Masur Dal/Masoor Dal

Masur dal/masoor dal is a lentil-shape legume (Lens culinaris or L. esculenta) that is pale orange-red in color; it is sometimes called red dal. It cooks very quickly, in about twenty minutes, so we think of it as the rushed cook’s friend and as a necessary pantry staple. It is available in South Asian groceries and in well-stocked large groceries.