Organic Chana Dal

What Is Chana Dal?

Dal essentially means a pulse that has been split in half. It also is a name for soup made with all kind of pulses, whole or split. 

Chana is the Indian word for chickpea. So Chana Dal is a split chickpea. 

Chickpeas are popular in the Mediterranean and Middle East. They have a lovely nutty flavour and buttery texture.

How To Cook Chana Dal

The beauty of cooking with chana dal is that it is a lot quicker to prepare than cooking with chickpeas.

How To Cook Chana Dal

To make a sensational dal, rinse 3/4 cup of chana dal and soak in water for at least an hour, then drain and pop into a pan with 2 cups of water. Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes. 

In a blender, blitz 1 tomato, 3 garlic cloves, 2cm ginger, 1/4tsp cayenne (optional), turmeric and paprika, 1tsp ground coriander with 1/2 cup of water. Once the dal has cooked, stir in the tomato mix with a pinch of salt, then cover and simmer for another 15 minutes. 

While this is cooking, fry some oil and add 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, a pinch of asafetida, 1/2 tsp garam masala, 1/4 tsp cayenne and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Add in half of this mix to the dal and taste. Keep adding until you have the perfect flavour for you.