Cholar Dal (Bengali recipe: Chana Dal/ Split Bengal gram)

I think every cuisine has a special dish which is both simple to prepare and delicious to eat. Punjabis have Dal Makhni which is served in weddings and special occasions and we Bengalis have Cholar dal. 

Cholar dal is a Bengali traditional dish. It is tempered with Ghee and spices which add a beautiful aroma in it. What I find interesting is the crunchy texture and sweet flavor which is created by adding fried coconut flakes in it. The best part is, this dal is very easy to prepare so you can have it whenever you want. When in hurry, pair it with steamed rice. If you are staying away from deep fried items, go for roti instead of Luchi. This is perfect to serve at get together parties and weekend brunches. Thinking what to pack for tiffin? What about Cholar Dal! This delicious dal is a treat and tastes great even after re-heating.

I just love Cholar dal and Luchi. I think this combination is so uniquely divine that it is prepared for lunch in Bhoger Bari (served as offering to Gods) and Biye Bari (in Bengali weddings). This dal is absolutely vegetarian without onion and garlic in it. Kids love it because it is deliciously sweet. Personally, I prefer cooking dishes without onion and garlic because they give the menu a delightful variety in flavors. I have quite a few friends who always complain that they are amazing cooks and prepare varieties of non-vegetarian dishes. However, when it comes to cooking our regular Indian day-to-day vegetarian dishes, they are at a loss. Therefore, I try to share as many easy vegetarian dishes as I can on my blog. I hope this Cholar dal will also be a wonderful addition to your weeknight menu.

My mom often prepares this dal but you will be amazed to know that I have never prepared this myself. I talk with her everyday but never thought of taking the recipe from her! Then last year someone prepared this dal during our Durga Pooja bhog and I loved it so much that I got a pack of Chana dal so that I can try this myself. However, since both Debarshi and I keep on doing the low carb diet on and off, the pack stayed untouched. Until last month when Debarshi’s parents came to visit us. I showed the pack to my mom-in-law and she very gladly prepared it for us. I was ready with my notepad and pen and immediately took down the recipe.

Cholar dal is thicker in consistency so be careful while adding water to cook it. It also takes longer to cook so make sure to give it an extra whistle. If you have been following my blog you know I love savory foods as much as I love my sweet treats. This dal is the perfect combination of two. You may think that adding both sugar and salt in a savory dish seems wrong but believe me that’s the secret behind all the delicious Bengali dishes.

The addition of coconut slices fried in ghee definitely elevates this dal to another level. Make sure not to skip/ skimp on the ghee part because it brings a wonderful aroma and flavor in the dal.

Ingredients:

• Cholar Dal (Chana Dal/ Split Bengal gram) - ½ cup
• Water – 2 cups
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder – ½ teaspoon
• Sugar – 1 teaspoon
• Oil – 1 teaspoon

For tempering:

• Red Pepper Pods – 2-3, broken
• Ginger – ½ inch, paste
• Cumin Powder – ½ teaspoon
• Cumin seeds– ½ teaspoon
• Bay leaf – 2, small
• Ghee – 2 tablespoons
• Coconut flakes – ¼ cup, chopped

Let’s cook the dal:

• Wash the dal well.
• Add the dal in the pressure cooker along with the Salt, Turmeric powder, Sugar and Oil. 
• Add the water in it and mix well.
• Close the cooker and put it on medium heat. Make sure to put the whistle and rubber on the lid and close it properly.
• When the cooker whistles for 3-4 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:
We will be tempering the dal in two steps so use a small pot/ pan instead of our usual temper pan.
1st step: 

• Heat the pot on medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of ghee in it. 
• Add the Red Pepper Pods, Cumin seeds and Bay leaf in it.
• Once the seeds start popping, reduce the heat to medium low and add the ginger paste and cumin powder in it. Stir to mix. Be careful not to burn it. Cook for a minute, when the spices and paste looks fried, pour it in the cooked dal.

2nd step: 

• Heat the pot again on medium heat and add the 2nd tablespoon of ghee in it.
• Let it heat up then add the coconut flakes in it. Start stirring, we don’t want the coconut to burn.
• Carefully pour the coconut and ghee in the cooked Dal. Give it a stir.

Bring to a boil, reduce to a thick consistency. Cholar dal is ready! Serve hot with steamed rice or Luchi.

Recommended Reading:

• Arhar Dal (Toor Dal or Split Yellow Pigeon Peas Soup)
• Urad Dal Bengali Style (Biulir dal/ White Lentils Soup)
• Moonger dal (Yellow Lentils soup)
• Sweet Masoor Dal (Red Lentils Bengali style)
• Sambar (South Indian lentils and vegetable soup)
• Panch Bhaja (Crispy Deep Fried Vegetables)
• Kacha Aamer Ombol (Bengali chutney with Unripe Mango)
• Shorshe Diye Bata Mach (Bengali recipe: Fish in Mustard Gravy)
• Mixed Dal with Cilantro (Arhar-Masoor Dal with Dhania garnish)

This recipe has been featured on Instagram – glassofwineforme account. Thank you guys!

Today in the travel section, I am going to take you to a beautiful building right here in Kansas City - The Union Station.

The fountain in front of union station is sure a heart winner for many love birds. It is the perfect place to click a family photo and even a selfie!

The Union station in Kansas City is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city. As soon as you enter through the main doors, you will see a grand hall. If three large chandeliers are not enough to impress you then look at the ceiling. It has some of the most decorative works on it.

The building has a planetarium, many restaurants and lots of fun stuff for the kids.

Although I have been to Union Station quite a few times, my favorite time to go there is Christmas. You can catch a glimpse of the holiday spirit at Union Station with the above photo. 

If you have family or friends visiting you, this is a must go place here in Kansas City. You can spend your whole day there.