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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Chana Dal Bihari Style | Dal with Chana Dal Step by Step Recipe | Simple Bihari Thali

    Chana Dal Bihari Style | Dal with Chana Dal Step by Step Recipe | Simple Bihari Thali

    Published: Dec 27, 2011 · Modified: Oct 21, 2020 by Srivalli · 14 Comments

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    When I had zeroed on the rice recipe, I was back at square one trying to decide on a side dish that could go well for the rice. Knowing that the Rice was a bit spicy, at least for my taste I decided it should be a simple dal to enhance the taste and flovours. I was searching this site for ideas and saw the chana dal that sounded very mild and interesting. The use of ingredients in a different way always intrudes on me. I was determined I was going to make this.
    This dal is an interesting blend of spices used as a whole. I later asked my colleague and she told me that they mostly use the spices in their dals as a whole. Since I was running late, I couldn't simmer the dal as it was told, still, the dal was thick and flavoursome. Along with the rice and dal I made this simple raitha with Keera, it's almost a very simple raitha but spiced with chat masala and kala namak. I saw this at Sia's space and she had also got the recipe from the site I was searching.
    You can also serve other gravy side dishes for this pulao like this Bihari Chole Masala.

    When we had the meal I knew I was going to be making this combo regularly. We loved how well that dal tasted and it didn't taste much the taste of the Rice but rather enhanced it so much. To go with Rice and dal I also made the Cucumber Raitha. This was different as this has Kala Namak. After my experiment with Chola Fali, I have fallen in love with Kala namak. It surely takes the dish to the next level!

    Chana Daal Bihari Style
    Adapted from here

    Ingredients Needed:

    To be boiled:

    Chana Daal - 3/4 cup
    Yellow Split Moong Daal - handful
    Ginger Paste - 2"
    Tomato, finely chopped - 1 medium
    Turmeric powder a pinch
    Caraway / Shah Jeera  - 1/2 tsp
    Bay Leaf / Tejpatta - 1
    Whole Peppercorns / Kaali Mirch - 6
    Black Cardamon / Bari Elaichi - 1
    Cardamon / Chhoti Elaichi - 1
    Salt to Taste
    Green chilies - 2 small
    Coriander Leaves, finely chopped - 2 tsp

    Onion, juliennes - 1 large fried golden in 1 tbsp butter.

    Seasoning:

    Ghee - 1 tbsp
    Hing - 1 pinch
    Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp

    How to make Chana Dal
    In a pressure cooker take the chana dal and moong dal. Wash thoroughly and add about 4 times of water
    To the dal add ginger paste, coconut, tomato, turmeric, salt, bay leaf, peppercorns, and both the cardamons
    Pressure cook for 3 -4 whistles
    Once the pressure falls, heat a small pan with ghee and add hing and jeera. When the jeera pops, pour over the simmering dal
    Finally garnish with butter, coriander leaves, and fried onions.

    Notes:

    The recipe calls for chopped coconut to be added, that I completely forgot at the last moment.
    I added Shah Jeera instead of Cumin while boiling the dal.
    In the original recipe, there was no mention of red chili or green chilies, I added to suit our taste.

    Kheera Raitha / Cucumber Salad

    Ingredients Needed

    Cucumber, grated - 1 cup
    Curds / Yogurt, beaten - 2 cups
    Roasted Cumin Powder - 1/4 tsp
    Coriander powder a pinch
    Chat Masala - 1/4 tsp
    Chilli Powder  a pinch
    Kala Namak/Black Salt -  a pinch
    Garam Masala (optional)  a pinch
    Coriander Leaves, finely chopped - 2 tsp
    Salt to taste

    How to make Kheera Raita
    Wash, peel and grate the cucumber.
    Add the grated cucumber to the beaten curds and mix in all the ingredients.
    Combine everything well and refrigerate.
    Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves if required.
    Serve with the thali.

    You can include the Bihari Style Chawal Ki Kheer in this thali

    Another popular Bengali dish is this Alu Diye Cholar Dal Mishti'r dokan Style.

    Recipe

    Print Pin

    Chana Dal Bihari Style | Dal with Chana Dal Step by Step Recipe | Simple Bihari Thali

    Course Main Dish – Gravies
    Cuisine Bihar
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    For Chana Daal Bihari Style

    To be boiled

    • 3/4 cup Chana Dal
    • Yellow Split Moong Dal handful
    • 2" Ginger Paste
    • 1 medium Tomato finely chopped
    • A Pinch Turmeric Powder
    • 1/2 tsp Shah Jeera / Caraway
    • 1 Bay Leaf / Tejpatta
    • 6 Whole Peppercorns / Kaali Mirch
    • 1 Black Cardamom / Bari Elaichi
    • 1 Cardamom / Chhoti Elaichi
    • Salt to Taste
    • 2 small Green Chillies
    • 2 tsp Coriander Leaves finely chopped
    • 1 cup Onion juliennes (1 large fried golden in 1 tbsp butter)

    Seasoning

    • 1 tbsp Ghee
    • 1 pinch Hing
    • 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds

    For Kheera Raitha / Cucumber Salad

    • 1 cup Cucumber grated
    • 2 cups Curds / Yogurt (beaten)
    • 1/4 tsp Cumin Powder Roasted
    • A Pinch Coriander Powder
    • 1/4 tsp Chat Masala
    • A Pinch Red Chilli Powder
    • A Pinch Kala Namak / Black Salt
    • A Pinch Garam Masala optional
    • 2 tsp Coriander Leaves finely chopped
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    How to make Chana Dal

    • In a pressure cooker, take the chana dal and moong dal. Wash thoroughly and add about 4 times of water.
    • To the dal, add ginger paste, coconut, tomato, turmeric powder, salt, bay leaf, peppercorns, and both the cardamoms.
    • Pressure cook for 3 - 4 whistles.
    • Once the pressure falls, heat a small pan with ghee and add hing and jeera. When the jeera pops, pour over the simmering dal.
    • Finally, garnish with butter, coriander leaves, and fried onions.

    How to make Kheera Raita

    • Wash, peel and grate the cucumber.
    • Add the grated cucumber to the beaten curds and mix in all the ingredients.
    • Combine everything well and refrigerate.
    • Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves if required.
    • Serve with the thali.

    Notes

    The recipe calls for chopped coconut to be added, that I completely forgot at the last moment. I added Shah Jeera instead of Cumin while boiling the dal. In the original recipe, there was no mention of red chili or green chilies, I added to suit our taste.
    You can include the Bihari Style Chawal Ki Kheer in this thali.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Priya says

      December 27, 2011 at 6:41 pm

      Bihari style channa dal looks super comforting and inviting.

      Reply
    2. Suma Gandlur says

      December 27, 2011 at 7:33 pm

      I guess the simple dal becomes flavorful with the addition of all those spices.

      Reply
    3. Chef Mireille says

      December 27, 2011 at 10:26 pm

      looks great

      Reply
    4. Richa Priyanka says

      December 28, 2011 at 3:09 am

      this totally is bihari style!! and thanks for linking to my event! Cheers 🙂

      Reply
    5. sushma says

      December 28, 2011 at 5:06 am

      Bihari style dal looks good. Gotta try

      Reply
    6. The Pumpkin Farm says

      December 28, 2011 at 5:40 am

      this is exactly how it looks in the plate, u have made it perfectly.thanks for sharing recipe

      Reply
    7. Aarthi says

      December 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm

      Delicious..Yummy one to try it asap

      Reply
    8. Nalini's Kitchen says

      December 28, 2011 at 5:14 pm

      Dhal looks delicious and inviting,will try it soon.

      Reply
    9. divya says

      December 28, 2011 at 11:17 pm

      Yum yum,mouthwatering here..

      Reply
    10. Vardhini says

      December 29, 2011 at 5:54 am

      Simple flavorful dal. Yummy.

      Reply
    11. Gayathri Kumar says

      December 29, 2011 at 2:43 am

      Delicious dhal and raitha...

      Reply
    12. Cool Lassi(e) says

      December 30, 2011 at 5:22 am

      This chana dal preparation is slightly different. Never used whole peppercorns in my dhal before!

      Reply
    13. Pavani says

      January 01, 2012 at 2:28 am

      Very interesting dish with chana dal. Looks and sounds delicious.

      Reply
    14. veena krishnakumar says

      January 02, 2012 at 4:01 am

      Bihari style Biryani looks yummmm

      Reply

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