Chana Dal with Chicken

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Chana Dal with Chicken –  This is a recipe my mum makes a lot. It is a recipe that always seems to go down well with others too and is so simple to make. It is flavourful, healthy, delicious and gluten free. 

This easy Chana Dal Recipe with chicken is made from split chickpeas. It has a nutty texture and is very filling and wholesome. It makes for a great midweek meal. 

Chana Dal with Chicken

Dal is one of the most popular staples of an india diet with a lot of homes making some version of it every single day. 

I love Dal and could eat it all day. I love that it provides warmth and comfort in the colder winter months. In Bristol there is a Dal festival every year. It’s this week actually. Sounds like my kinda festival.

Dal for me, is the ultimate hug in a bowl meal that everyone enjoys.Though as you can probably tell, this picture was taken in Summer and that my friends is how much of a back log I have with getting recipes up on the site. I really wish I was like the bloggers who have weeks of work prepped in advance but alas (so dramatic) I am just not built that way. 

In this recipe the dal is cooked al dente rather then like most other dals that are broken down or pureed in the process of cooking. The masala is very simple and pretty standard. The tempering adds to the flavour and intensifies it. 

This is the Chana Dal I use in this recipe.

Serve the dal with roti or rice or cooked grains and pickles. You know I love a pickle side. 

About this Dal

There are countless variations of Dal all across India. Every household has their favourite, different regions use varying methods and spices, sometimes it’s served as a meal, sometimes as a side.

This dal is a Dal that is sometimes added into rice and is mostly cooked al dente rather then blended down. Tadka Dalis a popular version. A ‘tadka’ is when spices are tempered in oil/ghee and then poured over Dal at the end of cooking to add an extra flavour punch. In this recipe it is optional because the dal already has plenty of flavour.

What goes into Chana Dal with Chiken

5 from 7 votes

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Chana Dal with Chicken

Chana Dal with Chicken -  This is a recipe my mum makes a lot. It is a recipe that always seems to go down well with others too and is so simple to make. It is flavourful, healthy, delicious and gluten free. 

Course Dinner

Cuisine Indian

Keyword Daal, Dahl, Dal

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Soaking 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

Chana Dal with Chicken

• 1 cup Chana dal (Split Chickpeas)
• 2 tbsp Oil/Ghee
• 2 Onions diced
• 6 cloves Garlic crushed
• 1.5 inch Ginger grated finely
• 2 Green Chillis pierced
• 250 ml Tomato Passata
• 1.5 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1.5 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric
• 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• Salt
• 1 lb Chicken Breast chopped into 1/2 inch chunks
• 500 ml Water
• 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 tsp Curry Powder I use Madras

Tempering (Optional)

• 1 tsp Oil/Ghee
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 clove Garlic sliced finely
• 2 Dried Red Chillies

Instructions

1. Soak the dal for 1 hour to overnight.
   

2. Heat the oil/ghee in a large pot. Add the onions and braise for 10 - 12 minutes over medium heat until golden brown. 

3. Stir in the garlic, ginger and green chilli and saute for 2 minutes.

4. Pour in the passata and add the coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, red chilli powder and salt and cover. Cook for 15 minutes on low heat. Check in between to make sure it isn't sticking. Add a splash of water if it is.

5. Turn the heat up to high and add the chicken. Cook for a further 5 minutes before adding in the dal and water. 

6. Bring to the boil, cover, turn the heat down and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes. You may need to add more water so check in between.

7. Stir in Garam Masala and Curry Powder and simmer for 2 minutes.

8. To temper - Heat oil in a small pan pver medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the cumin seed, dried red chillies and garlic cook until the cumin seeds colour a little. Pour over the Dal. Taste and adjust salt and spice. 
   

Recipe Notes

Ghee/Oil - I think with Dal dishes, a little extra ghee makes all the difference but feel free to change the quantity here. I always use a mixture of ghee and oil together. 
Be careful making the tadka, as it's very easy to burn the spices. Don't over heat your oil before adding the spices as they will burn instantly and add a bitter note to the Dal.