Chickpea Daal Indian Recipes

CHANA DAL, NEW DELHI-STYLE

Steps:

• Combine the chana dal, turmeric, cardamom, bay leaf, salt and 4 cups water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently, cover partly and cook for 40 minutes. At that point, the mixture should still be quite moist; if it is not, add 1 cup additional water and continue cooking, covered, until the dal is tender, about 20 minutes; turn off the heat. Remove the bay leaf. Use an Indian mathani (see related article) to purée the dal for about 1 minute; the dal should be saucy but not soupy.
• To make the tadka, put the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the cloves; let sizzle for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until medium brown. Stir in the chili flakes if you're using them, and turn off the heat.
• Pour the tadka into the dal; stir gently to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

CHANA DAL (AUTHENTIC NORTH INDIAN RECIPE)

Steps:

• Pick and rinse the chana dal well in running water.
• Soak the dal in enough water for an hour. Or soak in hot water (not boiling hot water) for 30 minutes.
• Drain the lentils and add them to a 3 litre pressure cooker along with turmeric powder. Add 2.5 to 3 cups water in the cooker and stir well. For Instant pot add 2 to 2.5 cups water.
• On a high heat pressure cook the lentils for 10 to 11 minutes or for 7 to 8 whistles or more, till the dal is softened and well cooked.
• In the instant pot, pressure cook on high mode for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Allow the cooker or Instant Pot to do a complete natural pressure release before unsealing the lid. That means to let the pressure falls on its own in the cooker or instant pot.
• Check the lentils. They should be very soft and easy to mush with the back of a spoon.
• Cover and set aside the cooked chana dal.
• In another pan, heat oil or ghee.
• Add the cumin seeds first and fry for a few seconds till they splutter.
• Then add the garlic and fry till they become light brown.
• Now add the onions and fry till they get golden stirring often.
• Now add the chopped tomatoes, ginger and green chili.
• Stir and add all the dry spice powders - turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala powder, asafoetida, dry mango powder and coriander powder.
• Sauté stirring often till the tomatoes soften and the oil starts to leave the sides of the mixture.
• Add the crushed dry fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) and stir.
• Pour the cooked chana dal together with its stock to the sautéed masala mixture or vice versa. Season with salt according to taste.
• Stir and simmer the dal for 6 to 8 minutes or more till you get medium consistency of the dal. The consistency is neither thick nor thin.
• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
• Serve the chana dal hot with some basmati rice or roti or bread.

CHICKPEA & COCONUT DHAL

Steps:

• Heat the ghee or groundnut oil and fry the onion over a medium heat until it's pale gold and soft. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another couple of mins. Stir in all the spices and cook for another minute or so, then add all the remaining ingredients and 450ml water. Bring to just below boiling point, turn the heat down and simmer for about 40 mins until the split peas are soft. If you like your dhal thick in texture, mash the chickpeas to break them down. If the mixture is getting dry, add more water. If it's too thin, keep cooking until you get the thickness you want. There is no 'right' consistency; dhal can be almost brothy or like a thick purée.
• To serve, heat the ghee or butter in a pan and add the shallots. Fry until they're golden, then add the cumin seeds, black mustard seeds and chilli flakes. Cook until their aromas are released. Scatter coriander on top of the dhal, then pour over the spiced butter.

CHICKPEA DAHL RECIPE

Steps:

• Gently cook the onion in the oil until soft. Add the garlic, cook for 1 min, then add the curry powder and stir over a low heat for another minute.
• Stir in the potato, add 425ml water and bring to the boil.
• Cover and simmer for 15 mins, then add the chickpeas and tomatoes; simmer for another 10 mins. Stir in the coriander and chillies.

CURRIED CHICKPEA AND LENTIL DAL

Steps:

• Mustard Seed and Turmeric Oil:
• Cook oil and mustard seeds in a small saucepan over medium-low, swirling often, until mustard seeds start to pop. Remove from heat and stir in turmeric and cayenne. Season with salt; let cool.
• Cilantro-Raisin Chutney:
• Mix shallot, raisins, cilantro stems, lime juice, and oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stew and assembly:
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Cook onions and garlic, cut side down, and ginger, stirring onions and ginger occasionally, until onions are translucent and garlic is golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Add curry powder and cayenne and cook, stirring constantly, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chickpeas and 5 cups water, stirring to release any bits stuck on bottom of pot; season with several pinches of salt. Bring to a simmer; cover with a lid, leaving slightly askew so steam can escape. Cook, adjusting heat to maintain a very gentle simmer and skimming foam from surface as needed, until chickpeas have swelled about 50 percent in size but are still crunchy, 25-30 minutes.
• Add coconut milk and lentils to pot; season with more salt. Return to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until chickpeas are tender and lentils have broken down to form a thick broth, 30-35 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Ladle dal into bowls and serve with toasted Mustard Seed and Turmeric Oil, Cilantro-Raisin Chutney, coconut, chiles, and/or cilantro as desired.
• Do Ahead
• Oil can be made 1 day ahead. Store tightly covered at room temperature. Chutney can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Dal can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

CHICKPEA DAAL (INDIAN)

Steps:

• Wash chickpeas in water.
• Put chickpeas in fresh water with salt, two parts water to one part chickpeas.
• Leave overnight to soak.
• Put chickpeas (with water they were soaked in) into a large pot. Top up water to maintain 2 parts water to 1 part chickpea ratio if necessary. Bring water to a boil.
• Cover and turn down to medium (level 5) heat, skim off any white foam.
• Leave to simmer until chickpeas are tender, usually 2 or 3 hours.
• Take off heat.
• In a large pot, sauté onions and garlic on high heat, then turn down to (medium-high) level 8.
• When onions are thoroughly transparent put in ginger.
• Continue to sauté until mixture is sticking to bottom and brown bits are evident.
• Put onion mixture in a food processor and mix (not steadily) until smooth.
• Process tomato, 1/2 tomato portions at a time.
• Put mixture back into large pot.
• Add green onion.
• Heat should be at (medium-high) level 8.
• When mixture starts to bubble add tomato paste.
• Stir for 1 to 2 minutes until butter is released and mixture does not stick to pot.
• Add in potatoes.
• Add in chana masala.
• Reduce heat to level 7.
• Put in chickpeas with a slotted spoon.
• Water is NOT put in, but put aside for later.
• Mix for about 2 minutes Add in red pepper, masala.
• Mix for a further 2 minutes.
• Add water from chickpeas, additional water can be added to give mixture a watery consistency (mixture should not be too thick looking initially, as mixture will reduce, usually you can add in another cup of water).
• Add turmeric.
• Bring mixture to a boiling point on max heat, then reduce heat to level 7. Cover partially and mix infrequently.
• Once potatoes are tender, the daal is done.
• This daal is typically eaten with Indian bread- naan or chapati.
• As with most Indian cooking there is no"true" recipe, the cook decides what the recipe needs (somewhat of a hit and miss strategy, but it works).
• If you are unable to find garam masala the following can be used: 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon cracked dried bay leaves, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves.

CHANA MASALA (SAVORY INDIAN CHICK PEAS)

Steps:

• Grind onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, and chile pepper together in a food processor into a paste.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry bay leaves in hot oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour the paste into the skillet and cook until the oil begins to separate from the mixture and is golden brown in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Season the mixture with chili powder, coriander, powder, gram masala, turmeric, and salt; cook and stir until very hot, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir enough water into the mixture to get a thick gravy; bring to a boil and stir chickpeas into the gravy. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the chickpeas are heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

QUICK & EASY CHICKPEA COCONUT DHAL

Steps:

• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large non-stick pot or pan over a high heat. Add the garlic and ginger, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 3-5 mins, stirring occasionally. Tip in the spring onions, all the cherry tomatoes, the coriander leaves and stalks and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 3 mins more.
• Add the coconut milk, chickpeas and lentils and stir well, then add the curry powder, turmeric, cumin, ½ tsp black pepper and the lime juice. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 mins. Add the spinach and wilt for a few minutes. Check for seasoning, then serve with pittas.