Chana dal recipe – Delicious, spicy, healthy & protein-packed dish made with skinned split chickpeas, spices, onions and tomatoes. In India, we eat lentils regularly. Our everyday meal consists of a lentil dish and most often it is in the form of a curry. There are so many kinds of lentils we use and chana dal happens to be one of them.
It is used to make a dal curry, halwa, kheer, vada, pulao, masala powders etc. Chana dal is even used in curries along with vegetables like lauki, brinjal etc. In South India it is used to make a chutney and tempering as it adds an aroma.
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In most households, one of the most common preparation is to make a simple dal dish to serve with rice. This chana dal is good to serve with hot steamed rice, Ghee rice, Jeera rice, chapati, bhakri or roti along with some fresh veggie salad.
It is also eaten with pakwan, a fried bread. Dal pakwan is a popular Sindhi food where prepared chana dal topped with tamarind chutney, green chutney, some onions and coriander leaves is served with pakwan.
What is chana dal?
Chana dal also known as Bengal gram is the skinned split version of whole brown chickpeas. Also known as kala chana, these brown/black chickpeas are the desi variety & are smaller in size than the white chickpeas, kabuli chana.
In India, we use the whole brown chickpeas as well the split & skinned version of the same. I have shared the recipe of the whole brown chickpeas here – kala chana recipe.
There are a lot of Indian recipes where chana dal is used like Puran poli, Crispy masala vada and mixed dal dosa. The recipe I have shared in this post is another easy to make and healthy dish.
Chana dal is protein packed and nutrient rich. It includes zinc, folate and calcium. Chana dal is one of those lentils that has a very low glycemic index and is suitable even to those with diabetics. The high fiber content is also said to reduce the bad cholesterol.
Preparation for chana dal
1. Wash half cup chana dal well a few times. Soak it for 1 to 4 hours depending on your convenience.
2. Drain the water and add the chana dal to the pressure cooker. Then pour 1¼ cup water.
3. Pressure cook for 3 to 5 whistles depending on the size and brand of the cooker. You can also keep the dal in a bowl and pour water. Cover it and keep inside the cooker. Cook for 5 whistles. If you do not have a cooker, then just boil in a pot pouring more water as needed.
4. Chana dal must be fully cooked but not turn mushy. It must be grainy.
How to make chana dal recipe
5. Add ghee or oil to a kadai. When it is hot add cumin and allow to sizzle.
6. Then add broken red chilies and fry for 30 seconds. Quickly add hing.
7. Next add onions and fry until golden.
8. Add ginger and saute just until the raw smell goes away.
9. Transfer chopped tomatoes, turmeric and salt.
10. Saute well until the tomatoes turn mushy. Then add red chili powder and garam masala.
11. Again fry this for a few mins till the raw smell goes away.
12. Next transfer the cooked dal along with the stock in cooker.
13. Mash gently and cook for a few minutes until the dal turns thick. Add kasuri mathi and amchur.
14. Cook further for 1 to 2 mins. Sprinkle coriander leaves.
Serve chana dal with plain rice, paratha or roti.
For more Dal recipes, you can check
Dal makhani
Masoor dal
Moong dal
Dal fry
Dal palak
Tips to make chana dal
Onions: I have used a small onion. You can skip that. There would be no change in the taste as such.
Tomatoes: You can either use chopped tomatoes or pureed tomatoes as per your convenience. In most of our foods, I usually puree the tomatoes and use since the skin of the tomatoes don’t go well with my kids.
Spices: I keep the usage of spices and spice powders to the minimum in dal recipes as I prefer the flavor of dal than the spices. However more whole spices can be used in the tempering like bay leaf and a small cinnamon stick.
Soaking: To avoid stomach upset and bloating in toddlers & kids, it is always good to soak chana dal for at least 4 to 6 hours and then use in this chana dal recipe.
However soaking for at least 30 mins to 1 hour in hot water is crucial to cook the lentils fast.
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Recipe card
Chana dal
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- ½ cup chana dal (bengal gram)
- 1¼ cup water (1½ cups for pot)
For Tempering
- 2 tablespoon ghee or oil or butter
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon cumin (jeera)
- ⅛ teaspoon asafoetida (hing) (optional)
- 1 small onion (about 4 tbsps chopped)
- 1 green chili chopped (skip if making for kids)
- ½ inch ginger crushed or ½ tsp paste (or 1 garlic chopped)
- 1 medium tomato chopped finely (or ¼ cup tomato puree)
- 1 red chili broken (less spicy variety)
- ½ teaspoon Salt or as per taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ to ½ cup water (use as needed to bring to consistency)
- ¼ teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) (optional)
For garnish & serving
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves or cilantro chopped finely
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or ¼ tsp dried mango powder (amchur powder)
Instructions
Preparation
- Add chana dal to a pot or cooker. Rinse a few times until water runs clear. Soak it in regular water for 1 to 4 hours as per your convenience.
- Later drain the water and pour 1¼ cups fresh water. If cooking in a pot pour 1½ cups water.
- Cook chana dal on a medium heat until soft and completely done. Dal must hold shape, yet get mashed well if you mash it .
- If using pressure cooker you may need to cook it any where for 3 to 5 whistles depending on the brand of cooker. When the pressure releases, open the lid.
Tempering chana dal
- Heat ghee or oil in a pan. Add cumin and red chili. Saute until cumin begins to splutter.
- Add hing, green chilies and onions. Saute very well until the onions turn lightly golden.
- Next ginger or ginger garlic paste. Saute for 30 to 60 seconds until it turns aromatic.
- Add tomatoes, salt and turmeric. Saute and cook until the tomatoes turn soft.
- Next add chili powder and garam masala.
- Saute for 1 to 2 mins. Make sure raw smell of all the ingredients has gone completely & the masala smells good.
- Add chana dal along with the left over stock or water in the pot/ cooker.
- Mix everything well and if needed add little water to bring it to a consistency you like.
- Lightly mash the dal with the spatula to get a thick consistency. Cook until the chana dal begins to bubble well. Do not overcook.
- Add crushed kasuri methi and amchur powder (optional).
- Stir and turn off the stove. Add some coriander leaves & squeeze in some lemon juice.
- Transfer chana dal to a serving bowl. Serve with rice, ghee, papad or a veg salad.
Notes
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
The chana dal turned out beautifully! A friend thought it was much better than the local Indian restaurant’s dal😀. The recipe is so well laid out and explained. I’m learning a lot about Indian food, too, just reading through various recipes. I can’t wait to make more of your recipes, Swasthi! The grilled vegetable sandwich looks especially delicious, but then there are a whole bunch more dishes to try. We have a local Indian food store and it looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time there.
Thank you!
Hello Catherine
So glad to know it turned out good. Yes give them a try.
Thank you so much!
🙂
Growing up I never liked chana dal. That changed after I made this recipe. It’s beautiful and delicious. Thank you Swasthi for sharing your knowledge and talent! God Bless!
Happy to know Sonia.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for this recipe. I am trying to find ways to incorporate more lentils and legumes into my diet bec they are great sources of protein and fiber. This was delicious and the first chana dal recipe I’ve ever tried. It is wonderful and will go into regular rotation. It is savory and full of flavor. Many thanks!
Hi,
Happy to know the recipe helped you! Thank you!
Hi Swasthi,
I always like your recipes – spicy but not so much that the main ingredient’s taste is covered up. I have a question about chana dal:
I always find a certain number of rock-hard pieces no matter how long I boil the dal. I use stovetop method (no pressure cooker). Should I switch to a pressure cooker, or is the dal I am using too old?? Thank You!
Hello James,
Thank you! Yes if the dal is too old then it may not cook. Easier way is to soak for 3 to 4 hours and then cook. I usually keep the soaked dal (drained well) in fridge for a week and add a handful to curries. They cook in about 5 to 7 mins. Hope this helps
This was great! The only change I made was using chicken stock for the water (I have never been a good vegetarian)!) It was a little too spicy for my wife but really great flavor!! Served with basmati rice and garlic naan. Perfect! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Thank you Dj,
Glad it turned out good.
I have rarely seen a recipe so well presented with pictures and descriptions. I ordered Chana Dal online from an Indian store by mistake and it has been sitting there untouched. This recipe has certainly prompted me to give it a try. Good job Swasti!
Hello Kpunja,
Thank you so much! Yes do try it. You can also add chana dal to soups or porridge along with some veggies. You can also make a salad. Hope you enjoy the dish!
Very well written. Thank you for taking time to write this great all-time favorite daal recipe.
Welcome Asif
I tried it. Very good outcome. Thanks.
You are welcome
This chana dal was absolutely delicious. Thank you.
Hi Lim,
You are welcome. Glad you liked it. Thank you!
Hi, very excited to try this recipe.
How much onion goes into it? And what type of onion?
Thanks!
Hi Dave,
You can use 1 small onion – about 3 to 4 tbsps chopped. Brown onions or red onions go well here.
Delicious–thank you!
Welcome Susan
Turned out good
Thank you
Hello! Can I use toor dal instead of chana dal? Thank you!
Hi Anna
Yes you can us toor dal
Thank you! BTW, your recipes are fantastic! My Indian husband has been very happy with the turnouts of everything I tried from your website. Thanks so much, your recipes really helped me learn a lot about indian cooking.
Welcome Anna,
Thanks a lot for trying the recipes. Very glad to know the recipes are helpful.
🙂
swasthi, thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Great.
I dont do garlic or onion so I added 1 diced green pepper (capsicum), dehydrated coriander leaves (cilantro), 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder, and a teaspoon of cumin powder… it turned out wonderfully… and we like hot spicy food so I went a little liberal with the red chilly powder and green chilli. This is probably one of the best chana dal recipes I have offered… Hare Krishna… _/\_♡
Hare Krishna!
Thanks for trying the recipe. Very glad to know chana dal turned out good.
Yummy made it loved it
Thanks for trying