Spread the love

Rate this post

Cholar Dal Recipe (Bengali Channa Dal) Traditional Bengali-style meal isn’t quite complete without a serving of this delicious lentil dish cooked with Bengal split gram or channa dal. Sometimes all you’d like is just a simple and soulful meal for lunch or dinner.

Those who like vegan & vegetarian recipes can join my Facebook group World Best Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes.

For almost every Bengali it’s an absolute drool over the dish. This dal has a slightly sweetish taste in conjunction with a spicy aftertaste. One of the foremost basic dishes but this has my heart. This dal could also be a standard Bengali dish prepared from channa dal, ghee, coconut, and other spices and is best paired with luchi or steamed rice.

Those of you who have been reading our blog for some time already know that we make videos for each recipe on our YouTube channel.

You may also like some other snack recipes on my blog – Dal Palak Instant Pot | Spinach And Lentil Recipe, Instant Pot Dum Aloo, Instant Pot Lemon Rice, Mexican fiesta rice – Instant Pot Recipe.

Sharing is caring! LET’S BE FRIENDS ONPINTEREST! WE’RE ALWAYS PINNING TASTY RECIPES!

Jump To ▶

History of Cholar Dal Recipe (Bengali Channa Dal)

Bengali Cholar Dal is often made for special occasions like weddings during festivals like Durga puja after giving Anjali (Prayers to goddess Durga) we’ve it. It is a really common dish during Saraswati puja. Cholar dal is usually not prepared runny, it’s made thick If you’re having with poori.

The slow cooking technique started in medieval India. The technique was called dum phukt (slow cooking in steam) which raised the status of this dal especially channa dal within the royal kitchen. Royal cooks served not just the opposite dal, but channa dal to the emperor.

In this Bengali Lentil Curry What’s beautiful is that each grain of dal is cooked and separated to make sure the dal is nothing but in need of perfection.

About Cholar Dal

Cholar Dal Recipe is made with Bengal gram or split and hulled black chickpeas, which is flavored with dollops of ghee, fried coconuts, cashews, raisins, and a medley of whole spices like bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon, and actually some hing (asafoetida). Must add fried coconut bits which provide an honest texture to this rich dal.

This Coconut Cholar Dal is slightly sweet and fragrant because of the addition of whole spices or garam masala and flavored with fried coconut, cashews, and raisins. It tastes mildly spicy and filled with nutrition. A vegan-friendly, healthy delicious option.

Usually, onion garlic isn’t added but gingers sing well with the dish. The dish is a little sweet, fragrant, and mildly spicy it’s delicious and nutritious.

Health Benefits Of Cholar Dal

They are an excellent source of vegetarian protein. Keeps your heart healthy and it’s an excellent food for diabetics. They’re high in fiber so now you’ll understand having this delicious dal may be a boon for our body and soul.

There are many health benefits they’re a great source of zinc, folate, calcium, and protein, low in fat content, are often easily digested, a rich antioxidants,s and a really good source of vitamins, and provide energy.

Important Suggestions To Keep In Mind

Soaking the channa dal 1 hour before makes the cooking process in no time.
No cholar or channa dal is complete without fried coconut bits.
If channa dal becomes thick after boiling you’ll add water later at the time of cooking.
Add fried cashews for garnishing it adds an upscale look to the present dish.
Do not forget to include 1 tbsp sugar in the present dish depending on the number of channa dal you’re using.

Make Cholar Dal In Instant Pot

Place all the ingredients required in the instant pot.
Set the valve to sealing and close the lid carefully.
Adjust the time to 10 minutes and cook on high pressure by pressing it manually.
After that let the pressure release naturally.
At least wait for 15 minutes till the pressure valve goes down.
Then press the cancel button. Then you can take a pan and fry the diced coconut and then add to the instant pot and stir.

Channel dal is ready to be served

Check Out the Cholar Dal Recipe video :

Basic Serving Tips

Cholar Dar is typically paired or accompanied with Karaishutir kachori, luchi, roti, paratha, and steamed rice in conjunction with gandhoraj lebu (Special scented Bengali lemon).

This dish is often enjoyed for breakfast lunch or dinner. If you prefer you will have a slightly thin consistency if having with steamed rice. If you’re having with luchi make it a little thick.

How to make Cholar Dal step by step with photo:

In a pressure cooker add the soaked channa dal along with water and salt and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Your time may vary. The channa dal should be soft but not mushy. It should still retain its shape. The dal will be thick at this point. Take out keep aside.

2. Take a mini mixing bowl and make a spice by mixing together the ginger paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and red chilly powder with 6 tbsp water. Also, slice the coconut chop into small pieces, and crush the green chilies.

3. Meanwhile in a pan heat on medium add mustard oil and when it smokes fry the coconut pieces until golden brown. Take it out and keep it aside.

4. In the same pan add cashews and fry till golden brown. Take out and keep aside.

5. Now temper it with bay leaves, dried red chili, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, cumin seeds, and hing. Allow it to fry for 10 seconds.

6. Add the spice paste we made earlier to the pan. Fry on medium heat until the raw smell goes away from the spices. Saute for 5 minutes.

7. Add crushed green chili and saute. Then add raisins, and continue frying until you see oil separates from the sides.

8. Add boiled dal and then add salt to taste. Combine well. Add hot water as I added here (if needed) and mix well. Cook for 7 min till dal thickens.

9. Add sugar, garam masala, and ghee to it. At this point, If serving with rice then make it thin If with luchi / paratha make it thick. Your choice 😊

10. Add fried coconuts and cashews or after taking them out garnish with fried cashews.

11. Heat off the cover and rest and then serve it hot with steamed rice or luchi of your choice. Enjoy 😊

Note: A rough estimate of nutrition is provided.

We Love to hear back from you and appreciate your success stories!
Have you tried this “Recipe”? Please feed us with your ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star ratings and comments below.

Recipe Card