14 Indian Lentil (Daal) Dishes

Daal-Palak Ka Shorba Lentil and Spinach Soup

Made from scratch with spinach and orange lentils, this simple soup dish is as tasty as it is good for you. Serve it with crusty bread anytime of the year, but especially to warm you when the weather is cold.

Rajma Dal- Red Kidney Bean Curry

Rajma dal is a rustic, one-pan, vegetarian red kidney bean curry dish popular in northern India, but enjoyed throughout the country. The beans are cooked in a spicy paste featuring ginger, garlic, chilies, and tomatoes and traditionally served with plain boiled rice, Kachumbar salad, and a pickle.

Sambar - South Indian Lentil Curry

This Indian vegetable stew with tamarind that is typically served piping hot with idlis (a savory cake), vadas (fritters) or plain rice.

Kaali Daal - North Indian Black Lentils

Kaali daal is also known as ma ki daal (mom's lentils) since it is wholesome and delicious! Black lentils are cooked with spices, tomatoes and cream for the ultimate in Indian comfort food. Serve it with a vegetable side dish and Naan (tandoor baked flatbread) or butter chicken.

Masala Daal

This tasty lentil dish goes just as well with hot chapatis as it does with plain boiled rice. Throw in a salad or a veggie and you've got the perfect vegetarian meal!

Chole - North Indian Chickpea Curry

Classically North Indian, chole (pronounced chho-lay) or chickpea curry probably has almost as many variations as there are households in North India.

This dish is best eaten the day it's prepared and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser when served piping hot and accompanied by pooris or bhatooras (fried Indian bread).

Tadka Daal - Tempered Lentils

This mild, tasty yet easy-to-cook daal dish is hugely popular in India and has an almost endless array of variations.

Hugely popular, it can be made ahead and frozen. When ready to eat just thaw, heat through, temper and serve with plain boiled rice or any side dish you like.

Shahi Daal - Mixed Lentil Curry

This regal, soup-like dish combines five different kinds of daals (lentils) and is therefore also known as panchratan (five gems) daal. Serve it with naan or plain boiled rice and a salad.

Sooki Moong Ki Daal - Stir Fried Moong Daal

Unlike other daal dishes which usually have a soup-like consistency, this tasty lentil dish is actually dry. Serve it hot chapatis (Indian flatbread) or parathas (pan-fried Indian flatbread) and your favorite pickles.

Daal Gosht - Meat With Lentils

Daal gosht, or dal gosht, is a popular dish of spicy cubed lamb, a blend of herbs and plain lentils. In Pakistani and North Indian cuisine, this is a wholesome one-pot meal that's easily doubled or tripled for large gatherings. Just add a green salad and you're in for a satisfying meal.

Dahi Vada - Savory Lentil Doughnuts in Yogurt

This easy savory dish of Dahi Vada is North Indian in origin and serves equally well as a main dish, an accompaniment to other meat or vegetable dishes on a special occasion or even just a tasty snack. While it looks a bit tricky to make, it's actually much more simple and well worth the effort.

Moong Daal Ka Cheela - Savory Moong Bean Pancakes

These savory pancakes are equally well-received as a breakfast food or an accompaniment to any gravy-based dish. Just remember to factor in the lentil soaking time when planning to make these.

Moong Daal Ka Vada Fritters

On a street corner in Delhi's busy Laipat Nagar market, you'll find hot-off-the-fire, freshly fried mangodis, served with tangy mint-coriander chutney.

They're not complicated to make at home if you allow for some pre-planning for the moong daal to soak overnight.

Moong Daal Halwa

An unusual savory ingredient - lentils - is the hidden secret behind this rich, delicious dessert. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and everyone will be back for seconds.