Dhaba Dal Fry
A simple split-lentil dal finished with a generous ghee tempering of cumin, garlic and dried red chillies — the reliable staple of dhabas lining the Grand Trunk Road through Haryana.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 200 kcal
Equipment
- •Pressure cooker
- •Tempering pan
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- fat
- 7 g
- carbs
- 24 g
- fibre
- 6 g
- protein
- 11 g
- calories
- 200 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Pressure cook the dals with water, turmeric and salt until fully soft, about 4-5 whistles.
- 2
Mash the dal lightly. Stir in hot water if it is too thick, then keep it warm.
- 3
Heat ghee (clarified butter) in a small pan. Add cumin seeds and dried red chillies until they sizzle.
- 4
Add sliced garlic. Fry until it turns golden and smells fragrant.
- 5
Add chopped onion and cook until browned. Add chopped tomato and cook until softened.
- 6
Pour this spiced oil mixture over the cooked dal. Simmer for 5 minutes so the flavours combine.
- 7
Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.
Chef's tips
Dhaba-style flavour comes from letting the garlic and onions brown well in the tadka (sizzling spices) rather than staying pale. Finish with a second smaller tadka just before serving for extra aroma if desired.
Ingredient substitutions
- arhar dal → a mix of any available split lentils
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water, stirring well.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Not browning or seasoning the sizzling spices well, missing that bold dhaba-style punch
- •Leaving the dal too thick without adjusting the consistency with hot water
Serving suggestions
Cooked Dhaba Dal Fry?
Sign in to save this recipe to a collection. Bookmarking works without an account — it stays on this device.
Sign in for collectionsSimilar recipes
Dishes with the same spirit, spice level and course.
More from Haryana
Cooking that shares the same kitchen and pantry.
Recipes using similar ingredients
Use what you already bought for this recipe.
