Dal Makhani – An authentic punjabi style dal made with lentils & cream.I tried dal makhani(dal makhni) a year back and was not satisified with the taste…I felt the raw smell of dhal and was not able to tolerate it at all. And after that didnt dare to try it again….When I was telling this to my cousin, she suggested me to add the whole spices while pressure cooking itself and it did the magic this time. The gravy came out above my expectations and hubby said a thumbs up to it.I served it with phulka and jeera rice……yum combo it was! Here goes the recipe from my kitchen….
Dal Makhani Recipe – Ingredients
Preparation Time : 15 mins + soaking time | Cooking Time : 30 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Sidedish | Recipe Cuisine: North Indian
Recipe Category: Sidedish | Recipe Cuisine: North Indian
Whole urad dhal(whole black lentil) – 1/2 cup
Rajma (kidney beans) – 3 tbsp
Onions – 1/2 cup finely chopped
Tomato puree – 1/2 cup
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Garam masala powder – 1/4 tsp
Milk – 1/8 cup
Cream – 1/8 cup
Chopped coriander leaves – 1 tsp
Salt – to taste
To temper:
Butter – 1 tbsp
Oil – 1 tsp
Jeera – 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon – 1/2 inch stick
Cloves -2
Bayleaf -1
Cardamom – 1
Method:
- Rinse and Soak urad dal with rajma overnight or atleast for 8 hrs.Pressure cook it urad dal+rajma along with cardamom,cloves and cinnamon(1 each) and water till immersing level for 6-7 whistles or till dals become mushy. Once pressure releases, open and mash it with a laddle,Keep aside. Heat oil + butter in a pan, add the items under ‘to temper’.I used the whole spices that I used while pressure cooking…yes hunted and used it 🙂
- Then add ginger garlic paste,onion and fry till slightly browned.Then add tomato puree along with turmeric, chilli and garam masala powder and required salt. Fry till raw smell of tomatoes leave and the mixture shrinks.
- Then add the mashed dals and give a quick stir. Add 1/2 cup water if its too thick and dry.Then add cream.
- Then add milk and give a quick stir and allow it to boil.You can see the color change after few mins.When the gravy is thick as per your required consistency add chopped coriander leaves and switch it off.
Serve hot with any mild puloa / soft phulkas!
My Notes:
- While pressure cooking, add the whole spices with the lentils which gives a nice flavour to the curry and also reduces the raw smell while cooking.
- I used whole urad dal with skin, you can use splitted too.
- For a more richer version of the gravy, add more cream reducing milk.
Shobha
My Favourite !!
VZ
while boiling the dal…add little yogurt(little less than 1/4th cup)!!believe me the taste would be devine…
Vardhini
Looks yummy and love to have it with rotis.
Vardhini
CooksJoy
Srimathi
One of my favorites. Looks delicious.
Ramya
What a creamy and yummy curry! The last click makes me crave for it soo badly!!
Priti
That's a comfort meal …looks yum
Torviewtoronto
yummy healthy side dish
Reshmi Mahesh
Delicious dal makhani….yum..
Divya Kudua
I've always felt dal makhani was too rich for my taste.Love the addition of Rajma,is it usually added to the dal?The last pic of ghee rice(or is it jeera rice) with dal makes for a perfect meal:)
Gayathri Kumar
Dal makhani looks so delicious. Loved the last click…
Poonam Borkar
dal makhani looks super delicious..very beautiful clicks..loved it!!
Aarthi
dal makhani is my fav..this looks awesome
Premalatha Aravindhan
delicious recipe,love it with pulao…
radha
Delicious meal! And nice step by step pictures.
Sharmilee! :)
@DivyaKudua : Yes rajma is always added for the traditional dal makhani recipe and yes it is jeera rice 🙂
Shilpakiran
being a southindian would like to try this .. thanks for sharing in step by step way .. loved it
Maayeka
Nice and perfectly done daal makhani ,,loved the colour and smooth texture..
Priya
Nutritious and highly inviting dal makhani..beautifully done Sharmi.
Lubna Karim
Wow..love this dal makhani recipe….one of my favorites….rich, creamy and indulging recipe….
Prathibha
Love the combination of dal makhani n jeere rice..my comfort meal..:)
Spandana
Yummy.. looks so rich and creamy!!! Looks perfect with jeera rice!
RAKS KITCHEN
Love this combo anytime, looks so creamy!
dassana
the dal makhani looks creamy and delicious pics as always. a reminder that i have to make dal makhani soon…
M D
U have patience I say! Step by step pics of Dal Makhani is not an easy task for sure. Nice clicks. This Punjabi favorite is common in our household 🙂
Suja Manoj
Healthy dish,creamy and rich..yum
Sangeetha
dal makhani looks so creamy n delicious,perfect!! i too love this with Jeera rice…inviting clicks!!
Spicy Treats
Nupur
I have just got after having Dal Makhni at dinner.. Love this Dal to the core..
Sobha Shyam
love the preparation n the clicks, delicious dal makhani 🙂
Cham
Looks delicious the dal makhani and the clicks!
Shabitha Karthikeyan
Dal Makhani looks perfect. Jeera rice should have been a awesome combo !!
Shobha Kamath
Love this Dal and the picture looks perfect!
Pavithra Elangovan
My all time fav one and looks way too tempting ..yumm:)
Shanky Jindal
Lovely… lovely.. http://www.gujaratonnet.com
Priyas Feast
Simply irresistible dal makhani..luv to have with rotis.
Anonymous
Just finished cooking dal makhani 🙂 i'm definitely hoping for compliments… because its smelling good 😀
Today's special 'jeera rice, dal makhani and cauliflower fry' 🙂
will post their feedback in an hour 😉
Best wishes,
Sw 🙂
kalyani
Can I try dis wid black/white channa istead of rajma? Sorry for asking too many questiond to u…it comes as am a beginner…
Sharmilee! :)
Yes you can but traditionally rajma is used for dal makhani
kalyani
Thanks sharmi:)
Jonal
Hi Sharmi….Really a Good Job..whenever i feel like trying something immediately i logon to your site and try!! Really your site makes cooking very easier..Regarding Dhal Makhani..I Stay in africa and here I dont get Black Urad dal. Can I use the White Urad dal to make this as deseperately i want to make this as my husband loves a lot! Please suggest.
SHARMILEE J
Jonal, really not sure how the outcome will be when made with white urad dal may be you can give a try and see.
Sujadevi Rajkumar
Hi Sharmi, really i like your all receipes.I tried your most receipes it came out well.Simple version is your secret,way to go.Give more and more receipes to us.
achoo
Hi sharmi, have a doubt if v dont get rajma is thr any alternate or can we just cook with black urad dhal alone.
SHARMILEE J
Traditionally dal makhani is made with a combination of urad dal and rajma, but you can try skipping it…but not sure whether it will affect the taste
Rohit Juturu
Hi Sharmi, What is the cream you are referring to?
SHARMILEE J
It is fresh cream….
Ashwini Mallya
hiee sharmilee ji
tied out this now its cum out yum yum
hv tried ur other recipes too they r simply delicious
i m fan of ur recipesss
Radha Swamy
going to try today where do you get fresh cream
SHARMILEE J
Try in any supermarket….