Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (2024)

Budget Bytes » Recipes » » Dal Nirvana

$3.39 recipe / $0.57

by Beth - Budget Bytes

published

4.84 from 50 votes

Jump to recipe →

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

Things are a little tight this month so I made a resolution to use up all (or a lot) of the food that I have in my pantry and freezer. Sure, I should always be doing this anyway but exciting recipes always seem to entice me into trying (and buying) new things.

Anyway, I have two huge bags of lentils (a.k.a. “dal”) sitting in my pantry that have been waiting for their day in the spot light. I saw this recipe for Dal Nirvana over on Steamy Kitchen and it looked so scrumptious that I had to try it. The best part is that the ingredient list is mostly items that I already have. Indian recipes are tricky because they usually include ingredients that I don’t have nor have I ever heard of! This recipe, on the other hand is different. It’s simple, it’s delicious, it’s super filling and I’d happily eat it every day.

I served the Dal with some simple, steamed jasmine rice and homemade naan (Indian flat bread). The recipe for the naan will be up in a couple of days… it turned out AMAZING!

Dal Nirvana

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (2)

Dal Nirvana

4.84 from 50 votes

Dal nirvana is a simple, creamy lentil dish seasoned with aromatic Indian spices.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (3)

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (4) Servings 6

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 1 hour hr

Total 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Save Recipe Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry brown lentils ($0.31)
  • 1 15oz. can crushed or diced tomatoes ($1.49)
  • 2 cloves garlic ($0.12)
  • 1 inch fresh ginger ($0.07)
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.03)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin ($0.03)
  • 2 Tbsp butter ($0.17)
  • salt and pepper to taste ($0.05)
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk or cream ($0.75)
  • 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro ($0.37)

Instructions

  • Place the lentils in a pot and cover with a couple inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil until tender (about ten minutes). Drain the lentils in a colander.

  • While the lentils are boiling, mince the garlic and peel and grate the ginger (use a small cheese grater). Return the drained lentils to the pot (medium heat) and add the butter, ginger, garlic, cayenne, cumin, salt and pepper.

  • Add the can of tomatoes and one cup of water. Stir it all together, bring it to a simmer then reduce the heat to low. Put a lid on the pot and let it simmer for half an hour. The mixture should be soft and thick after a half hour. If it is not, continue to simmer, adding more water if it dries out. You want the end product to be thick, not watery.

  • Stir in the evaporated milk or cream and garnish with fresh, chopped cilantro. Serve over rice or with naan bread for dipping!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 204.3kcalCarbohydrates: 28.98gProtein: 10.78gFat: 6.08gSodium: 327.67mgFiber: 5.05g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (5) Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (6)

Step By Step Photos

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (7)
I have this huge bag of brown lentils so that is what I used. Black lentils were used in the Steamy Kitchen recipe so feel free to experiment.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (8)
Place the lentils in a pot and cover with two inches of water.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (9)
Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Boil until the lentils are soft (about ten minutes).

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (10)
While the lentils boil, mince the garlic, peel and grate the ginger.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (11)
Drain the lentils then return them to the pot (reduce heat to medium).

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (12)
Add the butter, garlic, ginger, cayenne, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir it on up.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (13)
Add the can of crushed or diced tomatoes, one cup of water and stir it all together.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (14)
Simmer the mixture with a lid on until it is cooked down to a soft, thick mixture.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (15)
Add the evaporated milk or cream…

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (16)
Stir it up, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve it up!

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (17)

NOTE: I’m sure you could make this recipe for less money than I did. I happened to be near a Whole Foods yesterday so I stopped there to pick up the few ingredients that I didn’t have (cilantro, ginger, cream and diced tomatoes). I may have paid a little more than usual but this recipe is so simple and inexpensive that it was still well worth it.

The Steamy Kitchen version says it serves four but I portioned out my lunches and got six servings out of the pot. Of course, I was serving the Dal with rice and naan which bulked up the meal as a whole.

Simple, Creamy Lentil Dal Nirvana Recipe - Budget Bytes (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken lentil Dahl? ›

To retain some texture but thicken the dish, you can use a cornstarch slurry or simply add some potato flakes, a couple of tablespoons at a time. Neither method will add any appreciable taste. If there isn't too much water already in dal, you can just mash them or even blend them. That will make the dal thicker.

What are brown lentils? ›

Brown lentils have a pleasing earthy flavor and a texture that works well as a meat substitute. They can range from light tan to very dark black. These lentils are so common that they are often just labeled as “lentils”.

What do lentils look like? ›

The fruit is a pod containing up to three seeds, which are lens-shaped, 0.5cm across and can be grey, green, light-red speckled with black or pure black.

How watery should dal be? ›

Give the lentils a good stir. They should have the consistency of porridge – thicker than soup and looser than houmous. Add more water as necessary (you will be surprised how thick they can get over just a couple of extra minutes cooking), and mix in your aromatic fried mixture.

Should you soak lentils before making Dahl? ›

Just make sure it is plain in flavor. You could also use a drizzle of coconut milk or coconut cream. You don't absolutely have to soak the red lentils but from what I have read, if you soak them and drain the water, it helps to remove some of the phytic acid which makes them easier to digest.

Why add rice to lentils? ›

It makes sense together because you get the carbohydrates from the rice while deriving your protein from the lentils. The thing that makes them delicious is proper cooking techniques. Adjusting the amount of salt and other seasonings alongside some acidity can make almost any combination of food taste good.

Which color lentil is healthiest? ›

Black Lentils (Beluga lentils)

Thanks to the robust flavor, these lentils pair well with meaty veggies and marinated proteins like mushrooms, tofu, and seitan. Best of all, black lentils are the most nutritious variety of lentils, boasting the highest amount of protein, plus high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.

What makes lentils taste better? ›

4) Add some flavor boosters, if you'd like.

Add some salt, maybe a bay leaf, and maybe a clove of garlic (peeled but left whole). Some recipes will warn you to never add salt to beans or lentils while they're cooking (they say it'll prevent them from cooking through), but it's simply not true!

What's the healthiest way to eat lentils? ›

Lentils are a nutritious food that's low-fat and high in protein and fiber. While they make a delicious addition to a soup, stew or salad, you should not eat them raw. No matter which type of lentils you buy, you can easily cook them by boiling your lentils in water on the stove.

How many cups of water for 1 cup of dal? ›

The amount of water added to the dal depends on how thick or watery you want the dal to be. On average, add 3 cups of water while cooking 1 cup of dal.

How many cups of dal for 1 person? ›

Well there is no fix ratio of cup of dal to take for number of people because of the different diet of different people. But it is said that 1 cup of dal is enough for 3 people to prepare. Hence 3–4 cups are enough for 10 people depending on their diet capacity.

What is the English word for dal? ›

pulse plural noun. Some large dried seeds which can be cooked and eaten are called pulses, for example the seeds of peas, beans, and lentils.

How to make lentils less watery? ›

Bring your liquid up to a boil, add your lentils, then turn down your heat to a simmer for at least 25-30 minutes. Keep tasting your lentils as they cook to see if they're the consistency you want—more firm if you're eating them on their own or in a salad, and softer if they're going into a soup or stew.

What to do if lentil soup is too watery? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How do you thicken lentil curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

What can I use to thicken lentil soup? ›

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6312

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.