Maa Chole Ki Dal (Curried Mixed Lentils)

Maa Chole Ki Dal recipe is a staple curried mixed lentils dish made in every Punjabi household. If you love lentils, you will love this hearty, healthy dish that has a unique name and made with primarily two lentils – chana dal (split skinned bengal gram) and urad dal (split black gram with skin). It makes for a delicious and filling meal when served with a side of roti, paratha or steamed basmati rice.

Whats with the Name?

When I first heard the name, I was amused. I did not even know that such a lentil recipe exists with such a name. Let me break it down for you.

• ‘Maa or Maah‘ here means Black Gram or Urad Dal.
• ‘Chole’ is Bengal Gram or Chana Dal. 

So In Punjabi we call this mixed lentils dish as “maa chole ki dal” or “maa choliyan di dal“.

Many delicious Indian dal recipes are made by combining two or more dals. Example Rajasthani Panchmel Dal or Gujarati Trevti Dal.

This Punjabi dal is one more fine example of preparing a flavorful dal recipe by combining the two lentils, which I have mentioned earlier.

Both the lentils are split. But the black gram has their black skins on.

The end result is a smooth dal with a creamy texture from the black gram and a subtle nutty sweetness from the chana dal.

About This Maa Chole ki Dal

This maa chole ki dal is minimally spiced. We don’t over spice this dal with spices, but do use a fair amount of onion, ginger, garlic and green chilies.

They do add some depth to the dal in terms of taste and flavors. So that the dal does not become bland.

If you have ever eaten food in gurudwaras or langars, then this mah chole ki dal will remind you of the dal served in gurudwaras. It tastes simply too good.

The dal served there have a slight thick consistency and sweet in taste. You can also check this Langarwali dal (Amritsari dal) and Dhaba dal made with a mix of 5 lentils.

This mah choleyan di daal is a filling dal and should be eaten hot with rice, roti or parathas. The dal is also very heavy.

I have learned to make this dal from my mother-in-law, who has been making this way for many years. This is a family favorite recipe that I am sharing.

I usually first sauté the spices, onions, tomatoes and then add the lentils. Sometimes, my mother-in-law makes a one pot dal. She does not sauté the ingredients but simply adds everything in the pressure cooker with some butter or ghee and let the dal cook.

You can also cook mah chole ki dal in a pot. Only that they will take a longer time to cook. If cooking in a pot, then soak the dal for 45 minutes or 1 hour prior to cooking.

The quantity of water should be adjusted when cooking in a pot. Ensure that the final consistency of the dish is not watery or runny. This dal has a medium consistency. I recommend using a thick bottomed pot, so that the cooked dal does not stick at the bottom.

How to make Maa Chole Ki Dal

Soaking Lentils

1. Pick and rinse ⅓ cup each of chana dal and split urad dal (with skins) in fresh water a couple of times. Then soak both the lentils for half an hour in water. Later drain all the water and set the lentils aside.

Make sure that you are using fresh lentils and they are not aged. They should be in their shelf period.

Sautéing spices, onions, tomatoes

2. In a 3 litre stovetop pressure cooker, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. You can use any neutral-flavored oil.

Splutter ½ teaspoon cumin seeds first on low heat.

3. Then add ⅓ cup chopped onions.

5. Sauté onion until light golden stirring often on a medium-low heat.

6. Add ½ teaspoon each of finely chopped ginger and garlic and ½ to 1 teaspoon chopped green chilies. Fry for about 15 to 20 seconds or until the raw aroma of the ginger and garlic goes away.

7. Then add ½ cup finely chopped tomatoes. Sauté stirring often until the tomatoes become soft and pulpy and you see oil leaving the sides of the pressure cooker.

8. Now add ¼ or ⅓ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chili powder and 1 pinch of asafoetida (optional). Sauté for 4 to 5 seconds.

9. Then add the soaked lentils. Stir and mix well.

10. Pour 2.5 cups of water.

11. Add salt according to taste. Stir and mix again.

Cooking Lentils

12. Pressure cook for 8 to 9 whistles or 10 to 12 minutes on medium to medium-high heat until both the lentils are softened and mushy.

When the pressure settles down on its own in the cooker, then only open the lid and check the lentils.

13. If the lentils are not cooked completely and the water has dried up, then add about ½ to 1 cup water and pressure cook for some more time. Both the lentils should become soft and mushy.

Open the lid when the pressure settles down on its own. Then simmer the dal for some more minutes till you get a smooth consistency. If needed you can add some water if the dal looks too thick.

The dal should not be watery or runny but have a medium consistency. Mash a few cooked lentils with the back of a spoon when the dal is simmering. Mashing some lentils helps in thickening the dal.

14. Lastly add ½ teaspoon garam masala powder. Stir and mix well. Taste the dal and add more of the spice powders and salt if needed.

15. Once the lentils have cooked to your desired consistency, add or garnish with 1 to 2 tablespoons of coriander leaves.

Serving and storage

Serve Maa Chole Ki Dal hot or warm with chapati, plain paratha or steamed rice. Store any leftover dal in a covered bowl or container in the refrigerator for a day.

This dal will thicken when cooling. While reheating add some water and mix. Reheat the dal in a small pan and serve.

If you are looking for more Dal Recipes then do check:

• Mah ki dal
• Dal makhani
• Moong dal
• Dal tadka
• Dal fry

This Maa Chole ki Dal post from the blog archives first published in July 2013 has been republished and updated on 12 January 2022.