Dal Makhani: Creamy Black Lentils

Dal Makhani is a staple food from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Rich, Creamy and luscious, this protein rich lentil stew is a popular Indian treat.

Here is a recipe of the Dal Makhani

Ingredients:

1 cup whole black gram
2 tsp split bengal gram
1 tbsp red kidney beans (Rajma)
1 onion finely chopped
1 tomato finely chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
2 green chilies, finely chopped
2 dry red chillies
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cloves
3 cardamoms
1 tsp garlic paste
1 cup curd
1 cup cream
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
3 tsp clarified butter (ghee)
5 cups Water
Salt to taste

Method:

Soak kidney beans, black gram and split bengal gram together in water overnight.

Drain out all water from the pulses and add six cups of fresh water and little salt and pressure cook kidney beans and daal till soft for about 20 minutes. Mash and boil again for 15 minutes and add curd, ghee and cream to the daal.

Heat oil, splutter cumin seeds and add garlic paste, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms and fry till light brown. Add onions and fry till golden brown. Now add ginger, green chilies, dry red chillies and tomatoes and fry till tomatoes soften. Now add turmeric powder, coriander powder and salt and fry again for a moment.

Add daal and little water and stir on medium flame. As soon as it starts boiling remove from the heat.

Garnish daal makhni with coriander and add butter. Serve daal makhni hot. Goes well with laccha paratha, naan or rice.

Microwave Dal


Soak kidney beans, black gram and split bengal gram together in water overnight.

Add the salt and turmeric powder and mix well. Cover with a microwave safe lid and microwave on high for 15 minutes or until the dals are cooked.

Put the butter in another microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Add the cumin seeds and microwave on high for 30 seconds.

Add the onions garlic paste, ginger, green chilies, dry red chillies, tomatoes, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms, turmeric powder, coriander powder and salt along with dal and water. Mix well and microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring once in between after 2 minutes.

Garnish daal makhni with coriander and add cream. Serve daal makhni hot. 

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