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Dhaba Dal (Made With 5 Lentils)

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Drawing inspiration from the lentil dishes served at Punjabi dhabas, this luscious and well-seasoned Dhaba-style dal fry embodies a rich blend of flavors. What sets this recipe apart is its health-conscious approach, incorporating a diverse mix of five distinct dals or lentils, thereby elevating its nutritional value and protein content.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Indian
Servings 3
Calories 240 kcal

Ingredients
  

For Cooking Dal (Lentils)

  • 2 tablespoons chana dal husked & split bengal gram
  • 2 tablespoons tuvar dal husked & split pigeon pea lentils
  • 2 tablespoons urad dal split urad dal with their husks (chilkewali urad dal)
  • 2 tablespoons moong dal split mung lentils with husks (chilkewali moong dal)
  • 2 tablespoons masoor dal (pink lentils)
  • 1 pinch turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • 2 cups water for pressure cooking

Other Ingredients

  • 1.5 tablespoons oil – can use ghee or butter
  • 55 grams onion or 1 medium onion or ⅓ cup chopped onion
  • 4 grams ginger or ½ inch ginger or 1 teaspoon crushed ginger
  • 4 grams garlic or 6 to 7 small garlic cloves or 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
  • 2 to 3 green chilies slit
  • 2 to 3 dry red chilies
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi, crushed
  • 115 grams tomatoes or 1 large tomato, chopped or ½ cup chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder (or cayenne pepper or paprika)
  • ½ teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)
  • ¼ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
  • ½ to ⅔ cup water or add as required
  • salt as required
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves

Whole Spices

  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ inch cinnamon
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • 1 tej patta or indian bay leaf

Instructions
 

Cooking Lentils

  • Pick and rinse the lentils a couple of times. If you want you can also soak the lentils in water for an hour.
  • Add the lentils in a pressure cooker along with a pinch of turmeric powder. Also add 2 cups water.
  • Pressure cook for 18 to 20 minutes on a low to medium flame.
  • When the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and check the dals.
  • The lentils should be cooked very well and softened.
  • Lightly mash and keep aside.

Making Dhaba Style Dal

  • In a kadai or pan, heat 1.5 tablespoon oil or ghee.
  • Add all the whole spices and saute them till they crackle and become fragrant.
  • Then add the chopped onions.
  • Stir often and saute till the onions turn light golden.
  • Then add 1 tsp crushed ginger, 1 tsp crushed garlic, 2 to 3 slit green chilies and 2 to 3 dry red chilies. Mix well and saute till the raw aroma of ginger & garlic goes away.
  • Add crushed kasuri methi and stir.
  • Now add the chopped tomatoes. Stir and saute till the tomatoes soften.
  • Then add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and a pinch of asafoetida.
  • Mix the spice powders with the rest of the onion-tomato masala.
  • Add the cooked dal and mix well.
  • Add water and stir very well.
  • Season with salt and mix again.
  • Simmer the dhaba dal on a low flame till the dal thickens a bit. 
  • Keep on stirring at intervals so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • When the dal is done, switch off the flame. Add chopped coriander leaves. Reserve some coriander leaves for garnishing.
  • Garnish with some coriander leaves and serve the dhaba style dal hot with rotis or parathas or steamed rice or cumin rice or ghee rice. You can also do the dhungar method if you want and then serve the dal.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 10gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 513mgPotassium: 294mgFiber: 11gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 561IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Dhaba Dal (Made With 5 Lentils)
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