chilli peppers arrived from the Americas and Caribbean islands. Today, both are mainstays of the modern kitchen. Most of the heat in this daal comes from the gentle warmth o