Punjabi Chana Dal

Split black chickpeas and chopped zucchini are tempered with cumin, ginger, garlic, onion and other spices.

Punjabi Chana Dal

Split black chickpeas and chopped zucchini are tempered with cumin, ginger, garlic, onion and other spices.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Cuisine: Punjabi
Difficulty: Easy
Special Diet: Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian
Allergen: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Peanut Free, Soy Free, Treenut Free
Category: Beans & Lentils, Kosher Pareve, Vegan, Vegetarian
Main Ingredient: Beans & Lentils
Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients

Recipe Pack

  • 1 pack Punjabi Chana Dal Recipe Kit (No. 38)

Indian Groceries

  • 1 cup Bengal Gram Lentil (Hindi Name: Chana Dal) [1 cup = 7 oz]

Produce & Natural Foods

  • 1 piece Zucchini [1 medium-sized = 0.7 lb]
  • 1 piece Onion [1 medium-sized = 0.4 lb]
  • 1 piece Fresh Ginger Root [2 inch long & roughly ½ inch diameter OR Equivalent]
  • 2 piece Garlic Cloves (medium-sized)
  • 0.25 ounce Fresh Cilantro [optional, for garnish]

Basic Cooking Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil [Sunflower, Safflower, Canola or Olive Oil based on preference]
  • 0.75 teaspoon Salt

Instructions

Preparation

  • Cutting & Chopping

    1. Chop zucchini in 1 inch cubes.
  • 2. Peel & finely dice onion.
  • 3. Peel & finely dice fresh ginger root or grate using ginger grater.
  • 4. Peel & finely mince garlic cloves or crush using garlic press.

Cooking

  • Preparing Herb & Spice Mix (Layering Technique)

    Layer 1
    Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil in pressure cooker OR sauce pan.
  • Layer 2
    When oil is heated, turn heat to medium and add entire contents of Gold Pack to roast spices. Continue on medium heat, stirring often, till you smell slight aroma of roasted spices. It will be just 10-15 seconds if oil is hot enough.
  • Layer 3
    Add diced onion, diced ginger and minced garlic. Continue on medium heat, stirring often, until the onions become translucent and ginger & garlic loose their pungent smell and start smelling nutty & little sweet.
  • Layer 4
    Add entire contents of Black Pack, ¾ teaspoon of salt & ground red chili (optional, according to taste) and roast on medium heat for another 1 minute, stirring gently and mixing well.
  • Layer 5
    Add 2 cups of water to the spice mix, add lentils & chopped zucchini and stir it well.
  • Boiling Lentils

    1. Cover the pressure cooker and boil the lentils and cook till tender.

Garnishing (optional)

  • 1. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Notes

How to Tell When Oil is Hot
When a small piece of food (a bit of ginger OR garlic OR onion) sizzles immediately when added to the pan.
 
Start Cooking only after all the Preparation steps are completed
In Indian Cooking each step move fast so every ingredient should be in ready-to-cook state and should be close to the cooking station before starting cooking.
 
Cooking Time
Cooking Time quoted is in case Pressure Cooker is used to cook. If cooking in sauce pan add more water to prevent drying out.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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