CHANA DAL

North Indian style recipe for Chana Dal also known as Bengal Gram that is cooked with some everyday spices and tempered with a typical Punjabi onion-tomato masala. It is a healthy, delicious and simple dal recipe that is perfect served with rice or roti.

Serves: 4 people | Prep : 30 mins | Cooking : 30 mins

Health Hack: Lentils are a power house of protein and also a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber. They add essential vitamins and minerals to the diet plus the fiber, folic acid, and potassium in lentils all support heart health.

Fresh Ingredients

Chana Dal - 250gms (Bengal Gram)
Onion - 1 large, peeled and finely chopped
Green chillies - 1, slit lengthwise
Tomatoes - 2 medium, finely chopped
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp
Fresh coriander - handful, finely chopped

Spices

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder – ¼ tsp
Red chilli powder – ¼ tsp
Turmeric powder – 1 ½ tsp
Water – 1 litre
Salt - to taste
Ghee or vegetable oil - 3 tbsp

Step 1

Wash the lentils in a few changes of cold water. Soak in enough water for at least 30 minutes while preparing other ingredients. Allow more soaking time if cooking in an open pan.

Step 2

Place the lentils, salt, and turmeric in a pressure cooker (or in a saucepan). Add water and pressure cook the lentils for 8-10 minutes or more until dal is softened and well-cooked and then set aside.

Step 3

Heat ghee or oil in a separate pan for preparing the tempering. Add cumin seeds followed by onions and fry until the onions are light brown. Then add ginger-garlic paste and fry for another couple of minutes until onions are golden brown. This is an important step in making this dal as browning the onions will give a lot of flavor and taste to the dal.

Step 4

Add the tomatoes plus green chilli and fry again for a few minutes till the tomatoes become soft and start separating oil. Use the back of the spoon to break down the tomatoes.

Step 5

Finally, add coriander and red chilli powder and mix well. Now add this tempering to the cooked dal, mix well and add salt to taste. Simmer the dal on low heat and if the dal is too thick then add some hot water to get the right consistency.

Step 6

Mash some dal with the back of your ladle or spoon at the sides of the pan to get a creamier consistency. Finally, add garam masala powder and stir. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with any flatbread or basmati rice.