Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (2024)

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Published: · Modified: by Wajeeha Nadeem · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Pakistani Chana Dal is a delicious vegetarian recipe that’s healthy and packed with protein. Learn how to make it perfectly at home, with my tips & tricks.

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (1)

So let’s talk about dal today. I love making dal because it’s super easy and delicious. Given that this Daal is one of the most popular recipes on the blog, I decided its time to share another one of my favourite dal recipes…the very delicious chana dal recipe!!

P.S.If you’re interested in learning more about South Asian lentil recipes, check out this. There are lots of delicious recipes included too!

Chana dal is also commonly known as panjabi chana dal masala or chana dal fry. It's quite popular at small roadside restaurants called dhabbas. And served with roti and some salad or chutney, its a really delicious and comforting recipe.

What exactly is chana dal? Is it the same as chickpeas?

Chana dal is bengal gram. It’s made from brown or black chickpeas that have been split and skinned and polished.

Is Chana Dal the same As Yellow Lentils?

No, Chana Dal is made from split chickpeas. Yellow lentils are smaller lentils and known as moong daal.

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (2)

How to Make It?

While in my recipe for Daal (Indian yellow Lentils) I boil moong daal with a few spices, for my chana dal recipe I use a different method.

We start by soaking the chana dal in water for an hour or so.

While it is soaking, I make a masala of tomatoes and onions in the pot.

Then add the chana dal (after the water has been drained) and cook it with a little bit of water, in essence frying the dal for 5-7 minutes.

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (3)

Now add about 1 cup of water and cover the pot till the dal is cooked through. It will take about 25-30 minutes to cook the dal.

Chana Dal only needs to be cooked until it can be easily squashed between two fingers. Unlike other lentils, chana dal is cooked until its just cooked through and doesn’t lose its shape.

Once the chana dal is cooked, garnish it with green chillies, chopped coriander and butter.

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (4)

Serving Suggestions

Chana dal goes really well with roti or chappati. It’s also delicious with this Indian Salad and Green Chutney.

If you’re looking for side dishes to serve with it then these Chicken Seekh Kebab or Aloo Tikki are a great option.

Hope you enjoy this recipe!! 🙂

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (5)

More Indian & Pakistani Recipes to Enjoy:

Aloo Keema

Jeera Rice - Only 3 Ingredients

Gobi Manchurian

Easy Chicken Karahi

Easy Chicken Manchurian

Haleem

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (6)

Chana Dal Recipe

Chana Dal Recipe is a delicious vegetarian recipe that’s healthy and packed with protein. It’s also a very delicious dal that’s super easy to make!

4 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course, Main Meal

Cuisine: Indian, Pakistani/Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 210kcal

Author: Wajeeha Nadeem

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chana dal
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped finely
  • 3 medium tomatoes chopped roughly
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder kashmiri lal mirch
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1 green chilli
  • 2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste
  • 1-2 cups of water
  • Chopped coriander for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Start by soaking the chana dal in warm water for about 1 hour.

  • While the dal is soaking, start making your masala in a pot.

  • Heat oil in a pot, and add the onion and fry until just light golden brown.

  • Now add the ginger garlic paste and fry for 30 seconds or so.

  • Add the tomatoes and spices.

  • Cook on medium high heat, until the tomatoes are completely softened and the oil has separated from the masala.

  • Now add the chana dal (after draining the water it was soaked in) and fry the dal for 6-7 minutes. Keep adding 1-2 tablespoons of water and stirring so that the dal doesn’t stick to the pot.

  • Once the oil has separated again, add about 1 cup of water.

  • Cover the pot, and cook on medium low heat until the dal has cooked through, stirring every few minutes.

  • The dal is cooked when you can easily squash one lentil with your fingers. But the trick for cooking good chana dal is to make sure that it’s just cooked enough, but doesn’t lose it’s shape and become mushy.

  • Depending on the quality of your chana dal, you may also need to add a little more water, until it is cooked through. Chana dal takes about 30-40 minutes to cook through, but this may vary a bit.

  • Once the chana dal is cooked, top it with freshly chopped coriander and a couple knobs of butter.

  • Serve immediatly.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 512IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (7)Catherine

    Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (8)
    Very good, thank you for sharing it! Had it for dinner tonight 🙂

    Reply

    • Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (9)waj.nad@gmail.com

      Glad you enjoyed it Catherine! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (10)Shanay Tripathi

    Nice to see this recipe of Chana Dal Masala here. Most of the chefs enjoy sharing recipes of chicken and mutton dishes. They completely ignore the vast variety of vegetables in India and the multiple options they offer. I am going to try this recipe sometime and check out whether it turns yummy.

    Reply

  3. Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (11)Shelly

    Does this recipe not require salt?

    Reply

    • Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (12)waj.nad@gmail.com

      Hi Shelly, it does require salt. I missed it out in the ingredient list. Thanks for pointing it out!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Pakistani Chana Dal Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does chana dal need to be soaked before cooking? ›

You may soak the chana dal for 1 hour in hot water so they cook faster. Avoid using older stock of lentils as they take forever to cook.

Is chana dal just lentils? ›

You can use split yellow peas or split pigeon peas to make this recipe as well. Chana dal” is actually split chickpeas. Dal is often translated as “lentils” but actually refers to any pulse (lentils, peas, chickpeas [chana], kidney beans, etc.) that's split in half.

What do we call chana dal in English? ›

Split chickpeas (Chana Dal), split pigeon peas(Toor Dal) and Split peas can be used interchangeably.

What is the price of chana dal in Pakistan? ›

Buy Daal Chana (N&L)- دال چنا Online from GrocerApp. Daal Chana (N&L)- دال چنا Price in Pakistan is Rs. 155 at GrocerApp. Shop Daal Chana (N&L)- دال چنا Online & Get delivery in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

What if I forgot to soak chana dal overnight? ›

In a pan add 1 cup of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Transfer the water to a pot with a lid or an air tight container and quickly add washed chole to it. Cover the lid with a heavy object and seal in the chole and water as quickly as possible.

What is the difference between chana dal and chickpeas? ›

Chana Dal Peas, also known as "Bengal gram," are pulses derived from the desi chickpea, a small, dark legume that is cultivated mostly in the Middle East. It is different from the typical chickpea or garbanzo bean in that it is hulled and split, younger, smaller and sweeter.

Which dal has the highest protein? ›

In case you are wondering which dal has the highest protein, masoor dal is a great option. Masoor dal is a valuable plant-based protein source that offers not only protein but also a range of essential nutrients. Including it in your diet can contribute to meeting your protein needs and promoting overall health.

How many cups of dal for 1 person? ›

Well there is no fix ratio of cup of dal to take for number of people because of the different diet of different people. But it is said that 1 cup of dal is enough for 3 people to prepare. Hence 3–4 cups are enough for 10 people depending on their diet capacity.

Why is my chana dal still hard? ›

Soaking The Dal Enough

Irrespective of the kind of dal you are cooking, you should soak it in lukewarm water for at least half an hour and maximum one hour. The process of soaking allows the granules of dal to break down and makes the process of softening the dal easier.

What is a substitute for chana dal? ›

Chana dal are hulled and split chickpeas. You can substitute regular chickpeas, split red lentils, split mung beans, and yellow split peas for chana dal.

Which vitamin is in chana? ›

It is an incredible source of vitamins like B6, C, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and minerals including manganese, phosphorus, iron and copper. The wealth of nutrients in Kala Chana is beneficial in boosting the immune system, promote muscle mass, regulates diabetes and enhance hair, skin and nail health.

How much is chana 1kg in Pakistan? ›

PKR 335.00(Inc. VAT)

What does moong dal look like? ›

Moong dal here refers to skinned and split mung beans also known as petite yellow lentils. They originally are greenish in color, but have a yellow color once the husks are removed. Photo of hulled and split mung lentils below.

What is the price of 1 kg daal in Pakistan? ›

Daal Masoor 1kg Price in Pakistan is Rs. 175 at GrocerApp. Shop Daal Masoor 1kg Online & Get delivery in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

Can I cook chana without soaking? ›

No, you don't have to soak beans before you cook them. If you forget, you can simply start the cooking process, but expect them to take longer to cook than if you had soaked them first. It can take up to twice the time if you don't soak them first.

What happens if you don't soak dal? ›

No, it's not necessary to soak dried beans/lentils (but some people like to do it, or are used to doing it). And nothing will “happen” if dried beans/lentils aren't pre-soaked before cooking. They'll just take a little longer to start the softening process softening than if cooked-only.

How long should chana be soaked before cooking? ›

Soaking them for at least 6 to 8 hours or overnight is highly recommended to avoid tummy problems. This not only reduces the cook time but also improves their taste & texture. I always stock some presoaked kala chana in my fridge. So it is easier for me to make a curry, salad or chaat instantly.

Which dal does not need soaking? ›

Toor dal or yellow pigeon peas are a must-have in Western and Southern India. Rich in protein and folic acid, they're typically sold split and skinned. Like chana dal, toor dal can go from store to table rather quickly, as they do not require soaking.

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