Pakistani Style Chana Dal
Pakistani style chana dal is split yellow gram cooked with onions, tomatoes, and warm spices for a spicy, smoky, roadside-style lentil dish. It’s a beloved comfort food in Pakistani homes, perfect with naan or roti for weeknight dinners or cozy meals.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 1 hr
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 cup chana dal (split yellow gram) (soaked overnight and drained)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 medium-sized yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 ½ teaspoon crushed garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoon crushed ginger
- 2 roma tomatoes (finely diced or crushed)
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground red chili powder
- 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- 1
In a medium to large pot, bring 4 to 5 cups of water to boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and fold in the dal. Lower heat to medium, and cook the dal until tender but firm, about 35 to 40 minutes. Once the dal is ready, drain the water and set it aside.
- 2
Heat ⅓ cup oil in a heavy-bottomed pot until it begins to shimmer. Add diced yellow onion and fry on medium heat until it begins to soften and brown at the edges, 5 to 7 minutes.
- 3
Lower heat to medium-low. Add crushed garlic and ginger, and stir until it stops smelling raw, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- 4
Increase heat to medium-high and add chopped tomatoes, coriander, cumin, garam masala powder, chile flakes, red chili powder, and remaining salt. Stir until well-mixed and bring heat to low. Cover and let the tomatoes soften about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- 5
Once they have softened, fold in the boiled dal. Stir until well-coated in the tomato and onion base. Add 1 cup of water, cover and bring to boil. Lower to simmer and let the dal cook for another 5 to 8 minutes.
- 6
Tadka
- 7
Heat 2 teaspoons of oil over medium heat in a small frying pan. Once it begins to shimmer, add the coarsely ground pepper and swirl for a few seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat and pour over dal.