Chana Dal

Easy Chana Dal Recipe: Quick, delicious split chickpea soup with cumin garlic tempering. Vegan, gluten-free, perfect for any meal!

Recipe Source Link:https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/chana-dal-recipe/

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RECIPE INGREDIENTS

» For Chana Dal Fry

• 1 cup chana dal (split garbanzo beans/bengal gram/split chickpeas)
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 cloves (laung)
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
• pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup tomato, chopped
• green chilies, chopped - 2
• 2 teaspoons crushed ginger (adrak)
• 2 teaspoons crushed garlic (adrak)
• 3 cups water, or more if needed
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi powder)
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder (lal mirch powder), or as per taste
• 1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhaniya powder)
• 3/4 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 tablespoons chopped coriander, for garnish

» Tempering (Tadka)

• 2 tablespoons ghee (you can use oil to make it vegan)
• 2 tabelespoons garlic sliced
• 2-3 small dried red chilies
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (lal mirch powder)

» Serving

• Lemon juice
• Chopped cilantro (coriander) leaves

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

» How to make Instant Pot Chana Dal

1. Rinse chana dal and soak for 30 minutes. Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat oil in it.
2. Add cumin seeds and cloves to it.
3. Once the cumin seeds start to change color, add the onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and stir well.
5. Now add chopped green chilies, crushed ginger, and crushed garlic to it.
6. Mix everything well and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and salt.
8. Mix everything well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
9. Add rinsed chana dal and 3 cups water to it.
10. Close the lid, and set the valve to sealing.
11. Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode at high pressure for for 11 mins.
12. NPR (Natural pressure release). Once pin drops, open the lid. Press the cancel button and then press the saute button.
13. Mash dal lightly using with the back of spoon or a potato masher.
14. Add garam masala powder.
15. Mix well again. Cook for 2 minutes.
16. Add cilantro leaves and mix well.
17. Instant pot chana dal is ready. Serve with some rice.

» How to make Chana Dal in Stovetop Pressure Cooker

1. Rinse chana dal and soak for 30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
3. Add cumin seeds and cloves to it.
4. Once the cumin seeds start to change color, add the onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
5. Add chopped tomatoes and stir well. Now add chopped green chilies, crushed ginger, and crushed garlic to it.
6. Mix everything well and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and salt.
8. Mix everything well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
9. Add rinsed chana dal and 3 cups water to it.
10. Close the lid, and pressure cook on high for 8-9 whistles.
11. Let the pressure go down completely before opening the lid.
12. Once the pin drops, open the lid.
13. Mash dal lightly using with the back of a spoon or a potato masher.
14. Add garam masala powder and mix well again.
15. Cook for 2 minutes.
16. Add chopped coriander leaves and mix well.

» How to make Chana Dal in a Saucepan

1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add cumin seeds and cloves to it.
3. Once the cumin seeds start to change color, add the onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and stir well. Now add chopped green chilies, crushed ginger, and crushed garlic to it.
5. Mix everything well and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and salt.
7. Mix everything well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
8. Add rinsed chana dal and 3-4 cups water to it.
9. Let it come to a boil.
10. Once boiled, close the lid, and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until soft. (Keep checking it every 10 minutes, and add more water if required. )
11. Mash dal lightly using with the back of a spoon or a potato masher.
12. Add garam masala powder and mix well again.
13. Cook for 2 minutes.
14. Add cilantro leaves and mix well.

» How To Make Tadka (Tempering) For Chana Dal

1. Heat ghee in a tadka pan over medium heat.
2. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.
3. Add sliced garlic cloves, dried red chilies and cook till garlic turns light brown.
4. Add red chili powder and stir it. Fry for few seconds and remove from heat.

» How To Serve Chana Dal

1. Transfer cooked chana dal to a serving bowl.
2. Drizzle with prepared tadka.
3. Garnish with coriander leaves and drizzle with some lemon juice.
4. Serve chana dal hot with chapati and rice.

RECIPE NOTES

1. If you don?t have a tadka pan, or want to make this chana dal entirely in the Instant Pot, then make the tadka (tempering) first and then simply follow the recipe.
2. I have soaked chana dal for 30 minutes. If you are planning to soak it longer, then make sure you also reduce the cooking time.
3. I have used ghee for my tadka. But if you want to make it vegan, then replace ghee with the same amount of oil.