Mixed dal is a common Indian dish, and it’s a great way to prepare a variety of lentils.
Most recipes use different types of lentils and vegetables, but most often the mixed dal is made with black lentils, split peas and chickpeas.
The combination of flavors and textures in this dish make it both hearty and satisfying, while the spices add a layer of complexity to the flavor.
This recipe is a great way to enjoy a healthy and delicious meal that won’t leave you feeling too full.
What ingredients are needed to make a mixed dal recipe?
The ingredients needed to make a mixed dal recipe are varied, but the list is generally comprised of lentils, split peas and chickpeas.
Each of these ingredients is quite nutritious.
Lentils, for example, contain a good amount of protein and fiber in addition to being high in iron, folate and B vitamins.
Split peas are also a good source of protein and fiber as well as being high in iron, folate and B vitamins.
Chickpeas are also a particularly high source of protein and fiber and also contain iron, folate and B vitamins.
The spices that are used in this recipe include ginger, garlic, onion, tomatoes and turmeric.
All of these spices are quite nutritious and add flavor to the dish.
Garlic adds the most flavor, while onion and ginger only add subtle flavors to the mix.
Turmeric is a versatile spice that can be used as a substitute for any other spice or herb.
While the spices do add flavor to the dish, they will also help to cook all of the ingredients together at once.
As a result, cooking time will be less than if the ingredients were simply cooked separately and then added together at the end.
How long does it take to prepare mixed dal?
Most Indian restaurants will already have the ingredients needed to make this dish prepped and ready to serve, but if you’re cooking at home, it can take anywhere from 1-2 hours to prepare.
The prep time depends on whether or not you have to cook anything else as well.
The whole process for this recipe is as follows:
- Wash the lentils.
- Soak the lentils.
- Cook the lentils in separate pans, adding water or broth as necessary.
- Drain and rinse the lentils.
- Prepare a spice paste (similar to tikka masala) with cumin, coriander, and garam masala.
- Stir in the spices and cooked lentils into a saucepan.
- Add onions and tomatoes, along with salt. Simmer until the water is absorbed.
What is the best way to cook mixed dal?
The mixed dal recipe below calls for a variety of lentils, but most often the mixed dal recipe uses black lentils, split peas and chickpeas.
You can use other lentils and beans in this dish, but you will need to increase the cooking time to compensate.
How much oil should be used to make mixed dal?
Mixed dal is a healthy and nutritious dish that won’t leave you feeling too full.
The amount of oil used in this recipe will depend on the type of lentils you’re using, and also how dry you like your dal.
The most important thing to remember when preparing mixed dal is to stir the ingredients together before adding them to the pan.
Once this is done, you’ll need to keep the pan on the heat for one minute, stirring constantly.
Otherwise, the lentils will stick to the pan and the recipe will not work properly.
Also remember to use a small amount of oil. If your lentils are particularly dry, you may need less oil than if they’re more moist, but it’s best to follow the rule of thumb: no more than a quarter cup of oil for every 1/4 cup of lentils.
What spices are used in a mixed dal recipe?
While lentils come in a variety of different colors and flavors, each one is usually cooked using the same basic method.
The main spices used in Indian cuisine are:
- Cumin seeds or jeera: This is the most essential spice in Indian cooking. It’s used to give many dishes a unique flavor, and it’s often combined with other spices for richer flavor.
- Turmeric: Turmeric is a bright yellow powder made from ground turmeric root. It has a warm and earthy flavor that complements many dishes.
- Black mustard seeds: These small brown seeds have a distinct, pungent smell, and they’re often used in Indian cooking. They’re somewhat bitter, so they’re typically added to a dish with other spices to round out the flavor.
What types of dal work best when making a mixed dal recipe?
Mixed dal is not just one type of lentil.
It’s a combination of many different types of beans and lentils, including black lentils, split peas, split green gram, chana dal (a form of chickpeas) and mung beans.
A few other ingredients are often added to the blended mixture, including fresh green or yellow lentils, tomatoes, onions and garlic.
The different types of lentils all have their own unique flavor profile.
Black lentils are typically slightly earthy and nutty.
Split peas are sweet and nutty, with a firm texture.
Chana dal is sweet, comparable to split peas but with a bit more body.
Mung beans have a mild, somewhat sweet flavor that is like a cross between lentils and chickpeas.
This variety of lentils is also known as “yellow split peas,” because they’re lighter in color than the more commonly used red lentils.
How do you know when mixed dal is cooked?
The recommended method for preparing and cooking dal varies depending on the variety of lentils used.
Black lentils are a bit more forgiving than their split peas and chickpea counterparts, so they can be cooked from a variety of different methods.
For example, these three methods are all suitable for cooking black lentils, but only one will work for another variety of lentil:
- Cooking over a low flame in a pan
- Braising in a saucepan
- Roasting in the oven
While each of these methods is suitable for cooking black lentils, only one of them works for each different variety of lentil.
For example, if you wish to use split peas instead of black lentils, then you’d need to follow the method outlined by the Quick Cooking Guide.
Although this guide outlines how to cook various types of lentils, it isn’t specific to mixed dal.
Instead, it covers how to cook all manner of beans, puréed legumes and other foods that are made with varying types of beans.
What vegetables can be added to a mixed dal recipe?
The following vegetables can be added to a mixed dal recipe:
- Carrots
- Onions
- Potatoes
- Parsnips
- Butternut squash
- Cauliflower (or broccoli) leaves
- Zucchini
In addition to the above vegetables, some recipes use other ingredients such as celery, spinach or herbs such as cilantro and coriander.
Other recipes contain no veggies at all.
What is the nutritional value of a mixed dal recipe?
The nutritional value of a mixed dal recipe depends on what vegetables and lentils are used.
For example, using a combination of lentils that are rich in fiber and protein, such as the split peas and black lentils, will result in a dish that is high in both vitamins and minerals.
Dal is very high in fiber and protein, among other nutrients, making it an ideal meal to incorporate into your diet.
The nutrients may even make up for the portion size, which is more than most people eat at one sitting.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults include at least three servings of grains, two of fruit and two of vegetables each day.
This mixed dal recipe is a great way to meet this recommendation.
What are some variations of a mixed dal recipe?
This mixed dal recipe is really just a vegetarian variation of a South Indian lentil dish.
It consists of a variety of lentils, split peas and chickpeas in a curry sauce.
The ingredients vary depending on the region where you’re from.
In India, the most common mixed dal recipe uses split peas, black lentils and yellow split peas (channa dal).
In Northern India, this mixed dal recipe is made with red lentils (masoor dal), yellow split peas (chole), mung beans (moong dal) and chickpeas.
South Indian mixed dals are made with urad dal (black lentils), moong dal (red lentils) and chana dal (yellow split peas).
Equipment
- 2 Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 black cardamom
- 2 cardamom
- 1 cup chana dal (soaked for 30 minutes)
- ¾ tsp red chilli/kashmiri
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp chopped ginger
- 1 tbsp chopped garlic
- 3 green chilli (chopped)
- 1 cup onion (chopped)
- 1 cup tomato (chopped)
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp coriander (chopped)
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1½ tsp crushed coriander
- 3 dry red chilli
Instructions
- Cooking oil should be added to a pressure cooker. Stir in the bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, and black cardamom to the pressure cooker. Next, fully combine after adding the chana dal.
- Add salt, turmeric, and red chili powder.Stir thoroughly after adding water.Wait for three whistles after securing the pressure cooker's lid.Check to verify if the dal is cooked after carefully removing the lid.Cooking oil, cumin, ginger, and garlic should all be combined well in a separate pan.Shortly after, whisk in the green chilies to your mixture.Add onions and cook until golden.Salt and tomatoes should be added while mixing continually.Add the red chili and turmeric.For 4-5 minutes, saute.
- Cumin and garam masala to the mixThen, add the dal mixture to the pan and season with salt.If necessary, add water.Stir after adding coriander.Put the dal in a plate, jar, or bowl at this point.Add ghee, hing, coriander that has been crushed, and dry red chili to another pan.Over the dal, drizzle the ghee mixture.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.