Infused Dals of India!

Here is a treasure trove of information about dal and a compilation of regional recipes by many talented bloggers!

As the weather gets cooler, my thoughts turn to a steaming bowl of dal bhat. Whether one calls it dal-bhat, dal-chawal or dal and rice, it is how most Indians spell comfort food! When children leave the nest, magically these kids come back home for varan bhaat or daal chawal …and the funny thing is some of them did not even like it as much when they were growing up 🙂

Dal is a generic term for split lentils.  Mung dal, toor dal, chana dal , urad dal and masoor dal are the most common dals used. When consumed with rice or roti, dals provide the amino acids needed for the body. So it is a great source of protein for vegetarians. The photograph below will help you identify the different dals.

So getting back to Varan bhat, our next generation growing up in or outside India miss this comfort food, so this post is especially for them. In the state of Maharashtra, varan is the most basic dal made for pujas and everyday simple ‘satvik’ food. Some of my friends’ children have often asked me for this recipe, complaining that their mothers say just add a little of this and some of that. So I have measured how much exactly is a little of this and a pinch of that! And have some very handy tips too.

Here is the detailed recipe and tips-

Godi Aamti is a sweet and sour heirloom dal recipe that I rediscovered during a trip to Goa, India.

This ‘Easy Going’ Tadka Dal on Indfused has been a hit at home and at parties too.

Dals infused with regional flavors- whether it is the spices used in tempering, the seasonal vegetables added or the souring agents like tamarind, tomatoes, lemon, raw mangoes or the sun dried aamsol, all make them unique.

So I asked some of my blogger buddies to send in their favorite dal recipe. And I got a plethora of traditional recipes from all corners of India! Check out their awesome recipes below!

Suchitra’s Dali Thoy

Sumith’s Dal Chawal

Binjal’s Red Lentil Curry with Shallot

Ruchi’s Tangy Urad

Piyali’s Cholar Dal

Aish’s Dal with Green Mango

Freda’s Sambhar

Molly’s Quintessential Dal Makhani

Sandhya’s Onion Sambhar

Sharvari’s Saufwali Masoor Dal–

Rita’s  Parsee Dhansak-

Aruna’s Gongura Pappu

The belly rules the mind’s  Odia Daalma

Uma’s Palak Dal-

Namrata’s  Vegan Pumpkin Dal

Shailaja’s Chintachiguru Pappu

What a mouthwatering array, isn’t it? So many dal recipes from all corners of India!

Enjoy!

Love,

❤

Sandhya