Dhaba Style Dal Fry Recipe (2024)

This Dhaba Style Dal Fry Recipe is a delicious Indian dish prepared with lentils, onion tomato masala and Indian spices. The dal is tempered in ghee for an incredible rich flavour that tastes just like Indian restaurants or dhabas.

Serve this Punjabi dal fry with Jeera Rice or Indian flatbread.

Included are Instant Pot and pressure cooker recipes for cooking the dal.

This incredible Dal Fry recipe is made using 5 different types of dal! Yes, 5! Each lentil add their own texture and flavour that tastes just like restaurant or Dhaba style.

It makes for a truly satisfying meal that is well worth the effort. Despite the long list, this is an easy dal fry recipe as it follows the standard cooking techniques found in Indian cuisine.

What is Dal Fry?

Dal fry is a popular Indian dal recipe made with lentils.

It is a flavourful dish where the lentils are boiled until soft and then tempered with aromatic spices like cumin seeds or mustard seeds, and onion-garlic.

The dal is garnished with fresh cilantro and served with rice or Indian breads like naan or roti.

It is a comforting and satisfying vegetarian dish enjoyed by people across India and around the world.

Dal recipes are a staple in Indian households and are enjoyed on a regular basis. The combination of dal with rice and vegetable curry provides a complete nutritious meal and is the ultimate comfort food.

Recipes like Palak Dal and Dal Makhani or Black Dal are made with similar ingredients.

Gujarati Dal is made with toor dal but is much milder in its spice level.

What is a Dhaba?

Dhabas are traditional roadside eateries in North India that serve authentic and rustic Punjabi cuisine. They are typically found along highways and major roads, providing a convenient stop for travellers. Dhaba are known for their hearty and flavourful food like Aloo Matar, Dal Makhani and Sev Tameta nu Shaak

Dal Fry Ingredients

Lentils you will need:

Chana Dal – split bengal gram
Tuar / Tuver / Tuvar dal / Arhar Dal – Yellow Split Pigeon Peas Red Gram (You can get this lentils ‘with Oil’ too)
Masoor Dal – split red lentils or pigeon pea lentils
Yellow Moong Dal – split yellow gram (without green skin)
Urad Dal – split black gram (without black skin)

You are looking to use 1/2 cup for each of these dal except for urad dal which is 1/4 cup

Oil and/or ghee – unsalted butter is an alternative. Use oil or vegan ghee/butter for a vegan dal fry recipe.

Cumin seeds

Hing aka asafoetida

Whole spices – cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, dried red chillies

Onion – I used a white onion that is finely chopped

Garlic clovesminced

Ginger root minced

Green chilies slit

Tomato chopped or tomato puree

Spice powders: red chilli powder, turmeric powder, ground coriander powder, cumin powder

Dried fenugreek leaves – kasoori methi (kasuri methi)

Lemon juice or lime juice

​Optional

Some may add garam masala instead of whole spices

How to cook Dal – Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker and Stove Top Method

Thoroughly clean the lentils with clean cold water 2-3 times or until the water starts running clear.

Soak the lentils for around half an hour if you are going to be cooking them in a pan. If using a pressure cooker, you can skip this step.

Instant Pot Method

Add the washed lentils, turmeric powder and salt to the inner pot.

Seal the lid.

Pressure cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.

Once the cooking time is complete, allow for a natural pressure release for about 10 minutes, followed by a quick pressure release to release any remaining pressure.

Open the lid carefully, and give the dal a stir.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

Add dals, water, salt and turmeric powder in a stovetop pressure cooker.

Put it on a stove without a lid, let the first boil come on high flame then put the lid on and switch to medium flame.

Cook for 3-5 whistles and switch it off.

Let the pressure cooker cool off naturally.

​How to make Dal Fry Recipe

Lightly mash the boiled dal with the back of a ladle.

In a heavy bottom pan or kadai, heat oil on medium heat, add cumin seeds and hing.

Once they splutter, add whole spices – bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon and whole dried red chillies

Add onion, sauté until it just starts to turn pink then add garlic and ginger.

Sauté the mixture for 2-3 minutes then add slit green chillies.

Add chopped tomatoes and cook until soft and oil releases. Add in the remaining spice powders – red chili powder and cumin coriander powder.

Rub kasoori methi between your palms and add in the masala mixture.

Once you see oil is separating from the dal fry masala, add cooked dal and check the consistency, if it’s too thick add a little water.

Add any extra salt to taste and bring it to a boil, reduce heat and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes.

Switch off the heat.

You can allow the flavours to develop by leaving the dal to rest, or if serving immediately do an optional second tempering/vaghar.

In a small pan, heat oil or ghee on low heat. Once the ghee is hot, add red chilli powder and immediately pour over the cooked dal.

Squeeze over lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves.

Serving Suggestion

This delicious Dal Fry is perfect with jeera rice or even plain boiled basmati rice for a comforting meal. Brown rice is a healthier alternative.

ServeDal Fry with a vegetable curry such as Bhindi Bhaji, Aloo Baingan, Bombay Potatoes or Indian Vegetable Curry

Flatbreads such as butter naan, peshwari naan, garlic and coriander naan or gujarati rotli are great for dipping.

Cooling raita and poppadoms are great on the side. A salad like kachumber or Indian onion salad adds some vegetables and crunch.

A cooling sweet lassi tones down the whole spices in the recipe.

Storage

Store leftover dal fry in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze dal fry. Place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost before reheating thoroughly on the stove.

After reheating, you can do one extra tarka to revive the flavour.

Use leftovers to make Dal Paratha.

Other Indian Dal Recipes

Whole Masoor Dal

Spinach Chana Dal

Sultani Dal

Easy Chana Dal

Garlicky Moong Dal with Carrot greens

Three lentils dal with spinach (Dal Palak)

As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me onInstagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

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