Dal makhani
Buttery black lentil dal
Slow-cooked black lentils with butter and cream
The Punjabi favourite: whole black grams and a little chana dal cooked long and slow until creamy, then simmered with tomato, kasoori methi, nutmeg and butter and finished with milk and cream. It's rich, smoky-tasting and velvety. Serve hot dal makhani with naan or tandoori chapati.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dal
- 6 oz whole black grams (urad)1 cup, soaked for 2 hours
- 2 tbsp split bengal gram lentils (chana dal)husked
- 2 tsp ginger paste
- 2 tsp garlic paste
- 2 dried red chilliessoaked and ground
- 5 ¼ cups water5 cups
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 2 tsp saltor to taste
For the seasoning
- 4 tomatoespureed
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp garam masalasee the garam masala recipe
- 2 tsp tomato ketchup
- 3 tbsp butter2–3
For serving
- ½ cup milk½ cup
- ½ cup fresh cream½ cup
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Drain 6 oz whole black grams (urad) and put them in a pressure cooker with 2 tbsp split bengal gram lentils (chana dal), 2 tsp ginger paste, 2 tsp garlic paste, 2 dried red chillies, 5 ¼ cups water, 2 tbsp ghee and 2 tsp salt.
Step 2: Pressure cook. After 2 whistles, turn the heat to low and keep cooking for 30 minutes. Let the pressure drop.
40 minStep 3: Stir in 4 tomatoes, 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi), ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ½ tsp garam masala, 2 tsp tomato ketchup and 3 tbsp butter.
Step 4: Simmer the dal on a medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick and creamy.
30 minStep 5: When it's time to serve, mix ½ cup milk with ½ cup fresh cream and stir into the dal.
Step 6: Bring to the boil on a low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Serve hot with naan or tandoori chapati.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dal makhani take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of split bengal gram lentils (chana dal)?
- Yellow split peas, same amount.
- What can I use instead of ginger paste?
- Grated fresh ginger, same amount.
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