This Pakistani style Maash ki Dal is made with white urad dal, onion, garlic and basic spices. Sukhi urad dal is delicious served with Indian flatbreads. It is finished with green chili and ginger julienne.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free. Stovetop and Instant Pot recipe.
Table of contents
There are so many different ways of preparing white dal.
This particular white urad dal recipe is called Maash ki Daal and is cooked in an onion tadka with garlic, tomatoes and basic spices. It is a vegan recipe.
What is urad dal?
White urad lentils, also known as white gram, dhuli urad dal or urad dal, are a variety of lentils widely used in South Asian cuisine.
These lentils are small, round, and have a pale white color. This skinless white urad dal comes from black lentils or whole black urad dal (sabut urad) – usually used to make Dal Makhani.
White lentils are rich in protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, making them a nutritious addition to various dishes. They are commonly used in Indian cuisine to prepare a variety of dishes such as dal (lentil soup), masala dosa (a type of savory pancake), and various curries.
Additionally, these lentils can be soaked and ground to make a smooth batter for dishes like idli (steamed rice cakes) and medu vada (savory fritters) and Dahi Barey (dahi bhalla).
The mild flavor and creamy texture of white urad lentils make them a versatile ingredient in a wide range of culinary applications.
Other dal recipes we love are:
Dishoom Black Dal – made with black gram lentils or whole black gram.
Gujarati Toor Dal – a popular dish found in most Gujarati Thalis.
Maash ki Dal Ingredients
You can find these ingredients in indian grocery stores and sometimes large supermarkets.
White urad daal
Base:
Oil – use flavourless oil such as sunflower.
Cumin seeds
Onion, garlic, ginger – crushed in a food processor. I have used fresh, frozen works well too.
Tomatoes – fresh or tinned. You can use tomato puree too.
Spices: red chili powder, turmeric powder, ground cumin and coriander powder, garam masala. I have used Kashmiri red chilli powder, but you can use other red chilli powder as well.
Green chillies and ginger julienne
Lemon juice – lime juice works too
Salt to taste
How to make Maash ki Daal
Stovetop
Soak the husk less split urad dal in cold water for a few hours or overnight if possible.
In a pan, heat oil on medium heat and add cumin seeds.
Once they splutter, add in onion, garlic and ginger paste and cook until the mixture becomes golden brown. Add a splash of water in case the mixture appears to burn.
Add in the spices then the tomatoes. Allow the tomatoes to cook until oil appears on the sides and the mixture reduces.
Tip in the soaked dhuli dal and add fresh water. Add salt to taste.
Allow the dal to cook on low heat until the grains are just mushy. Ensure you add enough water to prevent the bottom of the pan burning.
Top the cooked dal with fresh ginger julienne, chopped green chili and fresh coriander.
Instant Pot
To the inner pot follow the steps as above.
Add a little less water compared to stovetop as pressure cooking requires less.
Seal the lid and select high pressure for 1 minute. Allow for natural pressure release. Note that cooking time varies on your lentils and how long you soaked them for.
You can also use a traditional stovetop pressure cooker and cook for 1-2 whistles.
Serve maash ki dal with tandoori roti.
Serving Suggestion
To make it a complete meal, serve this Pakistani sookhi urad dal with a vegetable sabji. It’s great with aloo shimla mirch, zucchini curry or tindora nu shaak (tindora sabji).
Go for Indian flatbreads like naan, rotli or whole wheat flour roti. Paratha go great too.
You might also like jeera rice (made with white rice but you could use brown rice), Indian style onion salad and cucumber raita.
Storage
Store leftover maash ki daal in an airtight container. Once it has reached room temperature, place in the fridge. Consume within 3-4 days.
You can freeze this dal in a freezer safe container. Reheat on the stovetop.
Other lentil recipes
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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Maash Ki Dal (White Urad Dal Recipe)
Equipment
- 1 pan or Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup White urad daal
Base:
- ¼ cup Oil
- 1 tablespoon Cumin seeds
- 1 large Onion crushed in a food processor
- 1 tablespoon Garlic and ginger
- Tomatoes fresh or tinned. You can use tomato puree too.
- 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon Ground cumin and coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon Garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice – lime juice works too
Garnishing
- 2 large Green chillies and ginger julienne
- 2 tablespoon Coriander
Instructions
Stovetop
- Soak the husk less split urad dal in cold water for a few hours or overnight if possible.
- In a pan, heat oil on medium heat and add cumin seeds.
- Once they splutter, add in onion, garlic and ginger paste and cook until the mixture becomes golden brown. Add a splash of water in case the mixture appears to burn.
- Add in the spices then the tomatoes. Allow the tomatoes to cook until oil appears on the sides and the mixture reduces.
- Tip in the soaked dhuli dal and add fresh water. Add salt to taste.
- Allow the dal to cook on low heat until the grains are just mushy. Ensure you add enough water to prevent the bottom of the pan burning.
- Top the cooked dal with fresh ginger julienne, chopped green chili and fresh coriander.
Instant Pot
- To the inner pot follow the steps as above.
- Add a little less water compared to stovetop as pressure cooking requires less.
- Seal the lid and select high pressure for 1 minute. Allow for natural pressure release. Note that cooking time varies on your lentils and how long you soaked them for.
- You can also use a traditional stovetop pressure cooker and cook for 1-2 whistles.
- Serve maash ki dal with tandoori roti.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an approximation calculated by an online calculator/plugin. Please consult a professional dietitian for nutritional advice.
Note:- This post was originally posted on 23rd May 2018 but I have updated the post since with helpful content. The recipe remains the same.
Krysten
Tuesday 5th of March 2024
Indian cuisine is one of my favorites, but i could never find a detailed recipe making me feel confident enough to try to make my own dish from home. I tried this recipe and it came out perfectly! My husband thought i ordered from a restaurant lol!
Hayley
Tuesday 5th of March 2024
Thrilled to hear that Krysten :) Thank you!
M
Monday 4th of March 2024
This recipe looks really tasty, flavorful, and protein-packed. Thank you for sharing.
Jenny
Monday 4th of March 2024
I love this dish, looks beautiful and tasty. I have never tried this Pakistani version of dal. Thanks so much for your recipe.
Carrie Robinson
Monday 4th of March 2024
This dish sounds so flavorful! I just love lentils, so I know I would love this recipe. Definitely going to m
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Monday 4th of March 2024
What a unique and scrumptious recipe! Adding all of the ingredients to my shopping list this week as we can't wait to make this!