Dal Makhani, Oberoi Style

What you need

Dal

  • 150g dried whole urad dal (black lentils)
  • 50g dried rajma (red kidney beans)
  • 50g dried channa dal (Ok to use chickpeas/garbanzo beans)
  • 20-30g ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 birdseye chillies, finely chopped
  • Salt to taste

Tadka

  • 50g ghee
  • 1 tspn cumin seeds
  • 0.5 tspn fenugreek seed
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Pinch asafoetida powder
  • 100g tomato paste

To Finish

  • 100g butter
  • 50 ml cream
  • 0.5 tspn or more chilli powder
  • 0.5 tspn garam masala
  • 0.5 lemon

How it’s done

Soak all lentils in water overnight. Wash four times, changing the water each time.

Boil all of the lentils with the ginger, garlic, chillies and salt in enough water to submerge all ingredients, adding water as required.

Simmer for 50 mins or until lentils are well cooked.

Mash the lentils lightly with the back of a ladle.

To make the tadka, heat the ghee until hot, and add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds, and stir until they crackle.

Add the garlic and fry until beginning to colour.

Add the asafoetida powder and tomato paste and stir for a minute.

Add tadka to the cooked dal, mixing well.

Bring the dal to the boil again, adding the chilli powder, butter and cream.

Simmer gently for 30 minutes.

Add the garam masala and lemon and adjust seasonings. YUM.