Dal Makhani (Spicy Black Lentils)

Sana's Note:

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.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• ¾ 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
• ½ cup onion , finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 ½ cups fresh tomato puree
• ¾ cup cream
• 2 cups water , to boil the lentils in
• ¾ 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

[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.

[bebeboy03]

I really liked this a lot. I was trying to find a recipe similar to one I had at my favorite Indian restaurant. This came daringly close. I used red lentils instead of black because that was all I had on hand. I also served it with some flatbread and mint chutney. Very yummy, thank you!!