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 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.

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.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 11

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

Course Main Dish – Gravies

Cuisine Bihar

Author Srivalli

Tried this recipe?Mention @Cooking4all or tag #Cooking4all!

Comments

Priya says

December 27, 2011 at 6:41 pm

Bihari style channa dal looks super comforting and inviting.

Suma Gandlur says

December 27, 2011 at 7:33 pm

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

Chef Mireille says

December 27, 2011 at 10:26 pm

looks great

Richa Priyanka says

December 28, 2011 at 3:09 am

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

sushma says

December 28, 2011 at 5:06 am

Bihari style dal looks good. Gotta try

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

Aarthi says

December 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm

Delicious..Yummy one to try it asap

Nalini's Kitchen says

December 28, 2011 at 5:14 pm

Dhal looks delicious and inviting,will try it soon.

divya says

December 28, 2011 at 11:17 pm

Yum yum,mouthwatering here..

Vardhini says

December 29, 2011 at 5:54 am

Simple flavorful dal. Yummy.

Gayathri Kumar says

December 29, 2011 at 2:43 am

Delicious dhal and raitha...

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!

Pavani says

January 01, 2012 at 2:28 am

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

veena krishnakumar says

January 02, 2012 at 4:01 am

Bihari style Biryani looks yummmm

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

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