This easy dal makhani recipe uses pre-cooked beans and lentils to cut the cooking time for this tasty vegetarian dish. Serve with naan and enjoy!
Do you have people in your life that you feel you are destined to meet? We are fortunate to have many such people in our lives and one of them is Dan. We like to joke that Dan is more brother than friend, so much so that we invented a new word for it (yes, that’s ours Friend). Our friend Dan lives two doors down and is always available for a chat on the porch or a stroll to the local brewery. While I was out, Dan kept Alex company and convinced him to try a dish he had been looking forward to since his last trip to India. With Dan at the helm, they created this easy dal makhani, a flavorful lentil and bean stew. Read on for the Dal Makhani recipe!
Related: 15 best lentil recipes
What is Dal Makhani?
Dal means “lentils” in Hindi; You can find it as Daal or Dahl. Makhani translates to “butter,” so this dish literally means “buttered lentils.” It’s a traditional Indian dish made with black lentils, beans, butter and cream. This version is lightened with the use of butter and milk.
This twist on a plain Dal Makhani is intensely flavorful and delicious. We topped it with sour cream and drizzled with whole wheat pita. But if we had naan on hand we would have gone with it. It was so good we knew we had to share it here.
Another great dal recipe? This masoor dal (Indian red lentils). Masoor dal means “red lentils” in Hindi. It comes out pleasant and nuanced, with just the right amount of sweet aroma.
How to make this easy Dal Makhani
The ingredient list for this easy dal makhani recipe sounds daunting, but it’s mostly spices and flavorings you probably already have in your pantry. Preparing this Indian Dal Makhani is surprisingly simple. First, sauté the cumin seeds until they start to brown (your kitchen will smell delicious!), then add the onion, fresh ginger, and garlic to the pan. Then add a variety of different spices, a few tablespoons of butter, and milk. Pour in the pre-cooked lentils and beans and gradually add the remaining milk until the dal makhani is well thickened.
We used cow’s milk in this recipe, but if you don’t consume dairy you may be able to substitute milk of your choice. We didn’t make this plain dal makhani with plant-based milk, so I can’t comment on how that affects the taste. However, I’m sure the end result will be delicious as long as you use plain, unsweetened, plant-based milk! This simple dal makhani keeps well in the fridge for a few days and tastes better the longer it sits.
Looking for easier Indian recipes?
Aside from this easy dal makhani recipe, here are some simpler Indian-inspired recipes:
This easy Dal Makhani recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
The description
This easy dal makhani recipe uses pre-cooked beans and lentils to cut the cooking time for this tasty vegetarian dish. Serve with naan and enjoy!
- 1 large yellow onion
- 8th Garlic cloves
- ¼ cup chopped ginger
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 1/2 cups milk, shared
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons every Cumin, chilli powder and coriander
- 1½ tablespoons garam masala
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 15-ounce cans black lentils, drained 3 cups cooked black lentils)
- 15– ounces of black beans
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- Naan or basmati rice to serve
- Sour cream, for garnish
- Fresh coriander for garnish
- Chop the onion. Chop the garlic. Peel and chop the ginger.
- In a small bowl, stir together tomato paste and ½ cup milk until smooth.
- In a large pan, heat the olive oil. Sauté the cumin seeds until they start to brown, about 1 minute. Add onion, garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add chili powder, cilantro, garam masala, cayenne pepper, butter, tomato paste and milk mixture and another ½ cup milk. Add beans and lentils and kosher salt.
- Heat and stir, gradually adding the remaining milk (1 ½ cups or more) over a few minutes until a thick sauce forms.
- Serve hot, with naan for dipping, or with basmati rice. Garnish with sour cream and chopped cilantro.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: Indian
Keywords: Easy Dal Makhani, Dal Makhani, Indian Recipes, Vegetarian Dinner Ideas, Dinner Ideas, Healthy Dinner Ideas
