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Amritsari Dal
Serves 4
55 mins
320 Kcal
Amritsari dal is a comforting and flavoursome dish from Punjab, India, rich in texture and aromatic spices, fulfilling an essential place in Punjabi households because the lentil is earthy and colourful. The usual components for making the Amritsari dal are yellow and black lentils, slow-cooked to perfection with a blend of spices that create the taste. The Amritsari dal recipe starts with cooking the lentils until they are soft and tender. In the meantime, a tadka or tempering is prepared with heated ghee or oil, and ingredients like cumin seeds, garlic, ginger, green chillies, and tomatoes are saut ed. These ingredients provide a flavourful base to give this dal its unique depth. Add cooked lentils to the tempering, and then add turmeric, coriander powder, garam masala, and chilli powder to give an extra flavour. Make it simmer for some time to let spices infuse properly in the dal, and often touch it up with a bit of ghee or butter to make the dish creamy. Amritsari dal can be prepared to suit any taste, whether spicy or mild. The Amritsari dal recipe allows you to add ingredients, like kasuri methi, those dried fenugreek leaves, which give an extra oomph of flavour, and it can be served with rice, naan, or roti, so it's sure to become a favourite for any Punjabi meal.
Ingredients required for Amritsari Dal
- 3/4 cup whole urad dal
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1 tsp chopped ginger
- Salt
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1/2 cup fresh cream
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp garlic
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp green chillies
- 1/2 cup tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp amchur
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin seed powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
Cooking steps for Amritsari Dal
- 1This Amritsari Dal is the ultimate comfort food, bringing the warm, earthy vibes of Punjab straight to your plate.
- 2Creamy, rich, and packed with flavour, it's the perfect companion for naan, roti, or steaming hot rice.
- 3Start the recipe of amritsari dal by soaking ¾ cup of whole urad dal for at least 4 hours (or overnight if you're a planner).
- 4Drain and set aside.
- 5Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pot or pressure cooker, and saut 1 cup of finely chopped onions until they turn golden brown and caramelized—this is the foundation of all the magic.
- 6Toss in 1 teaspoon each of chopped garlic, ginger, and green chillies, and let them saut for a minute until fragrant.
- 7Add 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes and cook them down into a luscious paste.
- 8Now, spice things up with 1/2 teaspoon each of chilli powder, turmeric powder, amchur (dry mango powder), coriander powder, and cumin seed powder.
- 9Stir until the spices bloom and coat the onion-tomato mixture in a fragrant, golden hug.
- 10Add the soaked dal to the pot, along with ¼ to 1/2 cup of water (depending on how thick you like it).
- 11If using a pressure cooker, cook for 3–4 whistles; otherwise, simmer for about 30–40 minutes until the dal is tender and creamy.
- 12Once cooked, stir in 1 tablespoon of ghee and 1/2 cup of fresh cream for that velvety texture.
- 13Season with salt to taste, and let it simmer for a few more minutes.
- 14Finish with 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala and a drizzle of cream for garnish.
- 15Serve hot, and watch as this hearty dal wraps you in its creamy, spiced embrace.
- 16It's not just food—it's an emotion.