Best 4 Simple Lentil Dal Dahl Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Lentil dal dahl is a simple, hearty, and flavorful dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. Made with lentils, vegetables, and spices, this delectable dish is a staple in many Indian households. Whether you prefer a traditional or a modern twist, there are many ways to prepare this classic dish. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to create the perfect lentil dal dahl that will tantalize your taste buds and satisfy your cravings for a comforting and nutritious meal.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

SPICY VEGAN LENTIL DAHL



Spicy Vegan Lentil Dahl image

This spicy lentil dahl recipe is a dairy-free vegan soup that is hearty and delicious. It's also easy and inexpensive to make and great with flatbread.

Provided by Ashley Adams

Categories     Dinner     Entree     Lunch     Soup

Time 45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon sesame oil (or olive oil)
1 cup onion (white; finely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger (finely chopped)
4 cups water (or vegetable broth)
1 cup dried red lentils ( rinsed and picked over )
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Garnish: dairy-free soy yogurt

Steps:

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • In a 3-quart stockpot or other medium-sized soup pot, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring often, until the chopped onion is translucent, about 6 minutes.
  • Stirring constantly, add the water or broth, lentils, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and salt. Bring to a low boil, then turn down the heat to low, cover and let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes, or until lentils are very tender.
  • Stir in the tomato paste until well combined. Cook several minutes more, or until the soup is at the desired temperature and consistency, adding more water to the dahl if needed.
  • Garnish with a dollop of dairy-free soy yogurt if desired. Serve hot and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 142 kcal, Carbohydrate 22 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 6 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 666 mg, Sugar 6 g, Fat 4 g, ServingSize 4 portions (4 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g

LENTIL DAL



Lentil Dal image

Make and share this Lentil Dal recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Strawberry Girl

Categories     Lentil

Time 43m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled, minced
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
1/2 teaspoon red pepper, crushed
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cauliflower florets, chopped
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup dried lentils
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups cooked basmati rice or 6 cups long grain rice, cooked

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add onion, ginger, cumin, turmeric, red peppers, and garlic.
  • Saute 2 minutes.
  • Add cauliflower and tomatoes; saute 1 minute.
  • Stir in water and lentils; bring to a boil.
  • Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
  • Stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
  • Serve 1 cup lentil mixture with 1 cup rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 376.4, Fat 3.4, SaturatedFat 0.6, Sodium 313.3, Carbohydrate 72, Fiber 12.5, Sugar 4.3, Protein 14.3

SIMPLE LENTIL DAL (DAHL)



Simple Lentil Dal (Dahl) image

Don't let the word "Simple" fool you; it's a fairly easy recipe to make, but results in the loveliest of flavor complexities. The mashed garlic, cloves and cinnamon give the lentils a lovely, warm aftertaste and a heavenly fragrance. Whole spices are cooked in a bit of oil to infuse it with their flavor before the lentils are added and a fresh tempering oil is also used to finish the dish. This can be a of a stew-like consistency or like a soup depending on your preference. Add more water to thin, less to thicken. Puree a bit of the lentils for a smoother dal. Really nice over basmati rice! This was my second attempt at making a dal and my first *successful* one. ;) The recipe, (courtesy of acclaimed chef and cooking teacher, Suvir Saran), calls for pink lentils (dhuli masoor dal), but I used split yellow (mung or moong without the hulls and split).

Provided by Sandi From CA

Categories     Lentil

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1 inch piece cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon cumin seed
3 whole cloves
4 green cardamom pods
1 cup pink lentils (picked over, washed and drained) or 1 cup yellow split lentils (picked over, washed and drained)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
4 cups cold water
1 teaspoon salt, to taste
1 tablespoon canola oil (I used ghee, clarified butter)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves (mashed to a paste, about 1/2 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 fresh hot green chili pepper, minced (I used a tablespoon of roasted jalapeno, minced-not as hot)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 lemons, juice of or 1/2 lime, juice of, plus more to taste

Steps:

  • Heat the oil with the cinnamon stick in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the cinnamon unfurls, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add the cumin, cloves and cardamom and cook, stirring, until the cumin turns a golden brown color, about 1 more minute. Add the lentils, turmeric, water and salt. Bring to a boil and skim well. Turn down the heat and simmer, covered, until the lentils are soft, 20-30 minutes. Add more water during cooking if necessary. Taste for salt and add more if you need to.
  • Ladle about 1/2 cup of the lentils into a small bowl and mash them with a spoon (optional). Return the mashed lentils to the pot and give the dal a stir. Continue cooking at a simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes to thicken. If you like a thicker dal, use a whisk to break up the lentils into a puree. If you like a thinner dal, add water. Remove the cinnamon stick (and cardamom pods, if you like).
  • For the tempering oil, heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it just begins to brown around the edges, 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic paste, ginger and minced chile and cook just to mellow the raw taste of the garlic, 10-15 *seconds*.
  • Stir half of the tempering oil into the dal along with half of the cilantro and all of the lemon or lime juice. Simmer very gently for 5 minutes. Transfer the dal to a serving bowl, pour the remaining tempering oil over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cilantro. Serve hot with additional lemon or lime juice to taste.

DAL MAKHANI (INDIAN LENTILS)



Dal Makhani (Indian Lentils) image

Ever go to an Indian restaurant and wonder how they make those lentils? I hated lentils before I discovered Indian food. Then I scoured the internet to figure out how they achieved them, and through mixing and matching recipes and methods on videos, I've arrived at this recipe, which I think is pretty close. This version is very rich, but you can leave out the cream to make it lighter. Kasuri methi (fenugreek leaves) is almost impossible to find in the U.S., even in NYC, but it gives this dish something very special.

Provided by SOGOLONDJATA

Categories     Side Dish     Beans and Peas

Time 4h15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 cup lentils
¼ cup dry kidney beans
water to cover
5 cups water
salt to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
4 cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick, broken
4 bay leaves
6 whole cloves
1 ½ tablespoons ginger paste
1 ½ tablespoons garlic paste
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
1 cup canned tomato puree, or more to taste
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoons ground coriander
¼ cup butter
2 tablespoons dried fenugreek leaves
½ cup cream

Steps:

  • Place lentils and kidney beans in a large bowl; cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain.
  • Cook lentils, kidney beans, 5 cups water, and salt in a pot over medium heat until tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and set aside. Keep the lentils, kidney beans, and any excess cooking water in the pot.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook cumin seeds in the hot oil until they begin to pop, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves; cook until bay leaves turn brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low; add ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Stir to coat.
  • Stir tomato puree into spice mixture; cook over medium heat until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, coriander, and butter; cook and stir until butter is melted.
  • Stir lentils, kidney beans and any leftover cooking water into tomato mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Stir fenugreek into lentil mixture. Cover saucepan and simmer until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Add cream and cook until heated through, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 389.6 calories, Carbohydrate 37.1 g, Cholesterol 47.5 mg, Fat 21.5 g, Fiber 15.6 g, Protein 13.2 g, SaturatedFat 10.4 g, Sodium 420.2 mg, Sugar 3 g

Tips:

  • To make the dal more flavorful, use a combination of lentils. For example, you could use a mix of red lentils, black lentils, and green lentils.
  • If you don't have any tamarind paste, you can use lemon juice or vinegar as a substitute.
  • To make the dal creamier, blend it with an immersion blender or in a regular blender until smooth.
  • Serve the dal with rice, roti, or naan bread.
  • Garnish the dal with cilantro, chopped onions, or a dollop of yogurt.

Conclusion:

Lentil soup is a delicious, healthy, and affordable meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great source of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients. Lentil soup is also a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. For example, you can add different vegetables, spices, or herbs to create a unique and flavorful soup. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give lentil soup a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics