Give me your daal recipe!

[miowpow]

Pretty please!

I notice a lot of MNetters tend to make daal...I'd appreciate your recipes!
I have a cupboard chock-a-block with spices and seasonings and a big bag of lentils so hopefully can whip one up without any further financial outlay. I just need the method ...

Mine varies every time but I've noticed MNetters swear by Meera Sodha

I really rate this one done in the slow cooker, it’s very tasty www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/dal_makhani_30779/amp

What type of lentils do you have?

This is our absolute favourite:

Dal Tadka

I make a vat full every few months and freeze in portions so we’ve always got some to hand.

But yes, I should have asked what type of lentils!

We make the above with red lentils.

This is how I do mine:

Finely chop an onion and a couple of cloves of garlic and fry until softening but not coloured. Add a chopped chilli, some ginger, a teaspoon cumin seeds, a teaspoon turmeric, a teaspoon mustard seeds, a load of red lentils, a load of chopped coriander stems plus water. Cook until nearly soft (you may need to add more water). Add coconut cream and salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, slice another onion into fine half moons and another couple of cloves of garlic into slices. Fry until coloured then add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and red chilli flakes until popping. Pour this over the top of the lentils (beat the lentils with a wooden spoon a bit first). Top with coriander leaves.

It freezes well too. If I freeze it, I like to add another batch of freshly fried onions/garlic when serving it, as well as some fresh coriander.

I make the Jamie Oliver one in his 15 minutes recipe book. I expect it's online. You whizz up onion, root ginger, peppers, a chilli & curry powder and then basically boil it with the lentils and a can of coconut cream, add spinach & fresh coriander. I add chickpeas and eat it with rice for a meal. It tastes really fresh and zingy.

As others have said, it depends on the lentils. Also how much fannying on you want to do.

Lentils that hold their shape like the black ones are good for makhni type dishes, whereas eg the salmon coloured ones break down when cooked and I don't think work so well with cream. But then they can with coconut milk! There are loads of types of dal.

Ohhhhh I’m hungry now! Luckily I’m planning to make a curry (and the above linked dal) tomorrow.

Red Lentils ☺️

Oh, red lentils. In that case I'd do the tadka Dal above. Cooking the tadka separately like that is perfect for red lentils - the flavour stays really strong and then you've got the nice comforting blended heat from the lentils themselves.

Having never seen why people liked dahl, I made this one after seeing it recommended on here and I love it! Not sure if it's authentic but it tastes nice biancazapatka.com/en/red-lentil-dahl/

We like Rachel Allen’s baked red lentil Dahl. It’s really easy and delicious! m.independent.ie/life/food-drink/recipes/rachel-allens-freezer-favourites-30602313.html

Try this - makes loads and is lovely. Pretty economical too.

www.bosh.tv/recipes/roast-sweet-potato-dahl

Love this one: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spinach-sweet-potato-lentil-dhal

We usually use lots of frozen spinach. So easy and tastes even better the next day.

This tadka dal recipe from the Spice Club is my go to. It’s simple and delicious.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/basic-lentils

I usually use this one ^^

I had the most gorgeous garlicky daal in an Indian restaurant last night, but no idea of the recipe for that one sadly. I'm going to try out some of the other recipes on this thread though, I love daal.