American comedian Hasan Minhaj has found himself at the centre of an online debate after mispronouncing tadka or tempering as “dharka” while explaining how people order dal at South Asian restaurants. In an interview with Food & Wine executive features editor Kat Kinsman, Minhaj described “dharka” as fried onions added on top of dal, suggesting that diners often ask for extra portions. His explanation drew reactions from social media users, who pointed out that tadka refers to the technique of tempering spices and other ingredients in hot oil or ghee, not just fried onions.

But what exactly is tadka , how is it prepared, and why does it hold such an important place in Indian cooking?

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What is tadka, and how do you prepare it?

Food author Sadaf Hussain explains that tadka comes from the Hindi word tadakna, meaning to crack or crackle.…