Dhaba Dal Recipe, How to make Dal - Dhaba Style

It’s an easy and yummy dal. In the original recipe, though the dals were boiled in an open pan. I have used pressure cooker as it saves time and fuel. The taste of dal served in North Indian dhabas is totally different. Enjoy this unique flavor dal.

Serves: 4
Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients: (Measuring cup used, 1 cup= 240 ml)

• ¼ cup arhar dal
• 1/8 cup chana dal
• 1/8 cup urad dal
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 green chili, slit
• 2 tsp garlic/lahsun, minced – add more if you like the taste of garlic
• ¼ tsp garam masala powder
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
• ¼ tsp cumin seeds/jeera
• a pinch of asafoetida/hing
• salt as per taste
• 1 tbsp ghee or oil

Direction:

1. Clean and wash the dals/lentils.
   
2. You can also soak the dals in water for 30 minutes.
3. Boil the dals in 1½ cup water with the garam masala powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt in the pressure cooker till 1 whistle.
   
4. Meanwhile, in a shallow frying pan, take some oil/ghee.
5. Add the cumin seeds and asafoetida.
6. Add the chopped onions. Fry them till they become transparent.
   
7. Then add the chopped garlic.
8. Once the garlic is sautéed, add the chopped tomatoes.
9. Fry till the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
10. Now open the cooker and transfer the contents of the pan to the dal. Mix, and if required add more hot water.
    
11. Now the dal can be cooked in two ways, in the pressure cooker or cook it in pan uncovered.
    
12. In pressure cooker, the dal will get cooked in 2-3 whistles on low to medium heat. In a pan it may take 15-20 minute. Slow cooking in pan makes it tastier.
    

Serving suggestion:

Serve this Dhaba style dal with jeera rice or roti/parantha and sliced onion.