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dhaba style dal fry recipe
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dhaba style dal fry recipe with step by step photos – we love the dal they serve at dhabas. dhabas are hotels or restaurants alongside roads and highways. more about dhaba on this wiki link. 

this recipe of dal fry is inspired from the dals served at punjabi dhabas. but i have made the dal more healthy by using 5 different dals or lentils. in the dhaba, they use chana dal, arhar dal and urad dal. i have also added moong dal and masoor dal. the dal fry also uses less oil as compared to the dhaba ones.

at times, i also give dhungar to this dal. if you want to give dhungar to this dhaba dal then you can check the method in this restaurant style dal tadka recipe. if you like dal fry, then you can also check this dal fry restaurant style recipe

its best to serve this dhaba dal with tandoori rotis. though even with plain steamed rice, jeera rice, peas pulao it goes well. you can also serve the dal with naan, parathas or phulkas.

if you are looking for more similar recipes then do check dhaba style dal makhani, chana dal fry, masoor dal, moong dal tadka and dhaba style aloo paratha recipe.

dhaba style dal fry recipe card below:

4.25 from 12 votes
dhaba style dal fry recipe
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dhaba style dal fry recipe
prep time
25 mins
cook time
20 mins
total time
45 mins
 

dhaba style dal fry recipe - punjabi dhaba style dal recipe inspired from the dhabas.

course: main course
cuisine: north indian, punjabi
servings: 3 to 4
author: dassana amit
ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)
for cooking dal (lentils):
  • 2 tablespoons chana dal husked & split bengal gram
  • 2 tablespoons tuvar dal husked & split pigeon pea lentils
  • 2 tablespoons urad dal split urad dal with their husks (chilkewali urad dal)
  • 2 tablespoons moong dal split mung lentils with husks (chilkewali moong dal)
  • 2 tablespoons masoor dal (pink lentils)
  • 1 pinch turmeric powder
  • 2 cups water for pressure cooking
other ingredients for dhaba dal fry:
  • 1.5 tablespoons ghee or oil
  • 55 grams onion or 1 medium onion or ⅓ cup chopped onion
  • 4 grams ginger or ½ inch ginger or 1 teaspoon crushed ginger
  • 4 grams garlic or 6 to 7 small garlic cloves or 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
  • 2 to 3 green chilies slit
  • 2 to 3 dry red chilies
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi, crushed
  • 115 grams tomatoes or 1 large tomato, chopped or ½ cup chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
  • 1 pinch asafoetida
  • ½ to ⅔ cup water or add as required
  • salt as required
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
whole spices for dal fry:
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ inch cinnamon
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • 1 tej patta or indian bay leaf
how to make recipe
cooking dal (lentils):

  1. pick and rinse the lentils a couple of times. if you want you can also soak the lentils in water for an hour.

  2. add the lentils in a pressure cooker along with a pinch of turmeric powder. also add 2 cups water.

  3. pressure cook for 18 to 20 minutes on a low to medium flame.

  4. when the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and check the dals.

  5. the lentils should be cooked very well and softened.

  6. lightly mash and keep aside.

making dhaba style dal fry:

  1. in a kadai or pan, heat 1.5 tablespoon oil or ghee.

  2. add all the whole spices and saute them till they crackle and become fragrant.

  3. then add the chopped onions.

  4. stir often and saute till the onions turn light golden.

  5. then add 1 tsp crushed ginger, 1 tsp crushed garlic, 2 to 3 slit green chilies and 2 to 3 dry red chilies. mix well and saute till the raw aroma of ginger & garlic goes away.

  6. add crushed kasuri methi and stir.

  7. now add the chopped tomatoes. stir and saute till the tomatoes soften.

  8. then add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp coriander powder, 1/4 tsp garam masala powder and a pinch of asafoetida.

  9. mix the spice powders with the rest of the onion-tomato masala.

  10. add the cooked dal and mix well.

  11. add water and stir very well.

  12. season with salt and mix again.

  13. simmer the dhaba dal on a low flame till the dal thickens a bit. 

  14. keep on stirring the dal fry at intervals so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.

  15. when the dal fry is done, switch off the flame. add chopped coriander leaves. reserve some coriander leaves for garnishing.

  16. garnish with some coriander leaves and serve the dhaba style dal hot with rotis or parathas. you can also do the dhungar method if you want and then serve the dal fry.

recipe notes

overall you can also add ½ cup mixed lentils or 180 grams mixed lentils. 


how to make dhaba style dal fry recipe:

a) cooking lentils:

1. pick and rinse the lentils a couple of times. if you want you can also soak the lentils in water for an hour.

dals for dhaba style dal fry recipe

2. add the lentils in a pressure cooker along with a pinch of turmeric powder.

dals for dhaba style dal fry recipe

3. also add 2 cups water.

water for dhaba style dal fry recipe

4. pressure cook for 18 to 20 minutes on a low to medium flame. when the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and check the dals. the lentils should be cooked very well and softened. depending on the quality of lentils, they may take less or more time to cook. lightly mash the dal and keep aside. if you soak the lentils, then it will take less time to pressure cook. the lentils can also be cooked in a pot. just add 2 to 2.5 cups water and cook them covered in a deep and thick bottomed pot or pan. though cooking in a pot and pan will take more time.

making dhaba style dal fry recipe

b) preparing dal fry:
1. in a kadai or thick bottomed pan, heat 1.5 tablespoon oil or ghee. add all the whole spices and saute them till they crackle and become fragrant.

making dhaba style dal fry recipe

2. then add the chopped onions.

onions for dhaba style dal fry recipe

3. on a low to medium flame, stir often and saute till the onions turn light golden.

onions for dhaba style dal fry recipe

4. then add 1 teaspoon crushed ginger, 1 teaspoon crushed garlic, 2 to 3 slit green chilies & 2 to 3 dry red chilies.

preparing dhaba style dal fry recipe

5. mix well and saute till the raw aroma of ginger and garlic goes away.

preparing dhaba style dal fry recipe

6. add 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (crushed) and stir.

onions for dhaba style dal fry recipe

7. now add the chopped tomatoes.

tomatoes for dhaba style dal fry recipe

8. mix well and begin to saute the tomatoes on a low to medium flame.

tomatoes for dhaba style dal fry recipe

9. stir and saute till the tomatoes soften.

tomatoes for dhaba style dal fry recipe

10. then add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and a pinch of asafoetida.

spices for dhaba style dal fry recipe

11. mix the spice powders with the rest of the onion-tomato masala.

tomatoes for dhaba style dal fry recipe

12. add the cooked dal.

making dal fry recipe dhaba style

13. mix well.

making dal fry recipe dhaba style

14. add ½ to ⅔ cup water or as required. for a thicker consistency add less water.

making dal fry recipe dhaba style

15. stir and mix very well.

making dal fry recipe dhaba style

15. season with salt and mix again.

salt for dal fry recipe dhaba style

16. simmer the dal fry on a low flame for about 6 to 7 minutes or till the dal thickens a bit. keep on stirring the dal at intervals so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.

making dal fry recipe dhaba style

17. when the dhaba style dal fry is done, switch off the flame. add about 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves. reserve the remaining 1 tablespoon coriander leaves for garnish.

making dal fry recipe dhaba style

18. garnish with some coriander leaves and serve the dhaba style dal fry hot with rotis or parathas. you can also do the dhungar method if you want and then serve the dal fry. i have shared the dhungar method photos in this restaurant style palak paneer recipe steps and also in this dal makhani recipe.

dhaba style dal fry recipe




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{ 48 Responses }

  2. LAGirl says

    I cant thank you enough for this wonderful receipe. I went to store and bought Mixed lentils just for this receipe and followed your receipt exactly on dot including measurement and it turned out a super hit dish with my husband. kids are too young to appreciate spicy dishes 🙂 i made it thinking it will be enough for dinner and next day lunch box but it got completed by dinner itself and little to pack for lunch box and I am not complaining though !! my husband wants me to make it again twice in a week !!! Amazing job of maintaining this wonderful receipe..keep up the great work !!

  3. Madhurigiri says

    Yummy yummy dal recipe. My kids won’t like dal but after tasting this, they both gave me a hug. Thanks a lot

  4. Tamsin McNaughton says

    Hi Dassana
    I made this dhaba dal on Saturday evening and it was amazing.
    As a little girl growing up in Birmingham (UK) I had an Indian friend, whose mum would mind me after school, when my mum went out to work. I can still remember sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of dal and a chapatti and being really happy; there’s something about dal that is very comforting.
    Thank you so much for the recipe, and compliments on an amazing website.

    Regards

    Tamsin

  6. Parvathy says

    Hey Dassana,
    I’m a regular follower of your recipes. Your Methi malai paneer is my husband’s( a vegetarian) all time favorite!! Though I’m not a big fan of dal, I decided to give this recipe a try.It turned out delicious!! My husband loved it.. 🙂

  9. Madhuri Nadiminti says

    I made this today n it ws just yummm…… love this site for every cooking need

  10. preethi anandula says

    Hey dasanna , I made this recipe couple nights ago . It came out awesome . Kids loved it and me too ?!

  11. Aishwarya says

    thx for this recipe…i also never knew that the mix dals we get in small packets in the malls can be used for dal fry.

  12. Tanusha says

    I have made this many times now and even recommended it to friends. A very tasty dal, thank you dassana : )

  13. Apurva says

    I did two additions, one was dalchini and second was badi elaichi. It made daal very flavourful. Thanks again for sharing this great recipe. Also, I would like to congratulate you on you app. Finally you are here! I was eagerly waiting for your app to launch. Cheers, Happy Cooking!!!

  14. Apurva says

    hi Dassana, I tried this recipe and it was super yummy. I wanted to make daal with a different taste and this recipe rocked. I am a huge fan of your recipes, because of the ease and simplicity with which u showcase even the toughest preparations.

  15. Azzu says

    The recipes on this site are very easy n … I feel to cook n eat that dish soon after reading the recipe from this site. ???

  16. vikas says

    all your dishes are simple to cook Nd turn out to be delicious. I can’t wait for the next receipe..

  18. monoj says

    Hi dasanna’ Thanx for the resipi- today I will make this dhaba dal” it was osam…?

  19. Sathya says

    Hi Dasanna
    I made this dal for lunch today! It was so delicious and every one loved it! Thanks a ton! You rock!

  21. Neena says

    Hi Dassana,

    Thanks for the recipe of Dhaba Dal.
    I have seen it on your site with Raajma included. You also had notes on how to take shortcut if raajma had not been soaked by using the microwave, before cooking all the dals together.
    Could you kindly forward me that recipe.

    Thanking you in advance,
    Neena

    • says

      hi neena. i don’t have such a recipe of rajma cooked with dals or any note on using the microwave for rajma. in fact there was one in drafts, but due to the not so good pics, i have not posted the recipe.