Special Dal Curries

Some Special and unique Dal curries and Gravies in this collection.

Dhal Makhani

1 1/2 cups toor dal, washed and drained
2 tomatoes, medium sized, cut into large pieces
A pinch of turmeric powder
2 tsp coriander leaves, chopped
For seasoning:
1 small onion, chopped
A pinch of hing
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp dhania powder
4-5 green chillies, chopped
1 sprig curry leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 stick butter
Salt to taste

Boil the dal and tomatoes with a pinch of turmeric powder
and 1 cup water till the dal is soft. Add salt to taste.
Set aside. In a saucepan, prepare the seasoning by heating the butter. Add the cumin and mustard. When the cumin is slightly fried, add all the other seasoning ingredients except the red chilli, turmeric and dhania. Fry till the onion starts turning color. Now add the powders and fry for a minute.
Remove from heat and add the boiled dal/tomato to this.
Add the chopped coriander leaves. Mix well. Adjust the salt if necessary. Add 1 cup of water. Bring it to a boil and remove.
Serve hot with rotis or rice.

Tur Dal Kofta

2 cups tur dal
6-7 green chilles, chopped
3tb.spoon cumin seeds
1 pinch asafotida
Salt to taste
3 tb.spoon finely chopped corriander leaves
3-4tb spoon grated coconut

Soak tur dal over night. Then wash it thoroughly. Grind it coarsly. Then add chopped chillies, corrinder leaves, grated coconut, cumin Then make small koftas (balls) with the mixture pressure cook for 15 min. Serve hot with rice dishes.

Dal Makhani- 2

100 g whole black lentils (urad dhal)
50 g Red Kidney Beans (rajmah)
50 g Split chick pea lentils
1 small stick cinnamon 2 or 3 green cardamom pods
2 or 3 cloves
1 Tblspn grated ginger
1 Tblspn crushed garlic
1 Tblspn chilli powder, or to taste
1 can tomato puree
250 g unsalted butter
1 Tblspn dried fenugreek leaves
Salt to taste

Wash the lentils and soak overnight. Add the cinnamon, cracked cardamom pods and cloves to the soaked lentils. Simmer over a low heat until lentils are well cooked. Remove the cinnamon, cardamom pods and cloves (if you can locate them) and mash the lentils lightly with the back of a ladle.

Add the remaining ingredients except for fenugreek leaves, and simmer for a while. Check the seasoning, add the dried fenugreek leaves and serve hot with rice or Rotis.

Fried Channa Dhal with Cheese

Channa dhal-150 grams
Cheese-200 grams
Onions-100 grams
Tomatoes-100 grams
Garlic-2 pods
Cloves-2
Cinnamon-2
Black cardamom-2
Bayleaves-2
Red chilly-1 whole
Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
Red chilly powder-1/4 tsp
Coriander leaves-little
Salt-to taste
Water-250 ml
Ghee-100 grams

Clean the channa dhal and soak it for about 2 hours.Wash and peel onions and garlic. Grate onions,grind garlic.Chop tomatoes and coriander leaves finely.Cut the cheese into cubes and fry it in the oil light brown.Heat ghee in a separate pan and fry grated onions to light brown colour.add the garlic paste, cinnamon, cardamoms,cloves,bay leaves, red chilly powder and the chopped tomatoes and cook for few minutes.

Add the channa dhal, salt, turmeric powder, and fry for 7 to 8 minutes. Add the water and cook for half an hour.Now add the fried cheese cubes to it and simmer for few minutes.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve this with rice and chapathis

Dhal(Dal) Palak

Palak(Spinach) 2 bunches
Masoor dhal 1/4 cup
Onions 2
Tomatoes 2
Ginger-Chilli paste - 1 1/2 tsp
Salt and sugar to taste
Oil 1 Tbsp

Cut palak finely and cook with enough water. cook dhal with little turmeric powder in a pressure cooker. Heat oil in apan and season with cumin seeds. When it splutters add onions anf fry till golden brown. Add ginger chilli paste, fry for a minute. Now mix finely chopped tomatoes. When it is cooked, add mashed palak and cooked dhal. Pour water, salt and turmeric powder. Boil for few minutes. Remove from fire, serve hot with lime and chopped coriander leaves.

Dhal Masala

Onions big 2
Garlic 8-10 flakes
Green chillies 5
Tomatoes 3
Green gram dhal 1/2 cup
Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
Oil and ghee 1 tblsp
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Garam masala 1/4 tsp
salt 1 tsp
Lemon 1 small

Cut onions and tomatoes finely, slit green chillies into twos. Heat ghee seeason with cumin seeds, add onions, garlic and chillies into that.Add tomatoes and fry for 2 minutes. Cook Dhal seperately with enough water and then put the fried onions and garlic pieces with the tomatoes.

Sprinkle salt, turmeric and garam masala. Cook for a few minutes. remove from fire and add chopped coriander leaves, curry leaves and lemon juice to it. This can be used along with chapatis or rice.

More Resources for Dals and other recipes:

Find Dal recipes if you had missed them in Dals and Lentils page.

You definitely want to try out Indian rotis and Rice recipes. Dals make an excellent combination with rice and rotis...

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