Spicy Split Chick Pea Lentil / Masala Chana Dal / Easy Chana Dal Recipe / How to Make Chana Dal Masala / Punjabi Chana Dal Masala / Chana Dal Fry.
This is a Punjabi dish and is very popular nutritious lentil dish. This one is a very inviting dish you can make on a very tiring day with items that are available in your own pantry. You can include this as a part of your growing diet. I have to admit that I simply love this Chana Dal Masala. We had an incredible and delicious meal with hot and fresh chappathi..
There is a story behind making this Chana Dal Masala. I had a North Indian neighbour when I was in Nagpur and we had really shared a good bond of relationship and it still continues by God’s grace. We used to share our life, go for shopping together, exchange gifts, and even cooked together some days.. The custom of sharing curries and exchanging curries in kattories!! Wow.. those were the days.. By tasting those curries both of us wanted to learn the dish the other one used to cook.. So then started the process of teaching and learning various dishes.. It helped both of us to learn cooking as well as each other’s customs!! I used to teach her South Indian dishes and in turn she taught me many North Indian meals.. Chana Dal is one among those dishes she contributed to me.. So, whenever I make this Chana Dal Masala I remember her.
Lentils always have been and always will be the comfort food, which provides you load of proteins. It is a staple food of India. Each parts of India has its own version of cooking each kind of dal. The recipe calls for all those basic ingredients and probably you may have these in your pantry.
It can be served with Chappathi / Roti or steamed rice.
Servings – 4 as a side
Ingredients for Making Chana Dal Gravy:
For Cooking Chana Dal:
Chana Dal / Bengal Gram / Chick Pea lentil– 1 cup
Water – 3 cups
Salt – to taste
Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp.
For cooking Chana Dal Gravy:
Ginger and Garlic Paste – 2 tsp.
Green Chillies – 2, chopped finely
Big Onion / Savala – 1 medium sized, chopped finely
Tomatoe – 1 medium sized
Red Chilly Powder – 1 tsp.
Coriander Powder – 1 tsp.
Ground cumin – ½ tsp.
Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp.
Garam Masala – ½ tsp.
For Tempering:
Vegetable Oil – 1 ½ tbsp.
Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp.
Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp.
Dry Red Chilly – 1, broken
Curry Leaves – 1 sprig.
How to Make Chana Dal Masala:
Wash Lentils until water runs clear. Soak in enough water to cover the lentils, minimum for half an hour. After 30 minutes drain water from the bowl. Pressure cook the dal on medium heat for 5 or 6 whistles or until the lentils are tender, but not mushed. Let the pressure go down by itself.
Heat oil in a skillet. Add ginger and garlic paste. When it turns brown add Green Chillies. Sauté it till it changes colour. Now add chopped onion and sauté it till it turns translucent. Add chopped tomatoes with little salt and mix it for two minutes till it gets mushy. Then add turmeric powder, chilli powder, and coriander powder, ground cumin and garam masala and mix it till oil separates from the pan.
Now add the pressure cooked dal and ½ cup of water to it to make it to the consistency as per your liking. Let it come to a boil. Remove from the stove and keep it aside. Take a small pan and do the tempering. Add oil. When it is hot add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add the dry red chilly. Add cumin seeds. Let it sizzle. Add the curry leaves. Add this tempering in to the Dal mixture without wasting time. Mix it well.
Now the Chana Dal Masala is ready to be served. Serve with Rice, Chappathi or any Indian Bread of your choice.
My Recipe Notes on Chana Dal Fry:
1) The quantity of water and time required for cooking for different lentils vary. Keep that in mind while cooking dal.
2) For a speedy process, you can make dal ready in advance and refrigerate it. Before serving heat the dal and then do the tempering.
3) Adjust the consistency of the dal as per your liking. After adding water remember to boil it once again. If it is too thin, then let it boil for some more time till it thickens.
4) All lentils have to be soaked minimum for 30 minutes which make it cook fast.
5) You can cook Chana dal in an open pan too as an alternative to pressure cooking. In that case, add the lentils with enough water in a pan with salt and turmeric powder. Cook it on a medium heat. When water gets reduced, you can add boiled water and cook it till it gets soft.
6) Be careful while adding salt, because we added salt while cooking Chana dal in the pressure cooker.
7) Tempering adds a lot of flavour and aroma to the Chana dal.
Happy Cooking.. Cheers.. Seena.
ചന ദാൽ മസാല റെസിപ്പി.
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Chana Dal Masala.
Description
Learn how to make Chana Dal Masala, which is simple, delicious, healthy and easy to make. You won't believe how wonderful this Chana Dal Gravy is. The recipe calls for all those basic ingredients.