Mix Dal is a frequently made dish in the Indian subcontinent as it is nutritious and rich in protein. Mix Dal is known by names such as mili juli dal (mixed dal), panchmel dal (mixture of five lentils), etc. Mix Dal is a gravy-based dish made with a combination of different lentils. The lentils that we will use for this particular mix dal recipe are split Bengal grams (chana dal), whole green grams (moong dal), spilt black gram skinless (dhuli urad dal), split pigeon pea (arhar or toor dal) and whole red lentils (masoor dal).
Dal is a dish included in a balanced diet; especially for vegetarians or vegans, dal is very important to maintain good health. Mix Dal provides more nutrients than one dal. Since vegetarians have limited options for protein-rich food mix, dal is a great option.
Mix Dal is easy to prepare, it is ready somewhat in the same manner as the other lentils, but instead of one dal, various pulses are cooked together. It is not only healthy but delicious too.
To prepare mix dal at home, follow the recipe mentioned below, and start by arranging all the essential ingredients.
Mix Dal Ingredient
The following ingredients are required to make a perfect Mix Dal:
- One-fourth cup split Bengal gram
- One-fourth cup of whole green grams
- One-fourth cup split black gram skinless (dhuli urad dal)
- One-fourth cup split pigeon pea (toor dal or arhar dal)
- One-fourth cup of whole red lentils (sabut masoor)
- Salt to taste
- Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder
- Ginger about one inch
- Two green chilies
- Oil
- Asafoetida or heeng (only a pinch)
- Half a teaspoon of cumin seeds or jeera
- Four to five cloves or laung
- Two dried red chilies
- One teaspoon of cumin powder
- One teaspoon of coriander powder
- Half a teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- Two medium tomatoes chopped
- Half a teaspoon of garam masala powder
- Fresh coriander leaves chopped
The ingredients mentioned above are required to prepare a mix dal.
Mix Dal Recipe
Step 1.
Firstly soak all the five pulses in water for about two hours. After this, wash the pulses and boil them in the pressure cooker for two whistles, do put a pinch of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of salt in the cooker along with the pulses.
Step 2.
Make a paste of the green chilies and ginger. Keep it aside
Separately in a pan, heat up to three tablespoons of oil, add cumin seeds, asafoetida or heeng, red chilies, and cloves to this pan and saute the spices. Once the cumin seeds (jeera) change color, add the previously prepared green chili and ginger paste to the pan and saute for a minute. After a minute:
- Add all the spice powders to the pan, such as the cumin powder, coriander powder, and red Kashmiri chili powder.
- Add chopped tomatoes and stir and mix.
- Wait for the oil to separate.
Once the oil starts separating from the pan, add the boiled pulses to the pan and mix well, you can add extra water according to your preferred consistency. Check for salt. Add extra if necessary.
Let the pulses cook for about ten minutes on low flame. In the end, add the garam masala and garnish your mix dal with chopped green coriander leaves.
Your Mix Dal is ready to be served.
Pro tip: You can serve the mix dal with plain chapatti or plain rice. It can also be served with jeera rice. Mix dal has a blend of flavors as different pulses have different tastes.
Mix Dal is a wholesome, nutritious dish that can be eaten at lunch or dinner.
The above-written Mix Dal recipe is a simple recipe with minimum ingredients. If you already know how to cook, you can do variations on this dish based on your preferences.
Benefits of Mix Dal
Mix Dal is a healthy dish. Some of its health benefits are stated below:
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Fiber Content: Mix Dal is rich in fiber that aids in weight loss, it helps in better digestion of food, having dal improves cholesterol level which in turn maintains good heart health.
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Split Bengal grams or chana dal: Chana dal is highly rich in B-Complex Vitamins, such as B1, B2, B3, and B9, which are essential in regulating the metabolism of the body, thus maintaining the right amount of glucose level; hence it is diabetic friendly.
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Whole green grams: It is light on the stomach. This dal is good for the skin. Green grams are rich in folic acid, which aids in generating new red blood cells. It is a good source of nutrients for pregnant women.
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Split Black gram: Split Black grams are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Thus it aids in healthy digestion. It boosts energy and is also suitable for skin.
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Split pigeon peas: This dal is rich in potassium, which lowers blood pressure; thus, people suffering from hypertension should include it in their diet.
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Whole Red Lentils: Red lentils are rich in potassium, which improves the circulation of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.
