Fullmeals

Dhal Bhorta

Name: Dhal Bhorta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 3-4 People (as a side dish)
Cuisine: Bengali
Ingredients: 150g Split red lentils; 550ml Cold water; 2-3 cloves Chopped garlic; 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder; to taste Salt; 4-5 tbsp Mustard oil; 4-5 Red dry chillies; 1 medium Finely sliced red onion; 3-4 tbsp, chopped Fresh coriander

Recipe by DeLishas Dishes

Ready in35 min
Prep10 min
Cook25 min
CuisineBengali · South Asian
Serves3-4 People (as a side dish)
DifficultyMedium
Spicy level3/5
Calories~300 kcal

Ingredients

For Cooking Dhal

150gSplit red lentils
550mlCold water
2-3 clovesChopped garlic
1/2 tspTurmeric powder
to tasteSalt

For Mixing and Tempering

4-5 tbspMustard oil
4-5Red dry chillies
1 mediumFinely sliced red onion
3-4 tbsp, choppedFresh coriander

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Wash Lentils
Wash 150g of split red lentils using cold water until the water runs clear.
2.Add Lentils and Water to Pan
In a pan, add the washed dhal and 550ml of cold water.
3.Start Cooking
Turn the hob on high heat.
4.Add Garlic
Add 2-3 cloves of chopped garlic to the pan.
5.Add Turmeric (Do Not Mix)
Add 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder. Do not mix, as this will prevent the dhal from softening properly.
6.Reduce Heat
Once the dhal starts to boil, reduce the heat to low.
7.Skim Froth
Carefully skim off any froth that forms on the surface, without mixing the dhal.
8.Season with Salt
Add salt to taste.
9.Increase Heat for Evaporation
When most of the water has nearly fully evaporated, increase the heat to high.
10.Continuous Mixing
Start continuously mixing the dhal whilst still on high heat to ensure it doesn't burn.
11.Achieve Dry Texture
Keep mixing for approximately 5 minutes until the dhal is dry with no water and starts sticking to the sides of the pan.
12.Cool Dhal
Transfer the cooked dhal into a bowl and allow it to cool down.
13.Fry Chillies
In a separate pan, heat 1 tbsp of mustard oil and add 4-5 red dry chillies.
14.Darken Chillies
Keep mixing the chillies for about 1 minute until they turn a dark red in colour.
15.Crush Chillies
Using your hands or a pestle and mortar, break up the fried chillies and set them aside.
16.Prepare Onions
In a mixing bowl, add 1 very finely sliced medium red onion.
17.Soften Onions
Add a pinch of salt to the onions and mix them together with your hands to help soften them slightly.
18.Combine Dhal and Onions
Add the cooled, cooked dhal to the bowl with the onions.
19.Add Coriander
Add 3-4 tbsp of chopped fresh coriander.
20.Initial Mixing
Using your hands, thoroughly mix all the ingredients together.
21.Add Crushed Chillies
Add the crushed fried chillies to the mixture.
22.Add Mustard Oil
Add 3-4 tbsp of mustard oil (Shorishar tel).
23.Final Mix
Mix all ingredients together one final time.
24.Serve
The Dhal Bhorta is now ready to eat. Serve hot with piping hot white rice.

Ready in

35 mins

Cuisine

Bengali · South Asian

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

25 min

Serving

3-4 People (as a side dish)

Difficulty

Medium

Calories / Serving

~300 kcal

Spicy Level

Mild

Recipe by DeLishas Dishes on YouTube

Adjust Servings

Measurements

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow each step to make the recipe successfully.

Wash Lentils
Wash 150g of split red lentils using cold water until the water runs clear.
Add Lentils and Water to Pan
In a pan, add the washed dhal and 550ml of cold water.
Start Cooking
Turn the hob on high heat.
Add Garlic
Add 2-3 cloves of chopped garlic to the pan.
Add Turmeric (Do Not Mix)
Add 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder. Do not mix, as this will prevent the dhal from softening properly.
Reduce Heat
Once the dhal starts to boil, the heat to low.
Skim Froth
Carefully skim off any froth that forms on the surface, without mixing the dhal.
Season with Salt
Add salt to taste.
Increase Heat for Evaporation
When most of the water has nearly fully evaporated, increase the heat to high.
Continuous Mixing
Start continuously mixing the dhal whilst still on high heat to ensure it doesn't burn.
Achieve Dry Texture
Keep mixing for approximately until the dhal is dry with no water and starts sticking to the sides of the pan.
Cool Dhal
Transfer the cooked dhal into a bowl and allow it to cool down.
Fry Chillies
In a separate pan, heat 1 tbsp of mustard oil and add 4-5 red dry chillies.
Darken Chillies
Keep mixing the chillies for about until they turn a dark red in colour.
Crush Chillies
Using your hands or a pestle and mortar, break up the fried chillies and set them aside.
Prepare Onions
In a mixing bowl, add 1 very finely sliced medium red onion.
Soften Onions
Add a pinch of salt to the onions and mix them together with your hands to help soften them slightly.
Combine Dhal and Onions
Add the cooled, cooked dhal to the bowl with the onions.
Add Coriander
Add 3-4 tbsp of chopped fresh coriander.
Initial Mixing
Using your hands, thoroughly mix all the ingredients together.
Add Crushed Chillies
Add the crushed fried chillies to the mixture.
Add Mustard Oil
Add 3-4 tbsp of mustard oil (Shorishar tel).
Final Mix
Mix all ingredients together one final time.
Serve
The Dhal Bhorta is now ready to eat. Serve hot with piping hot white rice.

Before You Cook

Helpful details before you start

Ingredient SubstitutionsMissing something? View suitable alternatives.

View 3 swaps

No Garlic (fresh)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
- 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
No Onion?
- 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
- 3 tbsp dried minced onion
- Shallots or leeks (1:1)
No Cilantro?
- Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
- Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)

AllergensThis recipe contains mustard.

mustard

Helpful Tips

Small details that can improve the final result.

TipDo Not Mix the Dhal
Do not mix the dhal after adding turmeric powder during the initial cooking, as this will prevent it from softening properly.
Cooking tipContinuously Mix the Dhal on
Continuously mix the dhal on high heat after water evaporation to prevent it from burning and ensure a dry texture.

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Dhal Bhorta

35 mins

Bengali · South Asian

10 min

25 min

3-4 People (as a side dish)

Medium

~300 kcal

For Cooking Dhal

For Mixing and Tempering

Wash Lentils

Add Lentils and Water to Pan

Start Cooking

Add Garlic

Add Turmeric (Do Not Mix)

Reduce Heat

Skim Froth

Season with Salt

Increase Heat for Evaporation

Continuous Mixing

Achieve Dry Texture

Cool Dhal

Fry Chillies

Darken Chillies

Crush Chillies

Prepare Onions

Soften Onions

Combine Dhal and Onions

Add Coriander

Initial Mixing

Add Crushed Chillies

Add Mustard Oil

Final Mix

Serve

Comments (0)

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