Indian Mixed Lentil Dal Recipe (Maah Choley ki Daal)
One of the most comforting and satisfying meal, this Lentil Dal Recipe is easy to make and bursting with authentic Indian taste! A must try recipe if you are looking for a flavorful vegetarian dish that is protein rich and packed with nutrients.
Servings: 4
Calories: 216kcal
Equipment
- 3 qt Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot
Ingredients
For Lentils
- ½ cup Split black gram lentils with skin (Urad dal)
- ½ cup Split bengal gram lentils (chana dal)
- 4 cup Water
- 2 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ½ Onion, chopped red or white, scant 1 cup
- 1 Tomato, chopped scant 1 cup
- ½ tablespoon Ginger garlic paste
- ½ teaspoon Green chili, chopped Optional, see notes
For the Spiced Ghee/oil
- 1 tablespoon Ghee or use olive oil to make the dal vegan
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1.5 tablespoon Coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon Red chili powder I use cayenne
- ½ teaspoon Garam masala
- 4-5 sprigs Fresh cilantro finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the lentils and rinse with room temperature water 2-3 times. In a pressure cooker (I use this one), add the rinsed and drained lentils along with 4 cups of water, salt and turmeric powder. Set the pressure cooker on high heat and add the chopped onions, tomato, ginger garlic paste, and green chili (if using).
- Put on the lid of the pressure cooker with the weight on and lock it in place. It will take about 5 minutes for the cooker to come to full pressure (when it starts whistling). At this point, turn the heat to low and let the dal cook for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, turn the heat off and wait for the pressure to release by itself, another 15 minutes. See notes.
Tempering/Spiced Ghee/oil
- Set a heavy bottomed, small frying pan on medium high heat, add ghee (or olive oil) and let it heat up.
- Once the ghee melts, add cumin seeds and wait for the cumin seed to splutter. Now add coriander powder and red chili powder and cook for 10-15 seconds. Turn the heat off.
- Take the lid off the pressure cooker and return to medium heat. Stir the lentils around with a spatula and add the spiced oil/tadka to it. Add garam masala and chopped cilantro and the give the whole thing a taste check. Add more salt or garam masala if needed.
- These lentils can be enjoyed as a soup/stew with a slice of hearty whole wheat toast or as regular dal with roti/chapathi , rice, or naan. Enjoy!
Notes
Use a green chili as per desired level of heat or omit it completely.
If you are using an electric coil or flat stove top, you have to move the pressure cooker away from the stove after 20 minutes of cooking time is up so that the heat from the coil or flat top does not keep building the pressure in the pressure cooker.
If cooking in an open pot on the stove, the lentils will take longer to cook, about 45 minutes and you will have to add another 2 cups of water (at least) as the lentils cook. Look for a consistency you like.
Instant Pot Instructions: Add the rinsed and drained lentils, salt, turmeric, chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, and green chili (if using) into your instant pot. I have a 6-qt Instant Pot that I use for this recipe. Plug the instant pot in and set it to manual high pressure and set the timer to 20 minutes. Set the valve to sealing position. After the 20 minutes are up, let the pressure release naturally. It will take 10-15 minutes. Open the lid, set the instant pot to low saute mode. Add the spiced ghee and mix. Finish with chopped cilantro and garam masala. Turn the saute mode off as soon as the dal come to a boil.
Drizzling more ghee on a bowl of hot dal is divine. Give it a try!
The dal thickens as it sits, so if reheating leftovers, boil about half a cup of water (depending on the quantity of your leftovers) and add to the dal, then heat it up in a saucepan.
The garam masala I use is homemade and is very potent so I add just a small amount. If your store bought garam masala is not very strong, please adjust the amount to taste.
The garam masala I use is homemade and is very potent so I add just a small amount. If your store bought garam masala is not very strong, please adjust the amount to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 1185mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 463IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 5mg