Chana dal, also known as split gram, is a popular dish in Indian cuisine. It is a delicious and nutritious lentil curry that is rich in protein and fiber. Chana dal can be enjoyed as a main dish with roti or rice. It’s an excellent option for those looking for a healthy, protein-packed meal, and it’s a great option for vegetarians.

Why this recipe is so good
1. Rich in nutrients
It is an excellent source of plant-based protein for vegetarians, rich in fiber for improved digestion, and helpful in maintaining a healthy weight while also improving cholesterol levels.
2. Delicious and flavorful
Chana dal Recipe is renowned for its delightful taste. When combined with aromatic spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander and gram masala, along with ginger, garlic, and tomatoes, it creates a delicious dish. These spices not only add depth of flavor but also offer numerous health benefits.
3. Versatile and Customizable
You can add spices according to your taste. You can add vegetables of your choice for more nutrition.
4. Easy to prepare
Chana dal is very easy to prepare. Anyone can make this recipe if they only know the basic cooking techniques.
5. Economical
Chana dal ingredients are cheap and easily available in the market. This dish can be prepared at a low cost.
6. Healthy and balanced
Chana dal provides a balanced mix of high-protein, carbohydrates and fats. Made with a combination of pulses and spices and provides numerous health benefits including antioxidant properties.
Health Benefits
Chana dal is an excellent food rich in protein and fiber. which improves muscle and digestive health.
It provides essential vitamins and minerals including iron and magnesium.
It is very suitable for diabetics as it has a low glycemic index.
This chick dal dish is very suitable for heart health.

Chana Dal Recipe Dhaba Style
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 4¾ cups chana dal
- 7 tablespoons ghee or oil
- 3 tablespoons ground cumin
- 3½ small onions
- 3½ green chili chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3½ medium tomato
- 1¾ tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoons turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoons Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1¾ tablespoons garam masala
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- 3½ tablespoons lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Chana Dal:First, wash Chana Dal under water. Soak it in water for at least 30 minutes. Drain the water before cooking.
- Cook the chickpeas: Add soaked chana dal and 3 cups of water to the pressure cooker. Cook for 3-4 whistles until the dal becomes soft. If using a pot, lower the heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the dal is soft. Add more water if needed.
- Prepare tempering (Tadaka):In a medium pot, heat ghee or oil on low heat. Add cumin and mustard. Keep stirring for 1 minute. Add chopped onions, green chilies, ginger, and garlic to it. Fry till the onion turns brown.
- Add tomatoes and masalaAdd the chopped tomatoes to the pot and continue cooking until the masala is done. Once the masala is done, stir in turmeric powder, cumin, coriander, red chili powder, and salt. Continue to cook for a few minutes until the spices are well combined and the oil starts to separate from the mixture.
- Combine the dal and temperingPour the boiled chana dal into the seasoning pot. Mix well with a spoon and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes so that the flavors blend together. Add water if needed.
- Finally, serveAdd garam masala and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add lemon juice. Garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves.
- Serve:You can serve chana dal with rice or roti.
Notes

Welcome to my kitchen! My name is Jhuma, ( founded in 2024 ), I am an avid home cook and food enthusiast creating videos and blogs of family-friendly, authentic tasty and delicious recipes. But I don’t do these alone my son helps me my son’s name is Sagar, and we both run this blog together. We ensure that every recipe is thoroughly tested and approved. Our goal is to consistently provide you with delicious, reliable recipes that you can depend on to cook.