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Brian Sunter

Chana Dal

A hearty, gently sweet dal with a meaty taste. Serve with rice, chicken with tomatoes and garam masala, and cauliflower with potatoes.

1h 30m 4 servings
main dal indian vegetarian stovetop
Scale
Units

Ingredients

  • 225 g chana dal
  • 1.15 litres water
  • 0.50 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 thin slices fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp garam masala
  • 3 tbsp ghee
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 0.50 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves
  • 0.50 tsp red chilli powder

Equipment

  • heavy pot
  • frying pan

Instructions

Cook the Dal

1

Put the 225 g chana dal in a heavy pot along with the measured 1.15 litres water . Bring to the boil and remove any surface scum. Add the 0.50 tsp ground turmeric and 2 thin slices fresh ginger . Cover, leaving the lid just very slightly ajar, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 90 minutes or until the dal is tender.

Season

2

Add the 1 tsp salt and 0.25 tsp garam masala to the dal. Stir to mix.

Temper the Spices

3

Heat the 3 tbsp ghee or 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a small frying pan over a medium flame. When hot, put in the 0.50 tsp cumin seeds . A couple of seconds later, put in the 2 cloves garlic cloves . Stir and fry until the garlic pieces are lightly browned. Put the 0.50 tsp red chilli powder into the pan. Immediately, lift the pan off the heat and pour its entire contents

View Cooklang Source
recipe.cook 
---
title: Chana Dal
description: "A hearty, gently sweet dal with a meaty taste. Serve with rice, chicken with tomatoes and garam masala, and cauliflower with potatoes."
servings: 4
time: 1 hour 45 minutes
tags: [dal, indian, vegetarian, main, stovetop]
cuisine: Indian
difficulty: easy
---

== Cook the Dal ==

Put the @chana dal{225%g} in a #heavy pot{} along with the measured @water{1.15%litres}. Bring to the boil and remove any surface scum. Add the @ground turmeric{0.5%tsp} and @fresh ginger{2%thin slices}. Cover, leaving the lid just very slightly ajar, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for ~{90%minutes} or until the dal is tender.

> Stir every 5 minutes or so during the last half hour of cooking to prevent sticking.

== Season ==

Add the @salt{1%tsp} and @garam masala{0.25%tsp} to the dal. Stir to mix.

== Temper the Spices ==

Heat the @ghee{3%tbsp} or @vegetable oil{3%tbsp} in a small #frying pan{} over a medium flame. When hot, put in the @cumin seeds{0.5%tsp}. A couple of seconds later, put in the @garlic cloves{2%cloves}. Stir and fry until the garlic pieces are lightly browned. Put the @red chilli powder{0.5%tsp} into the pan. Immediately, lift the pan off the heat and pour its entire contents -- ghee and spices -- into the pot with the dal. Stir to mix.

> If you cannot find chana dal, substitute yellow split peas.