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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Dal & Curries » Shahi Dal

    Published: May 24, 2021 | Last Updated On: May 25, 2021 by Neha Mathur

    Shahi Dal

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    Jump to Recipe

    Shahi dal is a rich and creamy Indian lentil dish made using a combination of lentils tempered with a sizzling tempering. Serve it with naan or jeera rice for a special meal.

    Here are some more dal recipes, that can be a part of your party meals – Dal Makhani, Sultani Dal, Dhaba Style Punjabi Dal Tadka, Raw Mango Dal, and Navratan Dal.

    Shahi dal served in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to make Shahi Dal?
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You might also like
    • Recipe Card

    About This Recipe

    Dal is a staple part of everyday meals in almost every Indian household. But when you want to make it for special occasions, it must be different from the everyday preparations, right? Shahi = royal and dal = lentils, shahi dal is a rich and creamy lentil preparation that is apt to make for these occasions.

    It is prepared with the combination of yellow moong dal and white urad dal and tempered with fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and some basic everyday spice powders. It is tempered once again at the end, which makes it super flavorful and delicious.

    This dal also has yogurt and milk added to it, which gives it a beautifully creamy and rich texture.

    Ingredients

    Shahi dal ingredients.

    For the dal – To make shahi dal, you will need yellow moong dal, white urad dal, water, salt vegetable oil, ghee, asafetida (hing), cumin seeds, green chili peppers, fresh ginger, garlic, tomato, spice powders, plain yogurt, whole milk, water, and lime juice.

    I have used both oil and ghee, but you can choose either of them. Ghee is preferred over oil to give it that shahi touch.

    You can adjust the amount of green chili peppers as per your taste preferences. Kashmiri red chili powder gives it a nice red color without making it too spicy.

    Yogurt and milk are added for the extra richness and to provide a creamy texture to the dal.

    Shahi dal tempering ingredients.

    For the second tempering – For the second tempering, you will need ghee, cumin seeds, whole dry red chilies, onion, Kashmiri red chili powder, and cilantro (coriander).

    How to make Shahi Dal?

    Wash ½ cup yellow moong dal (skinned petite yellow lentils) and ½ cup urad dal (skinned split black lentils) 2-3 times with water until the water runs clear. Soak the dal in 3-4 cups of water for 15 minutes.

    Soaked dal.

    Drain the soaked dal and add them to a pressure cooker.

    Soaked dal added to a pressure cooker.

    Add 3 cups of water and close the lid of the cooker. Pressure cook for one whistle on high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the cooker from heat and let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and whisk the dal well using a wire whisk. Set aside.

    Note – To cook the dal in an instant pot, add them to the pot along with water. PRESSURE COOK on high pressure for 10 minutes followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release the remaining pressure manually and open the lid. Whisk the cooked dal using a wire whisk until smooth.

    Cooked dal.

    Heat 1 tablespoon ghee and 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it is hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafetida and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.

    Asafoetida and cumin seeds added to hot oil.

    Add 2 teaspoon chopped green chili peppers, 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 1 teaspoon chopped garlic and fry for 2 minutes.

    Green chili, ginger and garlic added to the skillet.

    Add ½ cup grated fresh tomato and fry for 3-4 minutes.

    Tomato added to the skillet.

    Now add 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, and ½ cup whisked plain yogurt and fry for another minute.

    Turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder and yogurt added to the skillet.

    Add the cooked dal and 1 cup milk and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding more water and check for the salt.

    Cooked dal added to the skillet.

    Cook for 5-6 minutes on low heat. Add 1 tablespoon lime juice and mix well.

    Lemon juice added to the dal.

    For tempering, heat 2 tablespoon ghee in a small skillet over high heat. Once the ghee is hot, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 2 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed) and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.

    Cumin seeds, dry red chilies added to the skillet.

    Add ½ cup chopped onion and fry until they turn golden brown (6-8 minutes).

    Chopped onion added to the skillet.

    Switch off the heat and add 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder.

    Re chili powder added to the skillet.

    Pour the tempering over the dal immediately and mix well.

    Tempering poured over the dal.

    Garnish shahi dal with 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro and serve hot.

    Shahi dal garnished with fresh coriander.

    Serving Suggestions

    Shahi dal tastes great with almost all the Indian bread such as phulka, tawa paratha, lachha paratha, naan, garlic naan, missi roti, tandoori roti, or any other bread that you prefer.

    You can also serve it with steamed rice, jeera rice, matar pulao, bagar rice, or any other lightly spiced pulao.

    Storage Suggestions

    Shahi dal will last in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days when stored in an air-tight container. Reheat it in a pan or microwave. If you feel it has become a little dry after refrigerating, then add a little water or milk to thin out the consistency.

    You might also like

    • Paneer Butter Masala
    • Aloo Vindaloo
    • Gobi Musallam
    • Paneer Ghee Roast

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Shahi dal is a rich and creamy Indian lentil dish made using yellow pigeon peas tempered with a sizzling tempering. Serve it with naan or jeera rice for a special meal.

    Shahi Dal Recipe

    Shahi dal is a rich and creamy Indian lentil dish made using a combination of lentils tempered with a sizzling tempering. Serve it with naan or jeera rice for a special meal.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 334kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • ½ cup yellow moong dal (skinned yellow petite lentils)
    • ½ cup white urad dal (skinned split black lentils)
    • 3 cups water
    • 1 tablespoon ghee
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing)
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 2 teaspoons chopped green chili peppers
    • 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
    • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
    • ½ cup grated tomato
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ½ cup plain yogurt
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice

    For tempering:

    • 2 tablespoons ghee
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 2 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed)
    • ½ cup chopped onion
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
    • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
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    Instructions

    • Wash ½ cup yellow moong dal (skinned petite yellow lentils) and ½ cup urad dal (skinned split black lentils) 2-3 times with water until the water runs clear. Soak the dal in 3-4 cups of water for 15 minutes.
    • Drain the soaked dal and add them to a pressure cooker.
    • Add 3 cups of water and close the lid of the cooker. Pressure cook for one whistle on high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the cooker from heat and let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and whisk the dal well using a wire whisk. Set aside.
    • Note – To cook the dal in an instant pot, add them to the pot along with water. PRESSURE COOK on high pressure for 10 minutes followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release the remaining pressure manually and open the lid. Whisk the cooked dal using a wire whisk until smooth.
    • Heat 1 tablespoon ghee and 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it is hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafetida and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
    • Add 2 teaspoon chopped green chili peppers, 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 1 teaspoon chopped garlic and fry for 2 minutes.
    • Add ½ cup grated fresh tomato and fry for 3-4 minutes.
    • Now add 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, and ½ cup whisked plain yogurt and fry for another minute.
    • Add the cooked dal and 1 cup milk and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding more water and check for the salt.
    • Cook for 5-6 minutes on low heat. Add 1 tablespoon lime juice and mix well.
    • For tempering, heat 2 tablespoon ghee in a small skillet over high heat. Once the ghee is hot, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 2 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed) and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.
    • Add ½ cup chopped onion and fry until they turn golden brown (6-8 minutes).
    • Switch off the heat and add 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder.
    • Pour the tempering over the dal immediately and mix well.
    • Garnish shahi dal with 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro and serve hot.

    Notes

    You can adjust the amount of green chili peppers as per your taste preferences

    Nutrition

    Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 564mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Neha Mathur, Founder & Recipe Expert at Whisk Affair

    Hi! I'm Neha, Blogger & Recipe Expert behind Whisk Affair. I've nurtured Whisk Affair since 2012 by trying & testing every recipe published. Be sure that it will turn out good each time! Read More about me…

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