One of my favorite restaurant dish which I order with Naan is Dal Makhani 🙂 …. Now make Instant Dal Makhani Restaurant Style recipe at home! This recipe saves on lot of time and the taste is equally good. By the way Dal Makhani is also known as Maa ki dal in India.
For my readers who do not know what is i lemme explain. Dal Makhani is made with whole black gram + lentils infused in Indian spices, cream and tomato puree.
Dal Makhani Recipe comes from North India. Dal Makhani is rich, creamy and mouth watering. Mostly everyone who goes to a restaurant will surely go for Dal Makhani and Roti. Dal makhani is made in a lot of ways. My version of Dal Makhani is simple, quick and healthy. I had made this specially for my brother and hubby. They drooled over it and relished a lot.
I am gonna make this again when my mom and dad come home for sure. Today I had made Aloo Sabzi, Sprouts curry and chapatis. Sorry people I just think about food most of the time 😉 I am a crazy person!
You could check some more north indian recipes on blog like sarson ka saag, aloo matar, rajma masala restaurant style, malai paneer and palak paneer.
Just wanna say I haven’t soaked the lentils overnight in water. Just rinsed them and pressure cooked 😉
So let’s start making instant dal makhana restaurant style recipe step by step:
1.Firstly take urad dal give a nice rinse to it. Place them in pressure cooker with 3 cups water. Add salt, 1 tbsp garam masala powder, 1/2 tbsp coriander seed powder, turmeric powder, a pinch of asofoetida ginger-garlic paste and half chopped onion. Pressure cook until 4 whistles on low fire Or until gram is tender and cooked.
2.While the lentil is cooking we shall make our tomato puree. Chop the tomatoes into big chunks. Grind into a processor without water until smooth puree is formed. Keep it aside. Once the gram is cooked until tender. Allow the cooker to cool down. Remove the lid and give a nice whisk with a beater Or hand mixie for 2 mins then stop.
3.Now take a vessel add white butter/ ghee / oil to it. Once hot add cumin seed, Â a pinch of asofoetida again, rest of chopped onion, sugar and chopped green chilies. Saute until the onions change color to light brown.
4.It’s time to add tomato puree. Stir nicely cover with a lid and cook for 7 to 8 mins. Keep stirring in between else it might stick to the bottom. If mixture is sticking to the bottom add little water in this case.
5.Now add rest of coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder, fennel seed powder, rest of garam masala powder, kashmiri chili powder. Mix all nicely.
6.Finally add cooked lentils, salt and some cream if using (leave some cream for garnishing). Cover with a lid and simmer for another 20-25 mins. The gravy will slightly thicken. You could add some water as per consistency required. I added just about a cup of water.
7.Switch off the gas check the taste. Alter spices Or salt if required. Lastly sprinkle some chat masala, kasuri methi and a dash of cream for garnishing. Serve Instant Dal Makhani Recipe hot with naan Or rotis.
Instant Dal Makhani Recipe printable version below:
- 1 tbsp white butter/ ghee / clarified butter / oil
- 200 gms whole black gram (kaali urad dal)
- 3 tomatoes
- 1 onion (half for tempering other half for lentils)
- 1.5 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tbsp cumin seed (jeera)
- 1 tbsp cumin seed powder (jeera powder)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 green chili chopped finely
- 2 tbsp garam masala powder
- 2 pinches of asofoetida (hing)
- 1 tbsp coriander seed powder (dhaniya powder)
- 1 tbsp fennel seed powder (saunf)
- 1 tbsp chat masala (optional)
- 1 tbsp turmeric powder (haldi)
- 1 tbsp kashmiri red chili powder
- salt as per taste
- a cup of water Or more as per consistency required
- 2 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
- 4 tbsp full cream Or full fat milk (optional)
- Firstly take urad dal give a nice rinse to it. Place them in pressure cooker with 3 cups water.
- Add salt, 1 tbsp garam masala powder, ½ tbsp coriander seed powder, turmeric powder, a pinch of asofoetida ginger-garlic paste and half chopped onion.
- Pressure cook until 4 whistles on low fire Or until gram is tender and cooked.
- While the lentil is cooking we shall make our tomato puree. Chop the tomatoes into big chunks.
- Grind into a processor without water until smooth puree is formed. Keep it aside. Once the gram is cooked until tender. Allow the cooker to cool down.
- Remove the lid and give a nice whisk with a beater Or hand mixie for 2 mins then stop.
- Now take a vessel add white butter/ ghee / oil to it. Once hot add cumin seed, a pinch of asofoetida again, rest of chopped onion, sugar and chopped green chilies.
- Saute until the onions change color to light brown.
- It's time to add tomato puree. Stir nicely cover with a lid and cook for 7 to 8 mins. Keep stirring in between else it might stick to the bottom. If mixture is sticking to the bottom add little water in this case.
- Now add rest of coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder, fennel seed powder, rest of garam masala powder, kashmiri chili powder. Mix all nicely.
- Finally add cooked lentils, salt and some cream if using (leave some cream for garnishing). Cover with a lid and simmer for another 20-25 mins. The gravy will slightly thicken. You could add some water as per consistency required. I added just about a cup of water.
- Switch off the gas check the taste. Alter spices Or salt if required. Lastly sprinkle some chat masala, kasuri methi and a dash of cream for garnishing.
- .Serve dal makhani restaurant style hot with naan Or rotis.
2.I like my Dal Makhani slightly thicker in consistency. However you could add water if required.
3.You could use lime juice however already it’s slightly tangy as tomatoes puree is already there. SO watchout before squeezing lime.
4.While pressure cooking if lentils are still hard and not cooked. Cook for some more time.
5.Vegans could use oil instead of butter. Also replace cream with cashew cream Or almond cream
pooja says
amazing recipe.. I am a food lover..
I am addicted to exploring new food..
I will definitely try this recipe…
Hope this will go delicious.. well written..!!
maria says
Thanks Pooja, surely try and let us know.
Neeta says
You have wowed me with this recipe, Maria! Totally L-O-V-E the outcome of this recipe! Wish more people would try this easy, quick to make Dal Makhani – tastes so much better than what is served in our local Indian restaurants. Thank you for the fabulous recipe.
maria says
Welcome always Neeta glad you liked the dal makhani 🙂 yes home-made is always much better as you have control over them. You are always welcome.
Chloe says
Hi Maria. My name is Chloe. My husband is from North India. We live in Australia and I made your dal makhani yesterday and it did not last long my hubby n brother in law loved it. Thanks for a fabulous recipe. I am still learning indian cooking so easy recipes like a wonderful keep up the good work.
maria says
Great Chloe I am glad they loved them also thankyou for trying the dal makhani one of my favorite dish :)… all the best would be happy if my blog would be able to help you in your cooking journey. All the best 🙂 🙂
benita thomas says
Ausome dish.Keep going.My name is Benita and i am 9 years old.I love cooking.
maria says
Thanks Benita I am happy being so young you love cooking all the best to you 🙂
suzanne Perazzini says
This looks so good! I am waiting for my husband to finish making a curry for our dinner and looking at your photos just makes me all the more hungry.
maria says
Thanks Suzanne 🙂 so sweet your hubby cooks curry.
suhani says
hi Maria..u dont hv to be sorry for telling what u ate..i just love ur write ups whatever u make..the dal looks just perfect..i also add rajma to it..what hv u served with the dal ..it looks dam delicious..
maria says
Thanks Suhani 🙂 served with whole wheat naan and garnished the daal with cream 🙂
sunita says
Hi Maria
Wishing you a very Happy Durga Puja and Happy Dussera to you and your Family, from tomorrow we will be on festive holidays till Wednesday, will not be able to see your posts coz we will be roaming the whole city since day and night, no cooking only eating, eating and eating, HUH? so much eating???? I will miss your post and this recipe I will try once I get back to my kitchen.
Take Care Maria
Happy Holidays
Sunita
maria says
Great Sunita enjoy your festival holidays 🙂 🙂 enjoy eat and slurping! I will also miss your comments take care…love.Maria
Charul @ Tadka Masala says
Yumm! Just one thing, you did not soak them at all or you did not soak them overnight?
maria says
Charul I didn’t soak them at all just pressure cooked them for 6 whistles until tender.