Easy Chana Dal Recipe. Split chickpeas make a smooth nutty soup. Flavored with roasted cumin tempering. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Recipe. Make it in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or a Sauepan
Soak the dal for 1 hour to overnight. Drain and combine with 2 cups water in a saucepan. Cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes over medium heat. Open the lid a crack if the water threatens to boil over.
Meanwhile, blend the tomato, garlic, ginger, coriander, turmeric, paprika and cayenne with 1/2 cup of water until smooth.
Add the tomato mixture and salt to the cooking split peas. Cover and cook for another 15 minutes or until the split peas are tender. Mash some of the split peas and continue to simmer until desired tenderness and consistency.
Make the tempering: Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add cumin seeds and cook until they change color. half to 1 minute. Add in the asafetida. Add half of this tempering, garam masala, cayenne to the simmering dal and mix in. Taste and adjust salt and spice. Take off heat, add cilantro and mix in. garnish with the remaining tempering and serve.
Video
Notes
To make oil-free: Dry roast the cumin seeds until they change color and get fragrant. Add the roasted seeds, asafetida, garam masala, cayenne to the simmering dal. Mix well. Add cilantro and serve.To make it in an Instant pot or Pressure cooker: Soak the chana dal for atleast 15 minutes, drain. Combine with 2 cups of water in the Instant Pot/pressure cooker. Blend the tomato and rest of the ingredient under Dal until smooth. Add to the Instant pot. Cook at Manual 8 minutes in the Instant pot or Cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes after the pressure has reached in a stove top pressure cooker. Let the pressure release naturally. Follow the last step for the tempering and serving.Nutritional values based on one serving