Urad Dal Bengali Style (Biulir dal/ White Lentils Soup)

Urad dal is a quintessential Bengali Dal and is regularly prepared in many families and for very good reasons. You see Urad Dal or as we call it, Biulir dal like all the other lentils is rich in fiber, protein, minerals and vitamins while still being low in calories. Dal, Bhat and Bhaja is a common lunch menu in most Bengali families and it is amazing how a bowl of dal makes us feel full and satisfied. Dals also help improve heart, digestive and immune functions and are filled with many other health benefits. 

I think Dals are the most inexpensive and easiest dishes to cook on an everyday basis. Every dal is usually prepared in the same way (in a pressure cooker) however, there are certain tricks which help in creating a delicious flavor. It may be dry roasting the dal or the tempering step. Do you remember, when I shared the Moonger dal (Yellow Lentils soup) recipe? I specifically mentioned dry roasting the lentils before cooking them and the same trick applies here. By dry roasting first, you will develop a beautiful flavor in the dal, skip this step and you will have a slimy and slippery texture in the cooked dal which personally I don’t like!

Urad dal is tempered with a paste of ginger and fennel seeds which creates a sweet aroma in it. It goes very well with Alu Posto (Potatoes with poppy seeds paste) and steamed rice. As I have mentioned before, a usual weekday lunch in a Bengali home is prepared with simple ingredients and this dal is a part of that lunch menu and if do you like it, you will find it irresistible not to prepare it again. Kids specially love this sweet dal because of its aromatic fragrance. Easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Thanks to Debarshi I have started tinkering with recipes like this which brings back all those happy family moments. Now whenever you decide to try this dal, don’t forget to serve it with Alu Posto and rice. Believe me by preparing the entire lunch menu you will have a better understanding as to why Bengalis love this combination so much.

Bon Appetit! 

Ingredients:

• White Lentils (Urad or Biulir dal) - ½ cup
• Water – 2 ½ cups
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder – ½ teaspoon
• Oil – 1 teaspoon

For tempering:

• Green Chilies - 1-2, slit in halves
• Asafoetida - ½ teaspoon
• Fennel Seeds – 2 ½ tablespoons
• Ginger – 1-inch piece
• Mustard Oil – 2 teaspoons

Let’s do some preparations first:

• Grind the Fennel Seeds and Ginger with a little water to make a paste. You can use your Nutri bullet for this step (extractor blade).
• Heat a skillet or wok on medium high heat.
• Add the dry Urad dal in it and dry roast it till you get a nice roasted smell and it changes to a yellowish color.
• Turn off the heat and add a cup of water in it.

Let’s cook the dal:

• Add the dal in the pressure cooker along with the Salt, Turmeric powder, and Oil. 
• Add the water in it and mix well.
• Close the cooker and put it on medium heat. Make sure you put the whistle and rubber on the lid and close it properly.
• When the cooker whistles for 2-3 times, turn off the heat and let it cool down.
• Once the pressure drops and the lid opens, start the tempering process.

Directions to temper the Dal:

• Heat a wok over high heat and add the Mustard Oil in it.
• Wait for about 30 seconds then reduce the heat to medium and add the Green Chilies, Asafoetida, Fennel Seeds and Ginger paste in it.
• Fry the mixture for a while, you will start getting a fragrance of the cooked spices. Lower the heat and carefully add the dal in it.
• Increase the heat to high, mix well and bring it to a boil. Make sure the consistency is not too thick. If it is, add a cup of lukewarm water and adjust the Salt.
• Turn off the heat and serve the dal hot with Steamed Rice, Alu Posto (Potatoes with Poppy seeds) or Bhaja (deep fried vegetables).

Tips: 

• You can wash the dal after dry roasting it. Use a sieve.
• You can find the White Lentils (Urad dal) along with all the spices at your local Indian store.

Recommended Reading:

• Panch Bhaja (Crispy Deep Fried Vegetables)
• Moonger dal (Yellow Lentils soup)
• Nutri Bullet – now cook gourmet foods whenever you want
• Excited to use new spices? Know more about Hing (Asafoetida)
• Alu Posto (Bengali recipe: Potatoes with Poppy Seeds)
• Sweet Masoor Dal (Red Lentils Bengali style)
• Kopi Alur Chochchori (Bengali recipe: Stir fried Cauliflower with Potatoes)
• Arhar Dal (Toor Dal or Split Yellow Pigeon Peas Soup)
• Cholar Dal (Bengali recipe: Chana Dal/ Split Bengal gram)
• Kacha Aamer Ombol (Bengali chutney with Unripe Mango)
• Shorshe Diye Bata Mach (Bengali recipe: Fish in Mustard Gravy)
• Jhinge Alu Posto (Ridge Gourd and Potatoes With Poppy Seeds)
• Mixed Dal with Cilantro (Arhar-Masoor Dal with Dhania garnish)
• Bengali Tomato Chatni (chutney) With Dried Fruits