Dhal Makhani

This is a creamy, comforting dhal and the restaurant versions are usually loaded with butter & cream. The advantage with making this at home is that we can cut back a bit on the decadence and still not lose much of the taste. Since slow simmering is always stressed for this recipe, I used the slow cooker this time and it worked out great. So, i could let it simmer away during most of the late morning and we had a grand meal.

I don't have a fancy slow cooker, just a basic one with not even a setting or timer to go with it... and though I bought it with soups & stews in mind, i've mostly used it to cook dhals. I usually wash and pop the dried beans (channa, rajma etc.) along with water in the slow cooker and turn it on. So, typically in the time it takes to soak the dhal or even lesser, the dhal is cooked perfectly and when it's almost done, i even stir in some salt so it absorbs that as well. For this recipe, after frying the onions, tomatoes & masalas with the dhal, i transferred them back to the slow cooker and allowed them to simmer away and finished them off with the cream topping just before serving.

DAAL MAKHANI / MAHARANI


Ingredients:
Whole black Urad Dhal - half cup
Rajma (Kidney Beans) - quarter cup
Onion - 1, medium, chopped
Tomato - 1, medium, chopped
Garlic - 3 to 4 cloves, minced
Ginger - half inch piece, minced
G. chillies - 2, slit into two
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - half tsp
Turmeric powder - quarter tsp
Salt - to taste
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Cream - 2 tbsp OR Lowfat cream cheese - 1 to 2 oz, softened & blended with some milk
Coriander leaves - for garnish

Method:
1) If using a slow cooker, wash the dhals, drain and place in a slow cooker with sufficient water and allow to cook for about 6 hours or so till soft & done. Otherwise, soak the dhals in plenty of water overnight and pressure cook till soft.

2) Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, once they sizzle, toss in the finely chopped onions, g. chillies, ginger & garlic and saute till light golden.

3) Add in the tomatoes, salt & turmeric powder and cook till they turn mushy. Add in the rest of the masala powders and cook for several more minutes with the butter.

4) Stir in the cooked dhal and allow to simmer on the stove. If using a slow cooker, transfer the entire mixture to the pot and allow to simmer there for 3 hours or so.

5) When done, remove from the stove and stir in the cream (or cream cheese blended with milk - since I didn't have cream on hand). Garnish with coriander leaves & serve with naans or rice.

Comments

  1. I want some right now, Laavanya. Almost lunch time, got no leftovers! :D

    Looks delicious, healthy and hearty dish too, enjoy!:)

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  2. Dhal Makhani looks very delicious Lavanya. Lovely click

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  3. looks superb..mouthwatering..would love to have it with some rice now..

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  4. I love this dal and you are making me drool for them.
    Really i was not hungry at all untill i saw this, but then i think it is not hunger it is just greedy to have this delicious dal makhani.

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  5. you said it best! creamy and comforting! This was a must have for us when I went to restaurants as a kid :)

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  6. U make in slow cooker radjma, etc... Great idea! Lovely & creamy dhal makhani :)

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  7. Tempting makhani Laavanya...healthy dish!!

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  8. This dish seems to be perfectly suited for the slow cooker. I always forget to pre-soak the beans then then turn to canned ones in a hurry! This looks delicious.

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  9. Hi Lavanya,
    I agree with u on the restaurant cooking and the bit we can do to cut down the fatty ;) part if we r cooking it at home. Advantage health bhi aur taste bhi :)Good one !
    TC
    Happy weekend.

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  10. Thank you Asha, Trupti, Sowmya, Happy Cook, A&N, Cham & Suparna.

    Priya, I have that problem too. So, i soak dhals when I remember, drain them and put them in a ziploc bag in smaller portions with about a tbsp of water and freeze them. That way whenever you want beans, you just defrost and pressure cook - no worries abt having forgotten to soak :)

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  11. It looks delicious. Laavanya.
    I had no idea about the decadence of this dal till I tasted some quite by accident.

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  12. Sounds creamy and delicious. perfect with rotis.

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  13. This is such an awesome dish, looks great!

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  14. That looks so delicious Laavanya, adding cream cheese instead of cream sounds intresting...I should try out your method soon :)

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  15. dal makhni is one of my fav..i make this very often amost every week..:)

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  16. this looks soo delicious Laavanya... perfect with rice/rotis :)

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  17. dal makhani is my favourite.love to have with jeera rice.yours looks tempting

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  18. laav..that is a great idea!! i think i will buy one too...i have always thought of buying one too but was not sure..but you sold me on it. The dal looks really delicious!!

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  19. One of my fav comfort veg dish..looks yum with all that cream..:)

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  20. great comfort food. looks yummy laav. didn't know that slow cooker does a great job in cooking dhals... i always wondered what is it used for.

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  21. Btw,My feed not updating in reader's page,sobs..:( ,pls chck my new post n pick the award ..:)
    happy weekend dear..:)

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  22. i made this recently too, super creamy :)

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  23. Thats a great dal to have anytime Laavanya...looks delicious!

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  24. The leftover was so tasty Laavanya. Nice version and clean recipe. Viji

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  25. I love Dal Makhani .. looks delicious

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  26. Dhal Makhani looks very delicious and rich...Love it with rice :)

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  27. Looks so tempting and delicious Laavanya...

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  28. yummy looking dalMakhani,..Perfect for Phulka

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  29. that dal makhani loks absolutely creamy and delicious!

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  30. looks gorgeous Lavanya! so rich and yummy.

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  31. That's a lovely, healthy dal makhani recipe Laavs.Thanks for making my favourite dal:)

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  32. Dal Makhani is really comforting, urs looks creamy and delicious.

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  33. Thank you all for your comments :) Nice to see many dhal makhani lovers.

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  34. always a classic and always something that i like anyday!

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  35. One of my favorite Indian dishes. The addition of cream cheese is appealing. Next time I make this, I'm going to consult your recipe.

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  36. Wow, that looks inviting! I can never say no to Dal Makhani, its always lip smacking good! :)

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