20 Dal Recipes

Here is a collection of 20 best and easy-to-make everyday Indian Dal recipes from my archive. Make these try and tested Dal recipes for lunch or dinner and get the required protein boost.

Apart from being a very good source of protein, lentils are also rich in iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium and are a good source of Vitamin B.

Dal or Lentils are a very important part of Indian food.

A lot of Indian population is vegetarian and there is nothing better than a daily dose of lentils to keep the protein requirement in check.

Keeping its health benefits in mind, Dal is introduced to a kid as young as 4 months.

Although we are a family of Non-vegetarians, Dal makes its appearance on the table almost every day.

There are a variety of lentils available and I always have a good variety stocked up in my pantry.

Tuvar or Arhar dal is most commonly cooked in my house and my son likes to call it yellow dal but Chana Dal, Moong Dal, Dhuli Moong Dal, Masoor dal are also quite frequent.

To make it interesting, I try to come up with a different version of Dal recipes by tweaking the recipes here and there and creating a new lentil preparation to go with rice or phulke.

How to make Vegan Dal Recipes?

Dals or lentils are vegan and gluten-free and when cooked in a home-style way, the only ingredient that is not vegan is ghee. 

You can replace ghee with oil for the tempering of the dal and it will be vegan.

What to serve with Dal?

In India, dal is served with rice or roti (Chapati) along with a dry vegetable on the side. I like to serve pickle and papad with a dal rice menu.

Here is a collection of a few of my favourite dal recipes which can be easily made at home.

How to make tadka for the dal?

There are many ways in which you can make a tadka or tempering for the dal.

For everyday meals, I give a tempering of hing, jeera and red chilli powder. I sometimes add chopped garlic in it too.

When I want to make it elaborate, I fry the onion, tomato, green chilli and along with it goes cumin seeds and ginger.

You can also give a tempering of panch phoran or mustard seeds and curry leaves.

Best Dal Recipes

Dal Makhani Recipe – Restaurant Style Dal Makhani Recipe is a creamy, rich and flavorful lentil dish made using whole black lentil and mild spices. 

It goes very well with rice or any Indian bread like Naan or Paratha. 

Check out my easy and best Dal Makhani (Dal Makhni) Recipe with step by step pictures and video.

Dal Palak Recipe – Dal Palak is a delicious lentil based, Indian dish that brings goodness of spinach, garlic together as a humble accompaniment.

Gujarati Dal Recipe – Served with a dollop on ghee on the steamed rice or with piping hot phulkas, Gujarati Dal ends up making that perfect lighthearted meal you are craving for! 

This slightly sweet, spicy and tangy dal is thin in consistency and is perfectly served with steamed rice or phulkas.

Dal Tadka Recipe – Dal Tadka is one of the most popular recipe served in Indian restaurants. 

A mix of moong dal and arhar dal, this is a flavourful lentil preparation from Punjab.

Navratan Dal Recipe – Navratan Dal as the name says is a lentil based recipe prepared using nine different kind of dals. 

Serve it zeera rice and laccha parathas.

Lauki Chana Dal Recipe– Lauki Chana Dal is a delicious Indian style lentil preparation which is healthy and delicious.

Moreover, it can be paired with roti or rice.

Cholar Dal Recipe – Cholar Dal is a traditional Bengali dish prepared from Chana Dal, ghee, coconut and other spices and is best paired with luchi or steamed rice.

Dal Dhokli Recipe – Dal Dhokli is a spicy, sweet, one-pot meal, prepared by simmering whole wheat flour bits in a lentil-based motley perked with spices.

It is popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan and is prepared mostly for lunch.

Malwa Dal Recipe – Malwa Dal is a tuvar dal based accompaniment which is simmered with generous tadka of spices. 

It tastes the best with Bafla, Jeera Rice or piping hot phulkas.

Hyderabadi Khatti Dal Recipe – Hyderabadi Khatti Dal is thick, flavorful curry made using masoor or toor dal. 

It is tangy and seasoned with curry leaves and mustard.

Dal Amritsari Recipe – Dal Amritsari is a thick, healthy, protein rich gravy made using whole urad dal and chana dal that tastes great and gives nourishment for hours. 

It can be eaten with rice or naan.

Raw Mango Dal Recipe – Raw Mango Dal Recipe is dish of lentils cooked with raw mango.

 The tangyness of raw mangoes gives a delicious flavor to the lentils.

Sultani Dal Recipe – Sultani Dal is a nawabi Lentil recipe which is of Mughal origin. 

The dal is cooked along with rich ingredients which gives it a truly Royal feel.

Masoor Dal Recipe – Chatpati Dal Masoor is a family favourite and the combination of Bharwan Bhindi with it is a killer.

Simple flavours, simple ingredients yet so much satisfaction.