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    Home » Gravies |Curries | Side Dishes » Curry Recipes

    Dal Makhani

    Published: Mar 28, 2016 · Modified: May 29, 2016 by Ramya · 41 Comments

    1 shares
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    Dal Makhani 2

    Coming from South India and especially being brought up in a Telugu household, Dal or Pappu (cooked lentils) is a regular fare at our home. There would not be a single day Toor Dal (Split Pigeon Peas) would not used in the cooking. The next predominantly used lentil is the Moong Dal (split green gram). However, in the North of India dal always doesn’t mean the same as it is in the South. A variety of pulses are used, to make Dal. Since we don’t always make these kind of lentils often, I quickly picked up this North Indian recipe of Dal Makhani when Lina posted about the curry challenge.

    Dal Makhani 5

    Dal Makhani literally means lentils cooked in butter. It has got to be one of the richest curries or gravies made using lentils. Interestingly for this recipe, two kinds of lentils are used. Whole Black Urad Dal (White Lentils with the skin) and the Rajma (Kidney Beans). I have adapted this recipe from here, after making modifications to suit our taste palate. This Dal recipe is simple - the only effort here is to soak both these lentils for about 8 hours/overnight and then making the dal itself is quite simple. Dal Makhani is quite flavorful and one can taste the butteriness (hah it’s a word I just invented) and creaminess of the lentils. Both these lentils have to be cooked until they are mushy and they naturally tend to give creaminess to the dal. Addition of fresh cream towards the end takes this dish a notch higher. Usually served with Pulav/Ghee rice, it tastes delightful. I hope Parul from Gharkepakwan and Sandhya from Indfused like this recipe 🙂

    Dal Makhani 3

    To make Dal Makhani

    • Time: 8 hrs soak time + 40 mins cook time
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Print

    What I used –

    • Whole Black Urad Dal, ¾th cup
    • Rajma (Kidney Beans), ¼th cup
    • Onion, 1 large
    • Tomatoes, 2 medium
    • Ginger Garlic Paste, 1 tsp
    • Green Chillies, 1 or 2
    • Cumin Seeds, 1 tsp
    • Butter, 1 tbsp
    • Low Fat Fresh Cream, 5 tablespoon (+ extra to garnish)
    • Turmeric Powder, ½ tsp
    • Red Chilli Powder, 5 tsp
    • Garam Masala Powder, ¾th tsp
    • Salt, as required
    • Water, as required

    Dal Makhani 1

    How I made –

    1. Soak the urad dal and rajma for atleast 8hrs/overnight. Wash and drain off the water. Cook for 7-8 whistles in a pressure cooker until they are mushy. Set aside.

    2. In a pan, heat butter. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add finely chopped onions along with chopped green chillies. Fry until translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 3-4 mins until the raw smell is gone.

    3. Add finely chopped tomatoes. Add half of the turmeric powder and salt to cook the tomatoes. Cook on low flame until the tomatoes are mushy.

    4. Add the cooked lentils along with the water and mix well. Add salt, red chilli powder, garam masala powder and turmeric powder. Mix well.

    5. Cook the dal on low flame until it is thick for about 15-20mins. Check for salt and spiciness. Add fresh cream, mix well and remove from heat.

    6. Serve hot with a topping of more butter or fresh cream. Goes well with Pulav/Ghee Rice/Plain Rice/Roti.

    Dal Makhani 4-1

    Note –

    • Black Urad Dal and Rajma has to be soaked long enough to be cooked to a mush.
    • Sometimes it can be hard to cook Rajma. If it’s not mushy, cook for another 3-4 whistles.
    • Adjust spices as per preference.
    • The longer the Dal cooks, the better it tastes.

    Like what you just saw? Check out the below recipes -

    • Whole Green Gram Dal
    • Andhra Tomato Pappu
    • Thalicha Paruppu

    If you wish to get regular updates on my recipes, do follow me on Facebook @ Cooking From My Heart. You can also reach to me at [email protected] for any suggestions or queries 🙂

    Bringing this Dal Makhani to Fiesta Friday #112 - this week's co-hosts are Natalie and Hilda 🙂

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. BumbleZ

      March 28, 2016 at 3:35 pm

      Wonderful recipe. U have simplified it. Thank u so much . Perhaps a dal tadka recipe will be nice in the future.
      ?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 28, 2016 at 3:39 pm

        Thanks BumbleZ 🙂 Yeah, I have simplified it as I wanted to make it quicker 🙂 Sure, will post dal tadka recipe soon 🙂

        Reply
    2. Natascha's Palace

      March 28, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      Looks wonderful! Love how easy it is too! ?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:14 pm

        Thanks Natascha 🙂 Yes, it is super simple to make 😀

        Reply
    3. Cooking For The Time Challenged

      March 28, 2016 at 6:03 pm

      Wonderful recipe! Thank you for your detailed explanations. I feel like I could make this too.?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:14 pm

        Thanks carol 🙂 I am sure you would love it 🙂

        Reply
    4. Lynz Real Cooking

      March 28, 2016 at 7:05 pm

      I love dal and this one sounds great! I will look for these lentils!

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:09 pm

        Sure Lynn, thanks 🙂

        Reply
    5. Prachee

      March 28, 2016 at 8:46 pm

      Looks delicious...one of my all time favourites 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm

        Thanks Prachee 🙂

        Reply
    6. lynne hoareau

      March 28, 2016 at 10:47 pm

      Hmmmm I am loving the sound of this. 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm

        Thanks Lynne 🙂

        Reply
    7. srividhya

      March 29, 2016 at 6:02 am

      Classic recipe na.. Love this with both rice n roti. Yum.. ?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:05 pm

        Thanks Sri 🙂

        Reply
    8. nepaliaustralian

      March 29, 2016 at 8:53 am

      Looks yummy, one of my favourite 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:05 pm

        Thanks M 🙂

        Reply
    9. Bharani

      March 29, 2016 at 10:07 am

      Looks delicious....

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:05 pm

        Thanks Bharani 🙂

        Reply
    10. The Girl Next Door

      March 29, 2016 at 12:04 pm

      I make a similar version of Dal Makhni minus the cream. I am scared to post the recipe because there is no 'makkhan' in the 'makhni'. 😛

      I love love love the wooden tray you have used here. May I ask where you got it from?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:04 pm

        I can totally understand TGND. I usually make this with oil minus the cream too. Since I was taking part in a challenge, I wanted to try it the actual way for once 🙂
        I got the wooden tray at Wayanad during our trip to Calicut last December:)

        Reply
        • The Girl Next Door

          March 29, 2016 at 4:20 pm

          I'm so excited to tell you I picked up some lovely, lovely props for food photography on our recent trip to Chennai. You will see them on my blog soon, hopefully! 🙂

          Reply
          • CHCooks

            March 29, 2016 at 4:22 pm

            Oh wow!! Thats amazing 🙂 Looking forward to seeing them TGND!

            Reply
    11. bhumi

      March 29, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      I just loved loved it.....

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 3:55 pm

        Thanks Bhumi 🙂

        Reply
    12. MyCulinarySaga

      March 29, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      yum yum 🙂 Looks so good CH

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 3:55 pm

        Thanks Trupti 🙂

        Reply
    13. Chitra Jagadish

      March 29, 2016 at 4:09 pm

      Looks authentic. ..

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        March 29, 2016 at 4:23 pm

        Thanks Chitra 🙂

        Reply
    14. Natalie Browne

      March 29, 2016 at 11:35 pm

      This looks like such a tasty recipe to try. I love how simple it is, yet how flavourful I imagine it to be. Thanks for sharing it at Fiesta Friday!

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        April 06, 2016 at 3:27 pm

        Thanks much Natalie 🙂

        Reply
    15. Freda @ Aromatic essence

      March 30, 2016 at 4:58 am

      This looks decadent !!!

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        April 06, 2016 at 3:27 pm

        Thanks dear 🙂

        Reply
    16. tentimestea

      April 02, 2016 at 7:48 am

      This dal sounds amazing CH! That the name means cooked in butter only makes it all the more appealing to me. 🙂 I love how the creaminess of the lentils is brought out by the cooking method, and of course that delicious swirl of cream!

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        April 06, 2016 at 3:17 pm

        Thank you so much Laurie 🙂 Yeah, this dal is creamy in every sense 😀

        Reply
    17. Lina

      April 05, 2016 at 10:43 pm

      Wow! What am amazing recipe! Simple too! You have done an awesome job as always! The pictures have turned out really well..I love Dal Makhani but unfortunately have never made it..bookmarking this one+!

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        April 06, 2016 at 3:06 pm

        Thanks dear! It was an opportunity for me to too, if not God knows when I would have given this a shot 🙂

        Reply

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