Tips to Cook the Perfect Vegetarian Dahl

Dahl is a comfort food that originated in the households of India. But today, it is consumed in all parts of the world. It is one of those rare foods that far transcends the culture. Its soupy wholesomeness and warm comfort can not only soothe a broken heart but also help you get over your winter blues.

The beauty of this dish is that it can provide you healthy comfort all-round the year. Be it hot summers or harsh winters, you can trust a good dahl to meet your body’s nutritional requirements and also satiate your taste palate. You can add number of spices such as turmeric, cumin, garam masala etc. to intensify the taste as well as its health quotient. Even fresh herbs like coriander can add a wealth of taste to your dahl. It is the core of a meal on an Indian’s plate and there are many good reasons for it.

So what is dahl and why is it important to add to your meals? By definition, dahl is denoted by split pulse. However, in India it includes also lentils, beans, and dried peas. The good news is that no matter how many variants there may be, the cooking process for every dahl remains the same. It makes an important part of meal because dahl, especially mung, is easily digestible and incredibly healthy.

Luckily you can also Order Vegetarian Dahl if you are not too fond of cooking. But if you like to prepare yours with a scratch, then you must read this article!

Soak it for sometime

Traditionally, dahl is soaked for at least an hour and a half or minimum 30 minutes before cooking. The idea is to reduce the cooking time and make it easier for them to break through the cooking process. By doing so, your dahl will achieve the creaminess you need for it to be eaten with ease. You can also whisk the cooked dahl and beat it into a smooth soupy silkiness.

Adding liquid to dahl

If you want to make your recipe more nutritious, you can consider adding vegetable stock to your pulses instead of usual water. While you may think that your dahl recipe will need additional flavours to enhance the taste, most dahls contain so much spice that insipidness of legumes is often necessary to balance the things.

Preparing the sauce

You can start by sautéing onions and garlic. Add to it the pounded mix of green chillies, ginger, tomatoes, and salt. Fry them with the sautéed onions and spices to make an aromatic sauce which gives your dahl a rich flavour.

Add the tempering

The final step in the preparation of dahl is to add tempering with a mix of spices fried in ghee or oil until it sizzles with aroma. Add the tempering to your creamy dahl and fold it into the mix by gently stirring it. You can also add fried garlic and thinly sliced shallots sautéed until golden brown. There are many variations of this tempering that can be prepared as per your individual taste preference. Some add mustard seeds, others add cumin powder. So experiment with different flavours to find the taste you like best. While ghee is the best way to bring out the spiciness, but vegetable oil or groundnut oil is a much healthier alternative. Garnish it with little lemon juice and coriander to make the final concoction zesty.

Add Salt to taste

According to most chefs, salt is the final component that makes your dahl eatable. Some say that it is better to add it when cooking the pulses as it helps them cook faster. However, experts claim that salting your dahl in the beginning does not make any difference to the cooking time. However, you can add just a bit in the start to flavour the pulses and then adjust the final seasoning to avoid it being too salty.

Anatomy of a Perfect dal

Dahl is a slow-cooked food that requires time to achieve its signature creaminess. So let it sit for at least an hour on slow flame. Add the spicy, aromatic tempering in the end to finish the dahl. The consistency of dahl depends on person to person. Some like it to be as thin as a soup while others prefer it to be thick like a porridge. You can spice them as you like. So the next time you feel in need of comfort food, dahl will be your perfect companion.

Now that you know the process, you should make dahl a part of your regular meals for its taste and nutrition. If you don't have the time to cook, then you can also order it online from the comforts of your home and still relish its rich taste!