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 Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
  Last Updated : Jul 31,2020






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Top 10 Dal Recipes

Everybody has a reason to add a cup of dal to their meal, whether it is to include a soupy accompaniment in the meal, or to meet the day’s quota of body-building pulses. Indeed, every traditional Indian meal features a dal.

Gujarati Dal ( Gujarati Recipe)

Gujarati Dal ( Gujarati Recipe)

No matter whether it is prepared as Sambhar or as Dhan Saak Dal, as Trevti Dal or as Dal Fry, every region has its favourite dals and every meal is sure to include a bowlful of it!

Dal Fry

Dal Fry

The wondrous thing about Indian cuisine is that the same dal may be prepared in different regions in different ways! Some dals are prepared simply by tempering the cooked dal with whole spices and seeds, while some dals like Dal Kalai - A Bengali fare, are flavoured using masala pastes. 

Dal Kalai, Bengali Kalai Dal
Dal Kalai, Bengali Kalai Dal

Dals are often cooked with tomatoes and onions, and spiced up with green chillies and ginger. A tempering of cumin seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves goes a long way in boosting the flavour and aroma of the dal. Often, the tempering is only added at the end, giving the dal a lingering aroma. When you temper chilli powder or Garam Masala in ghee and add it atop a dal, it looks as appealing as coffee laced with cream! North Indian traditional  Dal Tadka is a classic example of this. 

Dal Tadka
Dal Tadka

Tangy ingredients like tamarind, kokum or lemon juice are often added for a refreshing flavour.

Likewise, sometimes a paste of coconut, chillies and spices may also be added to boost the flavour of the dal. Or, roasted and crushed groundnuts may be mixed in, to give the dal an exciting twist. Another thing to note when following a dal recipe is the extent to which the dal must be cooked.

Panchmel Dal

Panchmel Dal

Some recipes call for the dal to be fully-cooked and mashed, whereas in some cases the dal needs to be soaked and cooked only to the extent that its shape and texture can be discerned. This small difference can make or break such dals! Similarly, dals may also be made out of multiple dals, as in the case of Panchmel Dal, to create a mélange of tastes and textures.

Shahjahani DalShahjahani Dal



While dals like the Dal Fry and Masoor Dal are homely, everyday fare, those like the Dal Moghlai, Shajahani Dal and Shahi Dal are fit for a king.

Dal Moghlai
Dal Moghlai

Each region also has its favourite dal, be it the kokum and peanut tinted Gujarati dal, the royal Rajasthani Dal Banjari or the buttery Punjabi Dal Makhani.

Dal Makhani
Dal Makhani



Dals can be enjoyed with parathas, rice – plain or buttered. Depending on the main course, you can choose an appropriate dal. If you are serving with a spicy paratha, you can go for a subtle dal, while you can go for a richer one if serving with plain rice. A moment’s thought about how much time you have, what are the other items in the main course, and so on, is all that it takes to pick the right recipe for your meal.

Dal Amritsari
Dal Amritsari

Wherever in the world you are, a bowl of dal is all you need to comfort and nourish you, with good health and memories of ma’s cooking! So, forget not to cook yourself at least a simple dal every day.

Mooli-Moong-DalMooli Moong Dal

top 10 indian dal recipes

1.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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dal fry | Punjabi dal fry | dhaba style dal fry | Indian dal curry soup | with amazing 26 images. dal fry recipe is a popular Punjabi dal fry. A mixture of moong and masoor dal cooked to perfection in dhaba style dal fry and perked up with an aromatic tempering along with fried onions and tomatoes. This dal fry has a very pleasing texture and irresistible flavour too. From roadside dhabhas to global Indian restaurants, almost all diners serve this all-time favourite dhaba style dal fry. A thoughtful combination of everyday ingredients come together in the form of a tadka to give this dal frydal fry a thoroughly enjoyable flavour that lingers on the palate for a long time. dal fry with masoor dal is made with the most basic ingredients yet the outcome is beautiful. Generally, authentic dal fry is made with made with toor dal and chana dal but here we have slightly twisted the recipe by making dal fry with masoor dal and toor dal. This is our version of it. The aroma tingles your nostrils, while the flavour teases your taste buds – so enticing is this dal frydal fry that it is hard to believe that it is simple, everyday fare made with the commonest ingredients! The addition of nigella seeds to the tempering is a special touch, which leaves a lingering flavour of dal fry on your taste buds even after you finish your meal. You can serve the dal fry with rotis, parathas, naans, plain steamed rice or jeera rice. It is simple and easy to cook, but gives irresistible results, so do give it a try! Learn to make dal fry | Punjabi dal fry | dhaba style dal fry | Indian dal curry soup | with detailed step by step recipe photos and video below.
2.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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Gujarati dal recipe | Gujarati toovar dal | Gujarati tuvar dal | with 19 amazing images. With a characteristic sweet and sour taste, this traditional Gujarati dal recipe is quite reflective of Gujarati culture and uses the typical ingredients and spices. While Gujarati toovar dal is an everyday dal, it takes on a festive hue when ingredients like peanuts and yam are added to toor dal. For such grand occasions, the Gujarati tuvar dal is boiled over and over again to get the best flavour. Remember that the ideal balance of sweet and sour levels required for the success of this Gujarati dal recipe is an art that can be perfected with practice. Notes on Gujarati dal recipe. 1. If you prefer a thinner consistency dal then add water accordingly. 2. Add the jaggery, mix well and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, while stirring occasionally. It provides the necessary sweetness to the Gujarati dal. Also, you can add kharek which also provides a pleasant sweetness. Do try other traditionals dals like Dhansak Dal, Maa ki Dal and Char Dal ka Dalcha. Learn to make Gujarati dal recipe | Gujarati toovar dal | Gujarati tuvar dal | with step by step photos below.
3.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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Here is something you can prepare on any day, to enjoy the satiating wholesomeness of home-cooked meals! This Masoor Dal is prepared using common spice powders and pastes, not to forget tasty onions and tomatoes, which give it a lip-smacking flavour and aroma. Serve it hot with your favourite Rotis , to make a hearty meal.
4.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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dal makhani | how to make dal makhani | dhaba-style dal makhani | punjabi dal makhani | with 30 amazing photos. Dal Makhani or maa di dal, as it is popularly known in the Punjab, with its smooth velvety texture and lovely flavour is a delicacy that is very much a dish of the Punjab. Enjoy our Dal Makhani recipe with step by step photos and video. Every Punjabi restaurant, roadside eating place and food stall vendor makes the claim that Punjabi Dal Makhani is a delicacy that they alone can make to perfection. This my own tested recipe dare I claim it as the best? Dal Makhani is traditionally cooked on a low flame overnight and allowed to thicken. Using a pressure cooker helps cook the dal in a jiffy. Serve hot with naans. Also do try other recipes that combines beautifully with fresh tomato pulp like Kashmiri Dum Aloo or Cauliflower Stir-fry .
5.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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dal Mughlai recipe | restaurant style Mughlai dal | Indian style shahi dal | with 39 amazing images. dal Mughlai recipe | restaurant style Mughlai dal | Indian style shahi dal is a dal made in combination with vegetables. Learn how to make restaurant style Mughlai dal. To make dal Mughlai, clean, wash and soak the dals for about 30 minutes. Drain. Add the tomatoes, bottle gourd, turmeric powder, salt and 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Whisk the dals and keep aside. Heat the ghee in a deep pan and add the cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the garlic, green chillies, ginger and onions and sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes or till the onions turn light brown in colour. Add the whisked dal mixture and little salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Serve hot garnished with coriander. Indian style shahi dal may have originated from the royal kitchens, but this one’s a delight to make in the kitchen as well as relish. Toovar and chana dals are pressure cooked with lauki, tomatoes and turmeric and mixed well, before a tadka of garlic, ginger and jeera is added to it. Delicious! The vegetables add a contrasting texture to the dals. It is amazing to see how common ingredients can be combined to make a unique dal like restaurant style Mughlai dal which can be served with both chapati and steamed rice. Tips for dal Mughlai. 1. Taste the dal before adding more salt. 2. Prefer to whisk the dal coarsely to enjoy a good mouthfeel. 3. For a non-Jain version, avoid adding the onions and garlic. It will taste equally good. Enjoy dal Mughlai recipe | restaurant style Mughlai dal | Indian style shahi dal | with step by step photos.
6.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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Here, a wholesome combo of five dals is flavoured with a special masala water and whole spices as well! Not only the flavours of the spices, but the flavours of the assorted dals are also discernable in this delightful dish. Dissolving the spice powders in water before sautéing them ensures that they get uniformly mixed, and also gives a nice, strong aroma to the dish. The Panchmel Dal also gets a nice tangy twist from amchur powder and tamarind pulp, which makes it a nice, tongue-tickling treat!
7.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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On one of my trips to the Punjab I picked up this gem of a recipe from a rather small and inconspicuous Punjabi restaurant. This dal is absolutely delicious and the cook had no hesitation in telling me his secret which I now pass on to you! Like most Punjabi dals this too requires ghee that add an unmatched flavour. Milk is added to the dal making it creamy. Almonds are used, which make this dal even richer. Do try other Punjabi dals like Dal Amritsari or Panchratni Dal .
8.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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dal banjara recipe | Rajasthani dal banjara | healthy dal banjari | with amazing 23 images. dal banjara is a delicious dal recipe made with chiklewali urad dal and chana dal. It is derived from Rajasthan, however has gained popularity all over India due to its unique taste. dal banjara and langarwali dal are two quite similar dals, they are derived and originated from different regions yet the ingredients used are same. Story of Rajasthani dal banjara. A pot of pulses seasoned with simple spices was lit up with firewood and simmered for several hours to make this Rajasthani dal banjara preparation. The cooks would have a meal ready around the time the maharaja returned from shikaar. It would consist of this Rajasthani dal banjara along with a meat preparation eaten with rotis. This is a quicker version of the traditional recipe but tastes just as delicious. In Rajasthani banjara dal the intense flavour of urad dal with its skin on is simply brilliant compared to the relatively bland de-skinned version. Together with chana dal and an assortment of spices, green chillies and onions, it transforms into a delicious Rajasthani dal banjara that will make you lick your fingers! People often confuse themselves between maa ki dal, dal makhani and dal banjara. But the proportions of dal used in all the three dals vary. dal banjari is also quite mild in taste yet delicious. When I long for change in menu I make dal banjara with chapatti or jeera rice. It is definitely a comfort food for me. Also, the dal banjari uses minimum and the most basic ingredients and doesn’t take much time for cooking. I got familiar to this recipe when one of my Marwadi friend called me home for a meal, his mother prepared it for us. It is better to serve the dal banjara immediately on cooking, garnished with freshly chopped coriander, in order to retain the proper consistency. Over time, it has the tendency to thicken. Learn to make dal banjara recipe | Rajasthani dal banjara | healthy dal banjari | with detailed step by step photos.
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palak chana dal recipe | healthy spinach chana dal | Indian chana dal palak | zero oil chana dal palak | with 28 amazing images. palak chana dal recipe | healthy spinach chana dal | Indian chana dal palak | zero oil chana dal palak is a nourishing dal – a must for vegetarians. Learn how to make healthy spinach chana dal. To make palak chana dal, combine the chana dal, salt, turmeric powder and ¾ cup of water in a pressure cooker, mix well and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep aside. Heat a deep non-stick pan on a medium flame and when hot, add the mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida and dry roast for about 30 seconds or till the mustard seeds crackle. Lower the flame, add the green chilli and onions and dry roast till they turn light brown in colour. Sprinkle a little water if the onions start burning. Add the spinach and dry roast for 1 to 2 more minutes while stirring continuously. Add the cooked dal, jaggery, chilli powder and little salt and mix well. Add ½ cup of water, mix well and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. Serve hot. A Maharashtrian delight, tweaked to boost the health value! While palak adds vitamin A, iron and folate to this dish, chana dal adds protein, zinc and fibre. Indian chana dal palak is a sneak way of gaining many nutrients in one bowl. The perfectly cooked chana dal gives a pleasing mouthfeel which is enhanced by the addition of basic Indian spice powders like turmeric powder and chilli powder. Simple, yet enjoyable with chapati and a salad of your choice. All healthy individuals to weight wachers and even heart patients to diabetics can include this healthy spinach chana dal in their daily diet. While we have zero oil chana dal palak, if you wish you can temper the mustard seeds and green chilli in 1 tsp of oil. With the combination of palak and chana dal, you can also try a healthy non-fried snack – spinach and chana kebab. Tips for palak chana dal. 1. Soaking chana dal for ½ hour is important to reduce cooking time. 2. Ensure that you do not overcook chana dal, as each grain of dal should be separate and not mashed. 3. Spinach can be replaced with chopped fenugreek leaves. Enjoy palak chana dal recipe | healthy spinach chana dal | Indian chana dal palak | zero oil chana dal palak | with step by step photos.
10.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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black bean dal recipe | healthy black bean dal | black bean dal with vegetables | bhatt ki dal | with 46 amazing images. black bean dal recipe | healthy black bean dal | black bean dal with vegetables | bhatt ki dal from Pahari cuisine. Learn how to make healthy black bean dal. To make black bean dal, combine the black beans, salt, soda bi-carb and 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Do not drain the water and keep aside. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick kadhai and add the cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the garlic, ginger and green chillies and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds. Add the onions and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, salt, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder and 1 tbsp of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Then add the cooked dal (including the water), mix well and cook on a medium flame for another 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the coriander and fresh cream, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 more minutes, while stirring occasionally. Serve hot garnished with a sprig of coriander. There is a great feel-good factor booster in this protein-rich recipe! black bean dal with vegetables is a tasty and wholesome dal, which is also very easy to make. All in all, a lot of good things in one package! You just need to remember to plan ahead and soak the dal overnight. Once the dal is soaked and cooked, then the tomatoes, onions and common spice powders will work their magic in healthy black bean dal. The fibre in the black beans help manage blood sugar levels, and along with folate and potassium it helps in lowering blood cholesterol levels. The tomatoes and onions add a dose of antioxidant lycopene and quercetin, which further protects the health of the organs including the heart and skin. Also called as bhatt ki dal in Pahari cuisine, it can be served with roti or rice. It is commonly thickened by sautéing little wheat flour after cooking the onions and tomatoes. You can try either way. It is truly delicious! Tips for black bean dal. 1. If you wish you can coarsely blend the dal after pressure cooking. 2. Health conscious people can enjoy this dal with multigrain roti. Enjoy black bean dal recipe | healthy black bean dal | black bean dal with vegetables | bhatt ki dal | with step by step photos.
 
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Reviews

Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
5
 on 04 Oct 20 12:36 PM


I have tried kaddu nutrinuggets Excellent delicious way of using two main ingredients together It is highly nutritious rich Vit A and proteins Thanks Can you send me recepe of ten best dals Thanks
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Tarla Dalal    This article is about 10 Best Dals. Please try and share your feedback with us. https://www.tarladalal.com/top-10-indian-dal-recipes-4#c45296
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05 Oct 20 09:39 AM
Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
5
 on 01 Apr 19 02:33 PM


Very beautifully described recipes. Makes me inspired to try out.
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Tarla Dalal    Thanks for your feedback. Happy to know you liked the recipe collection.
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02 Apr 19 09:04 AM
Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
5
 on 01 Sep 17 09:53 PM


Just love u r all healthy recipes 😙 it''s easy to understand and just love to eat and serve my lovely family thank u and keep send this kind recipes.
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Tarla Dalal    Thanks Amita, great to hear from you. Happy cooking.
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02 Sep 17 11:03 AM
Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
5
 on 11 Apr 17 04:04 AM


Plz mail me kitchen Spices Dal''s cereals rice condiments And Kitchen Appliances tools accessories utensils Barware cookware etc plz Mail me on [email protected] Plz do some needful Coz I am starting my new life in new house
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Tarla Dalal    Hi, We are very sorry but we deal only with recipes an not any utensils or cookware.
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12 Apr 17 08:15 AM
Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
5
 on 03 Mar 17 02:46 PM


Yeh tho such hai Indian meal is incomplete without Dal and we love Dal Fry,Dal Banjari, Panchmel Dal,Shahi Dal thanks for above collection of Recipes
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Top 10 Dals, For a Strikingly Energetic Meal
5
 on 22 Feb 17 12:57 PM


Dals has high amount of energy and we are blessed by Tarlaji with all food ingredients
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Tarla Dalal    Thanks Manori for the feedback.
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02 Sep 17 11:59 AM