Help!!!! Can I use Chana dal as I would plain red lentils?

[unicorn]

or do I have to cook it in a different way...??
just realised I am out of red Lentils (halfway through cooking)- but I do have chana dal( dry- in a packet).

anyone?

What are you making? chana dal holds it's shape longer than red lentils so it's not so good for soups or purees.

attempting a sort of veggi casserole... am simmering the chana dal, as it is very hard..(is that correct??!)

isn't chana dal chickpeas and lentils? Should be fine I'd have thought. If they were raw lentils just make sure they're cooked properly, presumably the chickpeas are already cooked

Ooh no, I'm COMPLETELY wrong about that! Sorry, just looked up some stuff here there might be some stuff about cooking there.

It's a bean but I've never heard of it, so I really should shut up!

personally I wouldn't use chana daal instead of lentils, it's of different taste and consistency and takes a lot longer to cook......

chana dal is sweeter tasting and if you are usign dried lentils you really should soak them overnight before using. They will take a long time to cook. I think it would be nice in a casserole, so logn as you do cook them for long enough.

oh dear - haven't soaked overnight- will see what it turns out like!

I have simmered them for about 40 minutes, and now bunged them in with the veg in the casserole.

Hope we aren't going to be poisoned!!

lol. You won't be poisoned but they might be a bit hard! Hope it turns out ok.

as far as i know chana daal is not a substitute for red lentils and u will definitely have to soak them or boil them before use in a recipe....they are hard to digest anyway.

Yeah - they cause wind!!

i have eaten them without soaking - took ages to cook though and gave us all vile wind