what sort of lentils for dhal?

[Tommy]

I made it with green ones yesterday and it was nice, but not as mushed up as the ones in the curry house. Would orange/red be beter?

I always use red ones, they go mushy really easily.

better obviously

do you soak them first?

Red lentils for me. Don't need soaking, cook quickly and go the appropriately mushy texture.

are yelow ones chana dal then? I have a packet of yellow split peas. Is that the same thing?

(sorry to sound dim but I love dhal and want to find a definitive recipe!)

did you presoak?

different dhals make different currys, I'd try experimenting.

I make all sorts with dhals -

mung - green
urad - black
kitchuri - a mix of rice, split channa and split mung
rajma - kidney bean curry
chana - either whole from a tin or dried split chickpeas

I don't tend to make curry with the red dhal, I tend to use that more for spicey lentil soup. It's the only one that I don't soak overnight.

Im pretty certian that split peas are different to chana

split peas need soaking, red lentils don't. I have just discovered this as I bought split peas the other day as an alternative to lentils for a bit of a change and then realsied I would have to wait a day to make the recipe i wanted!