Cholar dal
Cholar dal, from above
VegWest Bengal

Cholar dal

A dal with coconut and raisins. Bengal sees no reason to apologise.

45 minTime
11 gProtein each
mildSpice
2hPlan ahead. Soak for 2 hours first; the 45 minutes come after.
The dal that dates luchi3 chapters · 2 min read

Make it your way

Grandma's wayThe original. Handle with reverence.
The original
307kcalsame
11 gproteinsame
8 gfibresame
45minutessame

Per serving, worked out from the ingredient table.

Ingredients

4 servings
Chana dal (split chickpeas)1 cup, soaked 2 hours
Water4 cups
Turmeric (ground turmeric)½ tsp
Fresh grated coconut¼ cup, in small slivers
Ghee1 heaped tbsp plus 1 tsp
Bay leaf (indian bay leaf)2
Cumin seeds1 tsp
Dried red chilli2
Whole spices2 cardamom, 1 inch cinnamon, 3 cloves
Ginger2.5 cm, grated
Green chilli1, slit
Raisins1 tbsp
Sugar2 tsp
Saltto taste
Cumin powder (ground cumin)½ tsp, roasted

Method

5 steps
  1. 1Pressure cook the soaked dal with turmeric and the water for 2 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally.
  2. 2Fry the coconut slivers in the ghee until golden. Lift them out.
  3. 3In the same ghee, add bay leaves, cumin, red chillies and whole spices, then the ginger and green chilli.
  4. 4Pour in the dal. Add salt, sugar, raisins and half the coconut. Simmer, stirring now and then.
  5. 5Finish with roasted cumin powder and the rest of the coconut. Serve hot with luchi.
Serve it like this

Serve hot in a deep bowl with a swirl of ghee or a few coriander leaves on top, and rice or rotis on the side.

Sign up free to cook this

Bloom picks tonight's dinner for your diet and allergies, then cooks it with you step by step.

Make it a meal

What goes with Cholar dal: a bread or rice, a side, something to drink and something sweet.

Bread or rice Luchi45 min
Bread or rice Basanti pulao45 min
On the side Bengali aloo dum40 min
On the side Shukto45 min
To drink Lebu cha6 min
Something sweet Rasgulla60 min
Sign up to send it to your cook