Cholar Dal

Cholar dal (Bengali style chana dal) step-by-step recipe with photos.

Cholar dal is a popular Bengali dish usually prepared on special occasions. This delicious dish is made with Bengal gram, whole spices, and coconut, and is on the sweeter side. The aroma from whole spices and the texture from coconut makes it very unique. This Bengali style chana dal is a great accompaniment with luchi (Bengali deep-fried puffed bread).

To make this dish, I first soak and boil chana dal with whole spices. I then prepare a tempering in ghee and add the boiled dal along with coconut slices, sugar, and raisins. This dal is on the sweeter side and is served slightly thick rather than a runny dal. It tastes great with both luchi and plain parathas.

This simple dal full of flavours is perfect for a weekend brunch. Here is how I make this dish. Do try it and let me know how you like it.

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CHOLAR DAL RECIPE VIDEO:

Cholar dal step-by-step recipe with photos

1. Boil chana dal with whole spices (cardamom and cloves), turmeric and salt

2. Heat ghee and prepare the tempering (seasoning) with cumin seeds, cinnamon, bay leaf, and dry red chilli. Then add ginger and hing

3. Add cooked dal, raisins, turmeric powder and sugar

4. Add water and adjust consistency. Once the dal boils, let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens

5. Once the dal is simmered and it thickens, then add fried coconut pieces

Cholar dal

Shilpa

Cholar dal is a popular Bengali dal usually prepared on special occasions. This delicious dish is made with Bengal gram, whole spices and coconut, and is on the sweeter side. 

5 from 1 vote

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Course Side Dish

Cuisine Bengali, Indian

Cook Time 30 mins

Resting Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

  

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• 1 cup Bengal gram (chana dal)
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 3-4 tbsp coconut sliced into small pieces
• 1 small piece cinnamon
• 1-2 cardamom
• 1-2 cloves
• 2 dry red chilli
• 1-2 bay leaf
• ½ inch ginger grated or ½ tsp ginger paste
• 3-4 green chilli or as per taste
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp turmeric
• A generous pinch asafoetida (hing)
• Salt to taste
• 2 tbsp sugar
• A handful raisins

Instructions

 

• Soak the chana dal in sufficient water for 1 hour
• Rinse thoroughly and boil it in sufficient water along with cardamom, clove, ½ tsp turmeric, and salt. Make sure the dal is cooked, but is not mushy and holds its shape
• Heat ghee in a thick bottom pan or kadhai. Add the coconut slices and gently fry them until golden. Set aside
• In the same pan, add cumin seeds and let it splutter. Add cinnamon, bay leaf, dry red chilli and fry for a few seconds
• Add ginger and hing and saute for a few seconds
• Add the cooked dal, ½ tsp turmeric powder, green chilli, sugar, and raisins. Add water and adjust consistency
• Once the dal boils, let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens. Check for seasoning and adjust
• Add the fried coconut pieces and mix well. Turn off the flame
• Serve hot with luchi

Video

Notes

This dal has a sweet taste. You may reduce the sugar if you don’t prefer the sweetness

Nutrition Facts

Cholar dal

Amount Per Serving

Calories 136 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 10mg3%

Sodium 10mg0%

Potassium 203mg6%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 69IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 51mg5%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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