What to Serve With Dal
You can serve dal as a simple meal with a side of rice, naan, or papadams. You can also serve dal as a side dish for chicken or lamb.
Dal: A Staple Indian Recipe
This red lentil dal recipe comes by way of my friend Kerissa Barron, who spent several months living and traveling through India. According to Kerissa, every region of India has its own version of the Indian staple dal, which is essentially lentil soup.
This particular version comes out of the state of West Bengal and features Bengali five spice, called panch phoran, a fragrant blend of fennel seed, fenugreek, nigella seeds, cumin seed and mustard seed. If nigella seeds are not available where you are, you can use black (or white) sesame seeds instead.
In West Bengal and throughout India, dal is eaten at nearly every meal, serving as a sauce, a soup and a way to mash and stick food together (traditionally they eat with their hands in this region).
Ive made Kerissas recipe a couple of times and love the flavors and how easy it is to make. Do you have a favorite Indian dal recipe? Please let us know about it in the comments.
How to Cook and Freeze Dal | Lentils
FAQ
Does cooked dal freeze well?
How do you reheat frozen Dahl?
Do cooked lentils freeze well?
How do you preserve cooked dal for a long time?
Can you freeze Dal?
Freezing Dal is really easy, just follow the simple steps below. Before you freeze lentil curry you’ll need to make sure it’s completely cool. If you’ve made a big batch and want to speed up this process, pour it into several trays a splitting it into smaller portions helps it cool down more quickly.
How to defrost frozen lentils?
Defrosting lentils is easy. It is a matter of minutes if you need something quick to put together a filling dinner. Here are 4 easy methods of defrosting frozen lentils. To defrost frozen lentils in the microwave, put the lentils in a microwave-safe bowl.
Should you freeze lentils before cooking?
Cooking and freezing lentils ahead of time could actually save you time and money. If you often make dishes that require cooked lentils, having them ready in the freezer will mean you can get them out and use them straight in the dish you’re making from frozen or by quickly defrosting them first (see below for defrosting instructions).
Can You refreeze Dahl after it is frozen?
You shouldn’t refreeze dahl once you have frozen and then defrosted it. Refreezing isn’t good for any food and will significantly change the food’s quality, taste and texture. You should aim to use up your defrosted dahl within a few hours and within 24 hours. After this, it will start to deteriorate.