Tarka, also known as tempering, is a method of heating spices and other ingredients in hot oil and ghee to release their flavours. It forms the foundation of many Indian dishes. Here's a simple ...

Set aside. To make the tarka, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over a high heat. Once hot, add all the ingredients except the salt. Fry, stirring, until the seeds just start to pop violently ...