Toovar dal, arhar dal or pigeon pea is one of the must-have items on the grocery list of most Indian families. Tasty, healthy and versatile, it is one of the most popularly used pulses in India. The toovar legume is harvested, skinned, dried and sold as dal in whole or split form. The split one is more commonly used. Both polished and unpolished dal is available in the market, and the unpolished one is more nutritious.
This dal is easily available all over India. There are some families, especially in South India, who buy an annual stock of this dal at the onset of summer when it is usually processed by the farmers and supplied fresh to wholesalers. The women take it upon themselves to dry the dal once more (just to be sure!) in their terraces on large straw or jute mats, allow it to cool in the shade, and store it in huge tins or drums for yearlong use. For many, this is an annual ritual, and increases the feel-good factor and general sense of wellbeing or prosperity of the household!
Toovar dal is used to make nutritious and tasty dals and khichdis. It is also used in some special curries and subzis like the South Indian Paruppu Usili. While the split dal is more commonly used, the whole one is also used sometimes to make tongue-tickling subzis, such as the Maharashtrian-style Masala Toovar Dal.
Top 10 Toovar Dal Recipes
Normally, we think of combining toovar dal with tamarind or tomatoes for tang, but here is a refreshingly different recipe made with curds. The Dahiwali Toovar Dal can be served for lunch with steaming hot rice or chapatis.
Toovar is one of the most commonly used dals in Gujarat and is cooked regularly in most households. The Gujarati Toovar Dal recipe has an interesting sweet, tangy and spicy flavor with an appetizing aroma that is accentuated by the traditional tempering. It tastes great with a nice subzi and rotis.
Since toovar dal by itself tastes good with a kind of rustic aroma and flavor, it can be cooked simply with basic masalas and some onions, without any fuss. Toovar Dal with Onions can be cooked on any fine day without any advance planning or preparations.
Back home from office on a busy day, you deserve a wholesome and satiating dinner – but one that is also easy to prepare. Made of mixed veggies, rice and toovar dal, this filling and mouth-watering khichdi is just perfect...Toovar Dal and Mixed Vegetable Masala Khichdi
Let’s give a spicy Gujarati touch to the toovar dal khichdi, to make it even more special. This awesomely off-beat Toovar Dal ni Khichdi is sure to bowl you over…
When toovar dal joins hands with palak, you get an irresistibly tasty, healthy and satiating dal that’s perfect to enjoy with rice. Palak Toovar Dal
Masalawali Toovar Dal, which features a combination of toovar dal with onions and tomatoes, is a semi-spicy dal that can be enjoyed by one and all.
Now for a Maharashtrian delicacy that uses whole toovar to make a healthier and tastier dish. Masala Toovar Dal
A fusion dish that brings together samosas and toovar dal, the strong Oriental influence of this dish is sure to kindle your imagination and enthrall your taste buds. Burmese Samosa Toovar Dal Curry Soup
When green garlic is in season, this yummy dal is a must-try. It is very healthy, and the flavor is really wow, so just don’t miss this. Hare Lehsun ki Toovar Dal
For those of you who consider toovar as one of your staple foods, there are enough recipes to make a different one every day of the week! For the others, who have just bought their first pack of toovar dal after reading this article, this is just the beginning of a journey with India’s much-loved pulse. You are sure to love it more and more as you continue trying recipes with it. The consistency of the cooked toovar, not to forget its flavor and aroma are just perfect for Indian cooking!