Dal Makhani or Daal Makhani Recipe

Dal Makhani or Daal Makhani (दाल मखनी ) is a classic north Indian dish where the lentils are slowly simmered for hours in a very aromatic buttery, creamy tomato sauce. Dal=Lentils Makhani: Makhan/Butter based). Rich, decadent, and extremely detectable, this is a recipe to savor and treasure.

Ingredients: (feeds about  6-8 as a meal/main dish)

1. 1.75 cups black urad dal/Maa ki Dal
2. 1/2 cup rajma/red kidney beans
3. 2 tablespoons chana dal/split Bengal grams (Optional)
4. 1/2 onion, chopped
5. 1 green cardamom
6. 2 green chili pepper
7. 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
8. 1.5 tablespoons butter/ghee/oil
9. 3 cups Makhani Masala/Butter based Tomato Cream Sauce (without the Cream) – ( a little more of the sauce will not make much difference)
10. 4-5 cups warm water (more or less)
    
11. 2 cups whole milk (or 3/4 cup cream)
12. salt

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Preparation:

• Soak the lentils/beans (black urad, kidney beans, and chana dal) overnight. Wash them well and drain.

• In a deep, thick-bottomed pot/dutch oven heat the butter/oil/ghee. Add the cardamom, cumin seeds, and the slit hot green chili peppers. When the seeds sizzle, add the onions and cook over medium heat till they are clear and soft. Add all of the drained lentils/beans, and salt; toss them together with the oil/ghee/butter and the spices and cook for about 5 minutes at medium to high heat.

• Stir in the Makhani Masala/Butter Based Tomato Cream Sauce, toss everything together to be well combined; all the lentils/beans should be well coated with this sauce and simmer at medium heat for about 10 minutes while stirring once in a while.

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• Add the warm water to the pot, stir and cover; simmer at low heat till the beans are tender. This might take a couple of hours. For a quicker version use the pressure cooker to cook as I always do.

• After the lentils/beans are tender, mash some of them with the back of a big spoon. Stir everything together in the pot. It should be thicker than a regular soup, but not dry and clumpy. The consistency should be such that it easily coats a big spoon and yet can be poured out. If there is too much water left, keep on simmering until this consistency is reached. If it gets too dry, add some more warm water and keep simmering. Cook for about 10 minutes after you have reached the right consistency.

• Stir in the milk/cream in the pot and lower the heat, cover and cook for another 15 minutes.

Serve hot with Naan or Roti (or any Indian flatbread). Top with more butter/ghee/cream if you want.

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