Panchmel Dal

Panchmel Dal is a famous Rajasthani Dal. The word 'Panch' mean 5 and 'mel' means a blend and 'Dal' means lentils, so it is a combination of 5 different dals. This combination makes this recipe healthy and mouth-watering.

This dal is also referred to as Panchratna Dal where 'ratna' means jewel.

Serves: 4
Cooking Time: 40 to 50

Ingredients

For cooking dal

• 1 cup of equal quantities of

  • Bengal gram dal (channa dal),
  • green gram dal (moong dal),
  • red lentils (masoor dal),
  • pigeon peas spilt and skinned (tuvar dal or arhar dal)
  • black gram split (urad dal)
    washed and soaked in water for 15 to 20 minutes
• 2 cups of water for cooking dal

For tadka

• 2 tablespoons of ghee (clarified butter) or unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
• 1-inch ginger
• 1/4th teaspoon of asafoetida powder (hing)
• 2 cloves
• 2 green chillies
• 3 to 5 curry leaves
• 2 dry red chillies
• 1 large tomato, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon of red chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala powder
• salt to taste
• water as required
• a handful of coriander, chopped

Procedure

Cooking dal

• In a pressure cooker or pot or pan, cook dal until they are completely cooked or softened.
• Mash the lentils with a spoon or potato spoon. If the dal looks too thick then add some water.

For tadka

• Grind an inch of ginger and two green chillies into a rough paste. You could crush them as well.
• In a large pan, add a teaspoon of oil and two tablespoons of ghee or unsalted butter. Once the ghee or butter has melted, add cumin seeds.
• Once the cumin seeds crackle, add 3 to 5 curry leaves, 2 cloves, 2 dry red chillies and 1/4th teaspoon of asafoetida powder.
• Saute for a minute.
• Add the prepared ginger-green chilli paste and saute for a minute or until the raw aroma is gone.
• Then add the finely chopped tomatoes and cook for two to three minutes.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon of red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and salt to taste.
• Saute for a minute.
• Add the cooked dal and cook for 5 to 8 minutes. If the dal looks too thick then add some water and cook for a few minutes.
• Garnish with chopped coriander.

Panchmel Dal is ready. Enjoy it hot with rice, jeera rice or bread.

Notes

• You can find a pack of all five mixed lentils in any Indian store or online for this recipe. However, you could also try this recipe with 2 or 3 or 4 lentils.

Vegan options

• Use oil instead of clarified butter.