Dal Makhani

April 18th, 2008 filed under Dal (Lentils)

Dal Makhani is a popular north Indian dish; it is rich and hearty. Dal Makhani is a combination of whole urad and red kidney beans. It goes great with Naan or Tandoori Roti.

Serves 2 to3.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole urad dal
• 1/8 cup red kidney beans (Rajma)
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 minced green pepper or adjust to taste (Hari Mirch)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (Haldi)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon mango powder (Amchoor)
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/4 cup cream
• 2 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed (Jeera)
• Pinch of asafetida (Hing)
• 3 to 4 whole red chilies (Sabut Lal Mirch)
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder optional (Lal Mirch)

For garnish:

• 1/2 tablespoon shredded ginger

Method:

1. Wash urad dal and kidney beans well and soak dal in about 6 cups of water for about 8 hours. After soaking dal will be about 2 1/2 times the volume of the original.
2. In pressure cooker add dal with four cups of water, salt, turmeric, ginger and green pepper, cook on medium high heat.
3. As pressure cooker starts steaming turn the heat down to medium and cook for about 25 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and wait until steam has stopped before opening the pressure cooker. Dal and Kidney beans should be soft and tender.
5. Lightly mash the dal and kidney beans, cook for another 5 minutes on low medium heat.
6. Add cream, garam masala, and amchoor powder and let it cook for about 10 minutes on low heat.
7. Heat the ghee in a small saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if it cracks right away the oil is ready.
8. Add cumin seeds, and as the cumin seeds crack add asafetida, red chilies and red chili powder and stir for a few seconds.
9. Add 1 teaspoon of water to keep the spices from burning. Pour spiced ghee over dal.
10. Garnish with shredded ginger.

85 Responses to “Dal Makhani”

1. Munna says:

   February 24, 2010 at 1:36 pm

   Hallo Manjula ji,

   I must say..your recipes are easy and excellent and with videos its even more easy to see how easily you make your dishes and this makes us realise that cooking is quite easy and I have tried quite a few of them and I love them…no garlic and no onions..exactly the ones I have been looking for ! Thank you so much..!!

   Reply
2. Sujaa says:

   February 16, 2010 at 9:23 pm

   Hi Manjula Aunty…

   Your recipes are great and tastes wonderful. I made the Cabbage Pizza which came out well and tasted good too. I do many of your stuff and my hubby loves it. Thanks for your recipes.

   Great work aunty,

   Reply
3. Vika says:

   February 4, 2010 at 4:59 am

   Hello, Manjula! Thank you for your recipes. I am not Indian, but I love indian food. Your chole palak is very good.

   I have a question — can I use split black lentils (split urad dal) to the same effect for this recipe?

   Thanks!

   Reply
4. Ritu says:

   February 2, 2010 at 1:04 pm

   Can we use any substitute for cream in this recipe? Please let me know.

   Reply
5. Michael says:

   January 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm

   Very clear and interesting. Nice to be able to see a professional at work! Thank you Manjula.

   Reply
6. nanu says:

   January 3, 2010 at 6:41 am

   hiiiiiiii
   this is a great website to learn different dishes quickly and easily manner.
   thanks manjula

   Reply
7. swagatika says:

   December 14, 2009 at 12:53 am

   THIS SITE IS REALLY GREAT. I MADE BESAN LADOO, RASGOLLA AND GOL GAPPA FROM THIS SITE AND ALL CAME OUT REALLY GREAT. THANKS

   Reply
8. Raj says:

   November 25, 2009 at 9:38 pm

   we are very thankful to you for telling the procedure of recipies.

   We wish good luck.

   Reply
9. Rosa says:

   November 16, 2009 at 4:09 am

   I absolutly love this site!!!! I am from Italy and I love indian cooking
   I’m gonna learn everything, thank you Manjula!!!!

   Reply