I love and heart Dal, I think it one dish that ties together India’s culinary heritage. And here is a roundup of some of my favorite and Best Dal recipes. You gotta bookmark this post now!
This post was supposed to go live on Dal Divas, which was Rushina’s brainchild. The minute I heard about it, I was like what an idea. If you ask me, dal is one of the dishes that could tie India together. Some form of dal is eaten throughout the country. So here is my humble attempt of putting together a round up of Best Dal recipes of India. I am sure it is just touching the tip of the iceberg. The huge varieties of dal that are existent in India need a whole book not a blogpost.
When I started writing this post, I realized what a humungous task I have taken up. We use dal in so many forms, as sweets, as gravy as cheelas and dosas, as dumplings. For the sake of simplicity, I have decided to include only recipes that are purely eaten as dal here. So here is the list.
Resturant Style Dal Tadka – This dal is one of my guilty pleasures. I hate eating North Indian food in resturants barring this dal. For this I would do anything. Even tolerate the rest of butter-laden food. But now we have a recipe to make it at home so why torture ourselves.
Recipe and photo credit – SinamonTales
Dhabha Style Dal Fry – Probably this is my second favorite dal in the whole world. It reminds me of sunny winter afternoons, highway near Delhi and some crisp tandoori roti along.
Recipe and Photo Credit – MyFoodStory
Punjabi Dry Urad Dal – Another one from my childhood. This dal is surprisingly different from your other dal curries. And it is the only way I eat the white urad, a dal I don’t otherwise like.
Recipe and photo credit – SinamonTales
Bhathuey Ki Dal – Another way I love my dals is to mix them with some greens. I am literally adding every green I find to my dal but this Bhathuey ki dal has the potential to the top pick among all of them.
Recipe and Photo Credit – CubesNJuliennes
Achari Palak Moong Dal – Another favorite dal with spinach greens in it. Helps that it has achari masala, which I think makes everything better.
Recipe and Photo Credit – WhiskAffair
Banana Blossom Channadal Kootu/Vazhaipoo Kadalaparuppu Kootu
My introduction to Banana blossom happened way later in life. But good God, it is much more delicious than I ever imagined it to be. And here is a dal recipe that uses the ingredient to bring out all it’s beauty.
Recipe and Picture Credit – CookEatNClick
Punjabi Sabut Moong Dal – This daal was winter months eating for us while growing up. It still makes me nostalgic and feel warm.
Recipe and Picture Credit – Sinamon Tales
Pulihs’er daal – If that name had you wondering what dal are we talking here, you should read Rhea’s warm story about it. It will make you feel warm and nice just as this simple mustard oil wallla toor dal.
Recipe and Picture Credit – EuphoRhea
Parippu – If there is anyone who could sound and make moong dal taste wickdely delicious it is the mallu folks. Roasted moong dal with coconut in it. Parripu is one of my favourite ways to eat bimaaron walla moong dal. (dal which is typically eaten when one is sick)
Recipe and Picture Credit – Sinamon Tales
Malwa Dal – Malwa Dal is a tuvar dal based accompaniment which is simmered with generous tadka of spices. It tastes the best with Zeera Rice or piping hot phulkas. Deliciously Rajasthani, I am strangely hooked to this combo.
Recipe and Picture Credit – WhiskAffair
Achari Tinda Dal – This post won’t be really complete if we don’t about the dals we make with gourds. Whether it is the chaana dal with lauki or dalma or south indian touri pappu. This Achari Tinda dal is my favourite in that segment
Recipe and Picture Credit – Sinamon Tales
Recipe and Picture Credit – Vidhyas HomeCooking
Sheem Diye Moong Dal Another favorite combo across the country seems to be fresh beans of certain kinds with dals. One would thing it really is counter productive to combine beans with beans, but it works! 
Recipe and Picture Credit – Hamaree Rasoi
Moringa Dal – If you haven’t heard of moringa being the next big superfood, you have been living under a rock! And that makes my belief that we Indians have had things sorted forver even stronger.
Recipe and Picture Credit – Sinamon Tales
Punjabi Ma ki Daal – While the whole world is pinning for Dal Makhani, I fall for this simpler Punjabi maa ki daal. I promise once you try this you will say Dal Makhani so pale
Bhaja Moong Dal – Motorshuti ar Pholkopi Diye or the Bengali Style Roasted Moong Soup. Another recent favourite of mine.
Kothalere Rondha Matidail – Assamese Dal with Jackfruit and Blackgram, I have tasted this at a friends house and it is fingerlicking delicious
Dal Ghosht – And then there are the gorgeous dals of India which combine it with meat. Dal gosht tops my list of those.
Recipe and Picture Credit – CubesNJulinnes
Macher muro diye dal – One cannot talk of dal and meat and not mention Daal with fish head. Ok technically it isn’t meat, it is seafood but you know what I mean.
Recipe and Picture Credit – Pikturenama
Parsi Dhansak – Another legendary meat and dal dish that we cannot not have in this list
Recipe and Picture Credit – Bawibride
Kaali Dal Ghosht – And ending this roundup with this gorgeous Kaali Dal gosht. I haven’t made it ever but I think it is time to fix that soon.
Recipe and Picture Credit – CubesNJulinnes
Tell me what is your favorite dal, share a picture with me on twitter, instagram or Facebook? Or leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you have to say about it!
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