Chana dal recipe – a simple, easy and delicious curry using split chickpeas with spices. This healthy North Indian style recipe uses split chickpeas ( or split bengal gram ) with simple spices.
In North India, dal, together with chapathis or rice, is a staple diet for lunch or dinner.
There are various varieties of dal that are available and I like to make simple ones like spinach dal which uses moong dal.
This simple chana dal too is very easy to make and has an wonderful earthy flavor. It is a great side dish for chapathis or phulkas. It also goes very well with rice too.
So what is chana dal? It is basically a yellow lentil that is obtained when kala chana or black chickpeas are skinned and split. Also called as bengal gram, these are rich in protein as well as fiber.
This dal curry is made with just a few everyday ingredients and is a comfort food. Flavored with just a few spices, it is a breeze to make.
It is best to soak the dal for atleast 2 hours so that it gets softened and hence cooks faster. Usually I soak it for around 4 hours.
For other easy dal recipes do check out
Lets move on to the recipe for easy chana dal curry.
How to make Chana Dal step by step
- Wash the chana dal 4-5 times in water. Then soak it in enough water for around 4 hours. Drain the water and take the soaked dal in a pressure cooker. Add chopped ginger, chopped garlic and salt along with 2 1/2 cups water. Pressure cook the dal for 5-6 whistles till it turns soft and remove from heat. Once the pressure has released by itself, remove the lid of the cooker and drain the water, retaining it for using later in the curry.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, dry red chilli and a pinch of asafoetida.
- Once the cumin seeds crackle, add finely chopped onions.
- Saute till the edges of the onions turn brown in color and then add finely chopped tomatoes.
- Fry for 2 mins till the tomatoes turn slightly soft. Now add turmeric powder and red chilli powder and mix well. Fry for a minute.
- Then add the cooked chana dal and mash it slightly. Add the water that you reserved after pressure cooking the dal. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat. Let it simmer on low heat for 10 minutes or till the gravy thickens to desired consistency. Finally add the garam masala.
- Stir well and remove from heat. Chana dal is now ready to be served hot.
Chana Dal | Split Chickpeas Dal Recipe
( 1 cup = 250 ml )
Chana Dal recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup chana dal ( split chickpeas or bengal gram dal )
- 1 small onion
- 1 small tomato
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds ( jeera )
- 1 tsp finely chopped ginger
- 1 tsp finely chopped garlic
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 1/4 tsp garam masala powder
- 1 dry red chilli
- A pinch of asafoetida ( hing )
- 1 tbsp oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash the chana dal 4-5 times in water. Then soak it in enough water for around 4 hours. Drain the water and take the soaked dal in a pressure cooker. Add chopped ginger, chopped garlic and salt along with 2 1/2 cups water. Pressure cook the dal for 5-6 whistles till the dal turns soft and remove from heat. Once the pressure has released by itself, remove the lid of the cooker. Drain the water, retaining it for using later in the curry.
- Heat oil in a pan or kadai. Add cumin seeds, dry red chilli and a pinch of asafoetida.
- Once the cumin seeds crackle and change color slightly, add the finely chopped onions.
- Saute till the edges of the onions turn brown in color. Then add finely chopped tomatoes.
- Fry for 2 mins till the tomatoes turn slightly soft. Now add turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Mix well and fry for a minute.
- Then add the cooked chana dal and mash it slightly. Add the water that you reserved after pressure cooking the dal. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat. Let it simmer on low heat for 10 minutes or till the gravy thickens to desired consistency. Finally add the garam masala.
- Stir well and remove from heat. Chana dal curry is now ready to be served hot with chapathis or rice.
Notes
- Soak the chana dal for atleast 2 hours before use so that it softens and cooks faster.
- This chana dal curry goes well with rotis, phulkas or rice.
Nutrition Information
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