Arhar Dal | Bengali Split Pea Dal Recipe

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No-Fuss & Simple Bengali Style Arhar Dal Recipe | Bengali Toor Dal Recipe

Dal recipes play a very important role in Indian cuisine. If you take a close look at a typical Indian meal, you would inevitably find a lentil-based dal recipe which diligently fulfils its role of protein-provider to the majority of the population of this country. This Bengali recipe for arhar dal is the simplest in terms of ingredients and can be quickly made.

Ingredients needed for this Bengali Arhar Dal recipe

  • Arhar Dal or Toor Dal. English name would be Split Pea Lentil
  • Panchphoron – Bengali Mixed Spice. An alternate would be Cumin Seeds
  • Ghee or Clarified Butter. An alternate would be any neutral oil like Sunflower Oil, etc.
  • Hing or Asafoetida. Skip if unavailable with you
  • Green Chilies for heat & flavour
  • Dried Bay leaves
  • Salt & Turmeric Powder

As India is a tropical country which has an extreme climate where summers can be as harsh as 50c on mercury, a meat-based protein-rich diet is simply impractical and unhealthy. So, to counter with that our diet has evolved in a special way which includes other protein-rich substitutes like lentils, dairy products, etc. which are equally nutritious yet easy to digest.

Among various Indian cuisines, Bengali food in itself comprises of numerous ways of preparing dals which includes very little ingredients and efforts.

Here among various Bengali Dal Recipes, we are making Arhar Dal or Toor Dal or Split Pigeon Pea Lentils with Bengali spice mix known as Panchphoron. The best part about this recipe is that it is completely Vegan and Gluten-Free. Now, most of the traditional Bengali vegetarian recipes are vegan and gluten-free. We use dairy products very sparsely in day-to-day cooking. And, even if we end up using a touch of ghee or clarified butter, it can be always replaced by Mustard Oil or Sunflower Oil. It would hardly make any difference to the recipe!

How to make Bengali style Arhar Dal – Easy Toor Dal recipe

Bengali Arhar Dal recipe - Toor Dal recipe
  1. Pressure cook the lentils/daal with water, salt and turmeric powder. Cook till it whistles 4-5 times. Allow it to cool.
  2. Heat Ghee/Oil in a pan and temper it with Hing, Panchphoron, Bay Leaves and Green Chilies.
  1. Once they splutter, add the cooked dal and give it a good stir. Once it has come to a boil once, check for the salt and add as per requirement. Also, adjust the consistency for the dal as per your needs.  If you choose to add some water, then allow it to boil once before you turn it off and serve.
  2. You may add some chopped Coriander leaves on top as you serve with Rice.

Related Bengali Dal Recipes: Kolai Dal Recipe | Masoor Dal Recipe | Kacha Aamer Tok Dal Recipe


Do Meal-Prep with Bengali Arhar Dal Recipes

This Bengali dal recipe is perfect for everyday cooking. You can always make a big batch of it and freeze for later consumption throughout the week. What I often do is pressure cook the dal and store it as it is in 3-4 parts. Later, I simply thaw it and temper it as per my needs. There are a number of ways of making Arhar daal. Today I am sharing the simplest way of making it in a typical Bengali way.

By the way, I have a separate Indian Dal Recipes Board on Pinterest, you may check it out here.

There is another way of making Arhar Dal at home using onions, tomatoes and spices. Check out the recipe here.

Related Indian Dal Recipes: Green Moong Dal Recipe | Punjabi Dal Makhani Recipe | Rajasthani Panchmel Dal Recipe

Indian Lentil Recipes
Arhar Dal | Bengali Split Pea Dal Recipe
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

This Bengali Arhar Dal recipe is almost staple in every Bengali household. Its gluten-free, plant based and rich in protein.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Bengali
Keyword: Bengali Dal Recipes, Bengali Vegetarian Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Lentil Recipes
Servings: 2 People
Calories: 55 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup Arhar Dal/Toor Dal/Split Pigeon Pea Dal
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1/4 tsp Panchphoron
  • 1 tbsp Ghee Vegans can use Mustard Oil/Sunflower Oil
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 2 Green Chilies Slit in halves
  • A pinch of Hing or Asafoetida
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • Salt To Taste
Instructions
  1. Pressure cook the lentils/daal with water, salt and turmeric powder. Cook till it whistles 4-5 times. Allow it to cool.

  2. Heat Ghee/Oil in a pan and temper it with Hing, Panchphoron, Bay Leaves and Green Chilies.

  3. Once they splutter, add the cooked dal and give it a good stir.

  4. Once it has come to a boil once, check for the salt and add as per requirement. Also adjust the consistency for the dal as per your needs. 

  5. If you choose to add some water, then allow it to boil once before you turn it off and serve.

  6. You may add some chopped Coriander leaves on top as you serve with Rice.

Recipe Notes

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Arhar Dal Recipe

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One response to “Arhar Dal | Bengali Split Pea Dal Recipe”

  1. Ritesh Sharma Avatar

    The way you make Bengali split pea dal is very unique for me will try this soon!!

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Indian Food Blogger Priyanka Bhattacharya

Hi! I’m Priyanka!

A passionate home cook and food lover who loves nothing more than sharing my favourite recipes with the world.

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