This creamy mixed dal recipe is the ultimate comfort food. A blend of five lentils (also known as panchmel dal) with a spicy tadka tempering, this dish is packed with protein and flavor. Enjoy it with paratha, naan, or by the spoonful!
We make our dal without an instant pot, but feel free to use one (or a slow cooker) if you prefer. Watch our video below for a step-by-step guide on how to make mixed dal!
Ingredients:
Instructions:
1) Add all 5 dals to a large mixing bowl.
2) Mix well using fingers and rinse with fresh water 3-4 times.
3) Soak the dals (lentils) in 2 cups of water for about 1 hour. Soaking the dal helps with cooking - preparation time will vary depending on how long you soak.
4) Add dals (with soaking water) to a thick bottomed sauce pan with 3 cups of additional water.
PRO TIP: You can also cook the dal in a pressure cooker, or a slow cooker! Preparation time will vary depending on the cooking method.
5) Add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing), and 1 tsp of ghee to the pot.
6) Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
PRO TIP: After 1 hour and 15 minutes, you should be able to easily mash the dals with your fingers, if not, you may need to boil for longer.
7) Mash some of the cooked dal using a ladle.
8) In a large pot/pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and 3 tbsp ghee on medium heat.
PRO TIP: Tadka cooks fast - make sure to prepare your ingredients in advance.
9) Once the oil & ghee are hot, add a pinch of asafoetida - sauté for a few seconds.
10) Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds - sauté for a few seconds.
11) Add bay leaf, peppercorns, cloves, and crushed black cardamom - sauté for a few seconds.
12) Add chopped onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
13) Add green chilies and sauté for another minute.
14) Add minced garlic, minced ginger, and 2 dried red chiles - fry for 2 minutes or until onion turns translucent.
15) Add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 2 tsp coriander powder and mix well - Sauté over medium-low heat for 1 minute / until the oil leaves the side.
16) Remove 3 tsp of tadka and set aside in a bowl to be used for garnishing.
17) Add chopped tomatoes, ground black pepper, and mix well - cook for 2 minutes.
18) Add 4 tbsp of water and mix well again.
19) Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until oil begins to ooze from the sides of the mixture.
PRO TIP: For a smooth texture, mash tomatoes with a spoon while cooking.
20) Add cooked dal to the pan with tomato and mix well.
21) Add salt to taste and mix again. The dal should be a creamy consistency.
PRO TIP: Add some water if it is too thick.
22) Boil the dal for 2 minutes over medium-low heat.
23) Add 1/2 tsp garam masala powder, 2 tbsp coriander leaves and mix well. Boil for another minute.
24) Add 1 tsp of ghee and mix well. Turn off the heat.
25) Transfer dal to a serving bowl and drizzle with tadka that was set aside.
26) Garnish with coriander leaves, a squeeze of lemon and ghee.
Notes for vegan / dairy-free: substitute ghee with oil or vegan butter
Ingredients
Directions
1) Add all 5 dals to a large mixing bowl.
2) Mix well using fingers and rinse with fresh water 3-4 times.
3) Soak the dals (lentils) in 2 cups of water for about 1 hour. Soaking the dal helps with cooking - preparation time will vary depending on how long you soak.
4) Add dals (with soaking water) to a thick bottomed sauce pan with 3 cups of additional water.
PRO TIP: You can also cook the dal in a pressure cooker, or a slow cooker! Preparation time will vary depending on the cooking method.
5) Add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing), and 1 tsp of ghee to the pot.
6) Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
PRO TIP: After 1 hour and 15 minutes, you should be able to easily mash the dals with your fingers, if not, you may need to boil for longer.
7) Mash some of the cooked dal using a ladle.
8) In a large pot/pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and 3 tbsp ghee on medium heat.
PRO TIP: Tadka cooks fast - make sure to prepare your ingredients in advance.
9) Once the oil & ghee are hot, add a pinch of asafoetida - sauté for a few seconds.
10) Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds - sauté for a few seconds.
11) Add bay leaf, peppercorns, cloves, and crushed black cardamom - sauté for a few seconds.
12) Add chopped onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
13) Add green chilies and sauté for another minute.
14) Add minced garlic, minced ginger, and 2 dried red chiles - fry for 2 minutes or until onion turns translucent.
15) Add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 2 tsp coriander powder and mix well - Sauté over medium-low heat for 1 minute / until the oil leaves the side.
16) Remove 3 tsp of tadka and set aside in a bowl to be used for garnishing.
17) Add chopped tomatoes, ground black pepper, and mix well - cook for 2 minutes.
18) Add 4 tbsp of water and mix well again.
19) Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until oil begins to ooze from the sides of the mixture.
PRO TIP: For a smooth texture, mash tomatoes with a spoon while cooking.
20) Add cooked dal to the pan with tomato and mix well.
21) Add salt to taste and mix again. The dal should be a creamy consistency.
PRO TIP: Add some water if it is too thick.
22) Boil the dal for 2 minutes over medium-low heat.
23) Add 1/2 tsp garam masala powder, 2 tbsp coriander leaves and mix well. Boil for another minute.
24) Add 1 tsp of ghee and mix well. Turn off the heat.
25) Transfer dal to a serving bowl and drizzle with tadka that was set aside.
26) Garnish with coriander leaves, a squeeze of lemon and ghee.
Notes for vegan / dairy-free: substitute ghee with oil or vegan butter
3 reviews on “Mix Dal | 5 Lentil Panchmel Dal | Without Instant Pot”
I like mine a bit less spicy so I used less red chili powder & less green chili. This was sooo delicious and I will definitely make it again!
Looks interesting, I might make this for dinner today!
Was 🔥