Red Lentil Dal Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils (yellow lentils will work as well)
• 3 cups water
• 3 plum tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped white or yellow onion
• 2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped and made into a paste (see Recipe Note)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
• 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice)
• 8 sprigs cilantro, de-stemmed and chopped
• Cooked basmati rice, optional