35 dal recipes

Red lentil dal soup with turmeric, garam masala, cumin seeds, jalapenos, and a garlic tadka. A vegan Indian lentil soup that's warming, spicy, and naturally hearty.

It's easy to make, and it tastes delicious. There are lots of great flavors in this mango dal. Serve it with Indian naan bread bread or rice, a tasty and nutritious week-night meal. You can make it ahead, and simply reheat it.

Urad dal ki roti folds spiced black gram lentils right into the dough, then pan-fries into hearty North Indian flatbread studded with green chilies, onion and tangy pomegranate seeds.

Simple Indian dal simmered with turmeric, cumin, and green chiles, then finished with a sizzling onion-ginger tadka. Vegan, high-protein, and endlessly adaptable.

Punjabi dal palak with spinach, fenugreek leaves, and dill simmered in turmeric and cumin. Finished with a generous pour of ghee for authentic, earthy richness.

Yellow split pea dal finished with a popping mustard seed tadka, golden turmeric, and bright lemon juice. A simple vegan Indian side ready in under an hour.

Red lentil dal with a garlic and jalapeno tadka, cumin seeds, garam masala, and turmeric. A simple, spicy Indian comfort dish ready in about an hour.

A delicious side dish that goes well with jerk chicken or curried beef.

Red lentil dal simmered with ghee, turmeric, ginger, and garam masala until thick and creamy. A comforting Indian side dish that comes together in one pot.

Lucknawi dal simmers pink lentils with turmeric and tamarind, then finishes with a sizzling tadka of cumin seeds, fried onion, garlic, ginger, and dried red chili. Sour, smoky, and brothy in the best Awadhi tradition.

Bafla are Rajasthani wheat dough balls boiled in spiced moong dal, then baked until cracked and golden. Break them open, drizzle with ghee, and pour the aromatic dal right over top for a soul-warming vegetarian meal.

Vegan eggplant dal with roasted eggplant folded into red lentils simmered with popped mustard seeds, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. A smoky Indian lentil sauce.

Masur dal simmered with turmeric, ginger, and garlic, finished with a cumin and crispy onion tadka in ghee. A simple Indian lentil recipe that's warm, comforting, and ready in about 35 minutes.

Spinach moong dal: tender yellow split mung beans simmered with spinach, tamarind and turmeric, finished with a sizzling tadka of mustard seeds, fenugreek and dried chiles. South Indian comfort food.

Chana dal with turmeric, mustard seeds, green chilies, and a tarka of fried onion and garlic. A traditional Indian split chickpea dish that's vegan, protein-rich, and deeply spiced.

This is the basic recipe for cooking lentils or beans. Many southern and southwestern regional recipes call for cooked lentils or beans to be stirred gently into a dish near the end of cooking. Therefore, it may be a good idea ot make them a day ahead and have them ready when you begin the actual cooking.