Admittedly, dal makhani is not my favourite Indian dal recipe and I tend to lean towards the simple dal tadka, methi dal, or the fabulous panchratan dal when eating out, but since this creamy dal dish is so popular, I make it now and then, especially when we have guests and I need a good side dish for my tawa naan recipe.
Dal Makhani Recipe
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole black lentils / whole urad dal
1 onion, minced
1 tomato, finely chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp tomato paste (or 1 large tomato, pureed)
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
water, 1 to 2 cups
salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker and saute onions till lightly browned. Stir in salt, chilli powder, coriander powder, ginger-garlic paste, and tomato paste and fry for a few seconds.
2. Add in the chopped tomatoes and cook for a few minutes to combine well. Add dal and enough water to cover them (about 2 cups). Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles minutes till lentils are soft and done. Stir in milk and let it come to a boil.
3. In a separate pan, heat butter and add whole garlic cloves slit in the middle. Stir the tempering into the lentils and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
Serve with warm rotis or a simple pressure cooker vegetable pulao.
Hi Nags….I love Dal Makhani but has not made it…Just have a doubt..The dal used is whole urad dal..same as we used to make dosa batter??…It is white in colour….Then how come the dish is black???I knpw it is a stupid question But pls waiting for ur reply I can't wait to make it…that too without cream
yes it's the same urad dal we use for dosa and idli batter but with the skin which is black. that's why the dal makhani is black.
Hi Nags.. I tried this recipe for my son's b'day and it turned out great.. it was just like they serve in the resatuarants here in North India..my hubby loved it (its a big thing thing coming from him since he doesnot like dal makhani at all).. Thanks for thsi amazing recipe..!!
Sonakshi
You can soak them for a few hours, I usually don't 🙂
Enticing! Naags..could u pls tell me if you need to soak the dal overnight?
MY FAVORITE!!!! Thank you for this recipe- I will be making this today for sure! Indian food is my all time favorite and don't ya know I just moved to a littel town with ZERO indian food restaraunts! Your recipe index will be my go to now! THANK YOU!
This tastes fantastic and easy to make, even for a non-cook like me.
Hi Nags,
Just tried this recipe and its lip smacking good. Love your site. Keep them coming…you go girl!
Meera
thank you so much for trying out my dal makhani recipe and leaving your comments 🙂
VERY NICE DISH….
Naaiice! 🙂