Dal Makhani (Spicy Black Lentils)

Submitted by Sana7149

"I have had this recipe for some time now. I love this dal - it tastes soooo good. If you want to cut down on the calories, you can omit the cream - it will still taste very good."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 18
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup whole black lentils (whole urad)
• 2 tablespoons kidney beans
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 2 green chilies, slit
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 2 cloves
• 3 cardamoms
• 1⁄2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 1⁄2 cups fresh tomato puree
• 3⁄4 cup cream
• 2 cups water, to boil the lentils in
• 3⁄4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
• salt

directions

1. Clean, wash and soak the whole black lentils and kidney beans overnight. Drain and keep aside.
2. Combine the lentils and beans with salt and 2 cups of water and cook till the dals are overcooked. Whisk well till the mixture is almost mashed.
3. Heat the butter in a pan and add the cumin seeds.
4. When the cumin seeds crackle, add the green chillies, cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, onions, ginger-garlic paste and sauté till the onions turn golden brown in color.
5. Add the chilli powder, turmeric powder and tomato puree and cook over a medium flame till the oil separates from the tomato gravy.
6. Add the dal mixture, water and salt if required and simmer for 10 t 15 minutes.
7. Add the cream and mix well.
8. Garnish with the cilantro and serve hot.

Reviews

[valfaro]

I love cooking and following recipes. Often recipes are hit and miss, but this dish is fantastic! So yummy and delicious. I used 3 tablespoons of ghee and made it super HOT by adding half a habanero pepper and 1/8 t. of cayenne pepper rather than chili powder. I probably won't make it as hot the next time around and will definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Chef Bill Bear]

This was the closest recipe to what I have had in restaurants. I guess it is the Punjabi recipe that I like. Anyway, like other reviewers, I had to substitute ground for fresh, but it came out brilliantly! I can fully understand why this dish has become comfort food for some. Now one of my favourites! Thanks!

 

[504Jeana]

Very yummy and pretty simple. The hardest part for me was converting what whole spices equaled ground. I made a few changes based on what I had in my pantry. I used bell pepper and cayenne pepper instead of the green chilies. I used ground for all the spices except clove. I used extra onion. I also used 4 garlic cloves and an 1.5 in piece of ginger instead of the paste. I used tomato paste and water instead of puree. Milk instead of cream. And (by mistake) cilantro instead of coriander. It was awesome. We all had seconds and even my 1 year old loved it. The dog won't even get a taste.

 

[Sarah S.]

Wow! Delicious recipe! I tried hard not to deviate but I was missing some things (like cinnamon sticks so used ground spice.) It still came out amazing. Thank you for sharing this.

 

[kbrapport]

Great recipe. Can't wait to make this for my family. More recipes like this will always be appreciated.