TOOR DAL WITH ONION

2 cups toor dal
1-2 onions
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
3 tbls oil
10 whole peppercorns
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
10 fenugreek seeds
10 urad dal grains
1-3 small dried red chiles

Soak the dal in water and begin cooking. After bringing to a boil and turmeric.  Lower heat and cook until tender, maybe 1.5 hours.  Add salt and cooked onions.  Meanwhile, heat the oil and add all the whole spices and red chiles.  Cook until the mustard seeds splatter.  Add spices to the dal and cook on low until flavors are blended.