Nourishing Chana Dal with Kale | Rebel Recipes (2024)

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Nourishing and warming Chana dal – a bowl of pure comfort with added kale. Lightly spiced and best served with flatbreads to scoop it up!

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There’s something incredibly comforting and nourishing about dal. I have so many versions and honestly; I think I could eat it every day.

I know, it takes a little while to cook the pulses (depending on which one you’re using) but it’s completely worth it so that they go super gooey and have a deliciously soft texture.

As an aside – did you know I’ve been running a curry club on Instagram? It turns out that many of you are as passionate about curry as I am. It’s been so much fun sharing the delicious curries and getting lots more inspiration. Check it out here.

The key to injecting lots of flavour into this dal is cooking the onions slowly with the spices, then adding in the garlic, ginger and fresh tomatoes. I then added lots of gorgeous greens for extra goodness and colour. I used kale this time but spinach is great as is spring greens–Just mix it up with your favourite or whatever you have in your fridge.

I absolutely love experimenting with spice mixes and combinations but I also love using authentic and flavoursome mixes so I thought I’d mention my friend Lajena’s mixes, as I almost always sprinkle some of her garam masala on my curries and dals to season at the end.

Find out more about her amazing spice blends here

I love eating my dal with lots of toasted seeds for crunch and scooped up with a buckwheat flatbread! Enjoy x.

Nourishing Chana Dal with Kale | Rebel Recipes (3)

Nourishing and warming Chana dal - a bowl of pure comfort with added kale. Lightly spiced and best served with flatbreads to scoop it up!

Prep time: 10 minutes mins

Cook time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

2-4 servings

No ratings yet

Ingredients

For the dal

  • 2 cups Chana dal–washed
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 large onion – roughly chopped
  • 1/4 tsp asafoetida
  • 2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 thumb sized knob ginger–grated
  • 3 to matoes chopped
  • 3 handfuls kale
  • Black pepper
  • Flatbreads
  • Toasted seeds

Instructions

To make the dal

  • Wash the Chana dal thoroughly.

  • Add the Chana dal to a saucepan with 6 cups of water. Bring to the boil and skim off the froth. Add in the turmeric.

  • Turn down to a low heat and let it simmer for 1 1/4 hrs then add in the salt.

  • Add the coconut oil to a large frying pan and heat to a medium heat.

  • Add in the asafoetida and mustard seeds. When they pop, add in the cumin seeds and chilli flakes.

  • Stir for a few seconds, then add in the onion. Fry for approx 8-10 minutes until soft and browning.

  • Add in the garlic and ginger and stir for another few minutes, then add in the chopped tomatoes.

  • Cook for a further 5-6 minutes, then add the kale and 120ml of water. Simmer for 5 minutes.

  • When the dal is cooked, add the kale & tomato mix to the dal and stir well.

  • Season with salt, pepper & garam masala to finish.

  • Delicious with flatbreads & toasted seeds.

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If you recreate this recipe, tag me on Instagram:@rebelrecipes or #rebelrecipes for a chance to be featured.

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Discuss this Recipe with Niki

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9 Responses

  1. Hey Niki, this looks delicious! I’ve caught glimpses of your curry club on instagram and I am definitely going to have to join the fun. Lots of love from Berlin xxx

    Reply

  2. This looks so delicious Niki! You’re always making my favorite kind of food, just reading this recipe makes me drool! xo Nina

    Reply

    1. Yay!! Thank you Nina. So happy you love it. I thought you might ????
      Love Niki xx

      Reply

  3. I had to look up “channa dal” and now I’m intrigued. I can just catch the aromas cooking as I read your recipe, which is itself almost poetic. I’ll share this soon as my pick for #RecipeOfTheDay on social media. What a joy to share something so delicious, new-to-me, and perhaps new to my readers.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kathryn
      Aww thank you! Really really glad you like it.

      Love Niki xxx

      Reply

  4. This looks so comforting, Niki! Will make it soon, I am such a dhal fan! Thank you for sharing it!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Natalia
      Ooh let me know if you make it!

      Love and hugs
      Niki x

      Reply

  5. This dal looks incredible, Niki!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Sophie!
      Much love, Niki xx

      Reply

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Nourishing Chana Dal with Kale | Rebel Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is chana dal good for high blood pressure? ›

Due to its high level of dietary fibre, potassium, and magnesium, chana dal also promotes heart health. These nutrients act together to control blood pressure and lower bad cholesterol levels. This ensures a healthy heart keeps beating in your body.

Do I need to soak chana dal before cooking? ›

Soaking chana dal: Soaking the lentils for will help them cook faster. A lot of people prefer to soak chana dal, as soaking also helps in easier digestion & avoid bloating. If making for toddlers, soak them for 4 to 6 hours. You can also refrigerate the soaked lentils for about a week so cooking becomes much easier.

Can I eat raw chana dal? ›

Regular chana cannot be eaten raw, because of its hard texture, but roasted chana can be consumed easily. Regular chana involves some kind of cooking before consumption, be it a chana curry or a boiled chana chaat, thereby losing its natural nutritive properties.

What is a substitute for chana dal? ›

Chana dal are hulled and split chickpeas. You can substitute regular chickpeas, split red lentils, split mung beans, and yellow split peas for chana dal.

Which dal is best for high blood pressure? ›

Moong dal for hypertension | Moong dal for high blood pressure. While all dals are known to help reduce high blood pressure, moong dal is considered a light yet effective way to stay healthy. This protein-rich legume is known to offer many health benefits.

Does chana spike blood sugar? ›

Black chickpeas have a low glycemic index, which means it causes a lower spike in your blood glucose levels. The high fibre content in the black chana makes it digest slowly in the stomach and the food intake is reduced. Therefore, black chana might be a good dietary choice for diabetic people.

Which dal has highest protein? ›

Moong Dal (Green Gram): Moong dal is one of the highest protein dals, containing approximately 24 grams of protein per 100 grams when cooked. 2. Masoor Dal (Red Lentils): Masoor dal provides about 25 grams of protein per 100 grams when cooked. It's also quick to cook.

What is the English name for chana dal? ›

The chickpea or chick pea (Cicer arietinum) is an annual legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. Its different types are variously known as gram or Bengal gram, chhana, chana, or channa, garbanzo or garbanzo bean, or Egyptian pea.

Which dal does not need soaking? ›

Toor dal or yellow pigeon peas are a must-have in Western and Southern India. Rich in protein and folic acid, they're typically sold split and skinned. Like chana dal, toor dal can go from store to table rather quickly, as they do not require soaking. These make for a good pairing with amazing rice dishes.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating chana dal? ›

Many people may have gas and acidity problems in the stomach after eating chana dal. One should avoid consuming gram dal, especially at night. Actually, gram dal is heavy to digest, it produces gas in the stomach. Eating chana dal can cause heartburn or sour belching.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating dal? ›

Eating lentils can cause gas and bloating because they're high in fiber that your body is unable to break down. While fiber plays a large role in supporting and regulating your digestive system and bowel movements, it can also produce bacteria that leads to cramping and gas pains.

Which dal causes most gas? ›

However, some types of dal or legumes are known to be more likely to cause gas due to their high fiber and oligosaccharide content, which can be difficult for some people to digest. These types of dal include: Chickpeas (chana dal) Lentils (masoor dal)

What are the 2 types of chana dal? ›

Different Names of Dals Known in INDIA
EnglishHindiTamil
Bengal gram, split and skinnedChana dalKadalai paruppu
Bengal gram, whole (Black chickpeas)Kala chanaKonda kadalai
Bengal gram, roasted and splitDaliaPottu kadalai
Black eyed beans/peasLobia (Chawli)Karamani
19 more rows
Mar 12, 2021

What is the difference between dal and chana dal? ›

Source:Chana dal is made from split chickpeas (black gram or garbanzo beans), which are larger and have a nuttier flavor. Moong dal is made from split green mung beans, which are smaller and have a milder, sweeter flavor. Color:Chana dal is typically yellow or beige in color. Moong dal is greenish-yellow.

What is the difference chana and chana dal? ›

There is a big difference between chickpeas and chana dal. Chickpeas, also known as Kabuli chana, are double the size and sometimes bigger than the size of chana dal which is a split lentil. Apart from their size they vary in taste and also in their usage.

Is chickpeas good for high BP? ›

Chickpeas are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats and have a low glycemic index (GI). As a result, chickpeas help manage cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure; maintain healthy body weight; and support gut health.

Can heart patients eat chana dal? ›

Nutritional Value Of Chana Dal

Low in fat, it promotes heart health. Abundant in fiber, chana dal aids digestion and weight management. This legume is a rich source of essential vitamins, particularly B6 that is vital for energy production and cognitive function.

Is white chana good for blood pressure? ›

Prevents Spikes in Blood Sugar Levels :

The starch present in Chick Peas slows down the rate at which food is digested resulting in a healthy life style and Lowers Blood Pressure. You rather have complex carbs than simple carbs which are the cause of body inflammation.

Is roasted chana high in sodium? ›

Roasted Chana: Roasted chana tends to have a higher fat content due to the roasting process. It also has a slightly higher sodium content. While it provides a good amount of protein and dietary fibre, it might have slightly reduced levels of some vitamins and minerals due to the roasting process.

References

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