Dal Recipes: Simple, Healthy, and Traditional Lentil Dishes

When you think of dal, a staple Indian dish made from split lentils, peas, or beans, often cooked with spices and served with rice or roti. Also known as lentil curry, it's one of the most common meals in Indian households—simple, affordable, and packed with protein. Dal isn’t just food. It’s comfort. It’s what your grandmother made on rainy days, what your mom packed for lunch, and what you crave when you’re tired or sick. It’s the backbone of everyday eating in India, and every region has its own version—from the creamy toor dal of the south to the spicy masoor dal of the north.

Getting dal right starts with knowing how to soak dal, the practice of soaking lentils before cooking to reduce cooking time, improve texture, and aid digestion. Not all dals need the same time—some need 30 minutes, others 4 hours. Skip this step, and you’ll end up with mushy or undercooked lentils. Then there’s what to eat with dal, the classic pairings that turn a humble bowl into a full meal. Rice is obvious, but roti, jeera rice, pickles, and raita make all the difference. A dollop of ghee on top? That’s not a garnish—it’s tradition.

Some people avoid eating dal at night because it’s heavy on the stomach. That’s not just an old wives’ tale. Certain dals like chana dal or urad dal take longer to digest, and eating them late can cause bloating or disrupt sleep. But not all dals are the same. Moong dal, for example, is light and easy to digest—even at night. It’s not about avoiding dal entirely. It’s about choosing the right kind at the right time.

There’s no single way to make dal. Some like it thin and soupy. Others want it thick and creamy. Some add tomatoes, others coconut milk. Some use ghee, others oil. The magic isn’t in the recipe—it’s in the balance. The right spice, the right heat, the right timing. And that’s what this collection is for. Below, you’ll find real, tested tips on how to soak dal properly, why your dal might not be digesting well, what sides work best, and how to fix common mistakes. No fluff. Just what works.