Kolai Dal | Biulir Dal | Bengali Urad Dal Recipe [Video Recipe]

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কোলাই দাল | Kolai Dal | Urad Dal For Bengali Comfort Meal

Kolai dal or Biuli dal (বিউলি ডাল) is a popular summer comfort dish which, if you ask any Bengali, would take them to journey back to their childhood. With its soup-like texture, supremely aromatic with coarsely crushed Mouri aka Fennel Seeds/Saunf and Aada Baata or grated Ginger, it makes the perfect accompaniment to Aloo-Posto and gorom Bhaat.

How to make Bengali Urad Dal | বিউলির ডালের রেসিপি

As I have said this time and again, every family has its own recipe for dishes like this. For instance, I know 3 ways of making Biuli Dal! However, I prefer the way my mother makes it in her kitchen and we have been having since I was a kid. So, if you are looking for the recipe of kolai dal in English, keep reading.

It was only recently when I realized the difference! And the difference is that she adds Panchforon in the oil before anything else.

Oh! By the way, I make Toor Dal or Arhar Dal in Bengali style with Panchforon. You can try this arhar dal recipe in Bengali style.

All these years, I have completely omitted this step and that is why I could never re-create the same aroma she could!! Imagine my surprise when I made the dal in her supervision and had it later, only to feel the same comfort as we would feel when she used to make this for lunch on a hot & sultry afternoon, which was quickly followed by an afternoon siesta!

Bengali Cuisine’s Holy Troika: Aloo Posto-Kolai Dal-Bhat

Serve this and any Bengali would bless you from the core of his/her heart. No kidding!!

It also brings forth the fact that soul-comforting and delicious food does not take much effort. Often simple dishes with minimum ingredients can leave swooning over a meal.

Related Read: Aloo Peyaj Posto Recipe

 

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A post shared by Priyanka Bhattacharya (@speakingaloud_hashdiaries) on Dec 8, 2018 at 1:40am PST

This is probably the most popular Bengali niramish ranna lunch idea, often served on days when people observe abstinence from dishes which need meat, fish, eggs, onion, garlic and few other ingredients.

My mother still observes such “Niramish” day every Saturday. And, post much protest from our end, she has upgraded her lunch menu from Khichuri to Aloo Posto-Biuli Dal-Bhat.

And, this combo is also the most common and typical Bengali lunch menu when nothing else pops in your head or you are too tired to cook up!! Read SUMMER!!

By the way, are you looking for Bengali Dal recipes or Indian Lentil recipes?

I have an entire spread of them and still adding more. You can check out Dal Recipes here. You will get the usuals like chana dal recipe, masoor dal recipe, arhar or toor dal recipe, dhaba style dal makhani recipe, etc.

Related Urad Dal Recipe – Doi Bora | Dahi Vada Recipe

Before we check out the recipe for Urad dal in Bengali style, do follow us:

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Biuli Dal | Kolai Dal | Bengali Urad Dal Recipe

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Kolai dal or Biuli dal (বিউলি ডাল) is a popular summer comfort dish which, if you ask any Bengali, would take them to journey back to their childhood. With its soup-like texture, supremely aromatic with coarsely crushed Mouri aka Fennel Seeds/Saunf and Aada Baata or grated Ginger, it makes the perfect accompaniment to Aloo-Posto and gorom Bhaat.

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: Bengali

Keyword: Gluten Free Recipes, How to make Urad Dal, Lentil Recipes, Summer Recipes, Vegan Recipes

Servings: 2 People

Author: Priyanka

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Urad Dal White Lentils
• 2 tbsp Refined Sunflower Oil
• ¼ tsp Hing or Asafoetida
• 1 Bay Leaf
• ½ tsp Panchphoron
• 2 Dried Red Chilies broken in halves and de-seeded
• 1 tsp Saunf or Mouri or Fennel Seeds Coarsely crushed in Mortar-Pestle
• 1 tbsp Grated Ginger
• Salt to Taste
• 1½ tbsp Sugar
• Water – as required

Instructions

1. Pressure cook the lentils with Salt, Bay Leaf and water till they turn soft and mushy.

2. Once they are cooked, open the pressure cooker and add a cup of water to this and using the back of the spoon press the lentils against the inside wall of the cooker. Give it a good mix in the end.

3. Now, heat oil in a pan and add hing, panchphoron & dry red chilies. Let it splutter and release the aroma.

4. Now, pour the cooked dal in it. Give it a stir.

5. Add the ground Fennel Seeds/Mouri/Saunf, grated Ginger, Sugar & Salt, if necessary.

   Adjust the consistency of water by adding some. Usually, Biuli Dal is preferred to be a bit runny and thin.

6. Cover the pan with lid and let it simmer for 2-4 minutes. Serve hot

Recipe Video