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    YOU ARE HERE: HOME » Gluten-free

    Nov 14, 2007 | 106 Comments | THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS BLOG GENERATES INCOME VIA ADS.

    Dal Makhani (Creamy Black Lentils)

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    You know how there is always this ONE recipe that no matter how hard you try to replicate, you never seem to be able to hit it just right? Somehow, the taste of when you first devoured the dish still lingers on your palate, and even after a dozen of your experimented versions later, you still know that it's not quite as close to the original. Well for me, I have one too many of those, but a particular Dal Makhani certainly tops that list!

    A bowl of Dal Makhani

    There's the PERFECT Mee Goreng served by the street hawker down the lane from my Grandma's house in Malaysia, the spicy Chole garnished with freshly chopped onions and served with giant-sized crisp Bhaturas in Delhi and the most amazingly luscious melt-in-your-mouth Tiramisu served at a corner cafe by the Colosseum in Rome, to name just a few! But of all of them, the ONE recipe that has me searching non-stop for a close flavour duplicate would definitely have to be of Dal Makhani from a little nondescript restaurant in Kuwait.

    Growing up, I remember eating off the restaurant's classic menu once too often. They were especially known for their fantastic and lip-smacking combination of Chicken Tikka, Dal Makhani and Puris. But for me, even as a die-hard Chicken Tikka devotee, it was always their Dal Makhani that did the deed. It's thick, warm and creamy texture was everything I craved for any time of the year.

    Ever since, I have always been on a search for a Dal Makhani that would come close to my childhood indulgence. But alas, none came even near an inch to tasting anything like it. I went high and low, to some of the most fabulous Indian restaurants as well as the local take-out favourites, but none of them could win me over. I had almost given up ordering the dreaded dish until one day my Mom decided to come to my rescue. She played and she toiled a few recipes, added this and subtracted that from the ingredients, and simplified the method to suit her needs, and Voila! What can I say? Now whenever I crave some lip-smacking comfort food, all I do is enter my kitchen. It's a perfect go-to recipe this time of year, and I need I add, an absolute hit at my Diwali bash last weekend!

    Recipe for Dal Makhani taken from www.hookedonheat.com. Visit site for detailed recipe.
    Print Recipe

    Dal Makhani (Creamy Black Lentils)

    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Servings: 4
    Author: Meena, www.hookedonheat.com

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon light cooking oil
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 large onion finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon ginger paste
    • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
    • salt to taste
    • 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped
    • 1 cup whole black lentils and a handful of dried red kidney beans soaked overnight, drained and rinsed thoroughly
    • 2 tablespoon plain milk
    • fresh cilantro leaves chopped for garnish
    • water as needed

    Instructions

    • Heat oil and butter in a pressure cooker and saute onions till lightly browned. Stir in ginger and garlic pastes, tomato paste, chilli powder and salt, and fry for a few seconds.
    • Add in the chopped tomatoes and cook for a few minutes to combine well. Add in pre-soaked lentils and kidney beans, and enough water to cover them. Pressure cook for 15-20 minutes till lentils are soft and done.
    • Stir in milk and let it come to a boil.
    • Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve warm.

    A similar version of this recipe using an Instant Pot or any other electric pressure cooker can be found here.

    If you enjoyed this recipe, you will surely like my Instant Pot Everyday Dal and Instant Pot Rajma recipe as well.

    Tried this recipe? Leave a Comment and let me know, also Rate it by clicking the number of stars on the recipe card. Want to share your version with me? Tag me on Instagram @hookedonheat

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    Filed Under: Gluten-free, Let's Talk, Recent Posts, Recipes: Beans/Lentils

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alejandrina says

      June 26, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! This was a really good recipe. Thank you.

      Reply
    2. Maneesha says

      June 09, 2020 at 4:55 am

      5 stars
      My story is very similar to yours...have been trying and trying to recreate that perfect dal makhani till destiny (rather google ;)) led me here! This recipe finally unlocked that charmed secret. 🙂
      I must say that not only do you write well, you also have the gift of making food delicious on paper!

      Reply
    3. Teresa says

      June 03, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      Hi. My teenage daughter and I would like to learn some Indian cooking (this recipe in particular). We have only ever eaten Indian food in restaurants but love it, love it, love it. Also, we want to wow our friends, non of whom think we can pull this off.
      Can you suggest an easy-to-use beginners cookbook? Any other suggestions?
      Cheers,
      Teresa and Tasha

      Reply
      • Meena says

        June 12, 2020 at 9:20 am

        Hi Teresa & Tasha! You can definitely start right here with my Indian 101 series. I've also written two cookbooks that could help you with many more recipes. Happy cooking! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Kitty says

      May 28, 2020 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      Hello
      I just wanted to let you know that I loved this dal. When I went to India in 2016 I had it then, but I could never get the same taste. This recipe has come very close to it (they use A LOT of butter and cream), but I like how you used only little and no cream......Yah for this recipe. You have a lot more recipes on here that I will definitely try, because this one was a hit. Just wanted to say thank you for this one.

      Kitty

      Reply
    5. abbas says

      March 14, 2019 at 6:50 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for sharing the recipe of Daal Makhni. It is very useful .

      Reply
    6. GG says

      May 05, 2016 at 5:08 am

      5 stars
      Never made a nicer daal in my life! Thank you!

      Reply
    7. Tanya says

      February 25, 2016 at 12:35 am

      5 stars
      I have had my eye on this recipe for years but kept it saved since I wanted to make it correctly in a pressure cooker. Well, last week I finally bought a pressure cooker and this was one of the first recipes I wanted to try. I grew up in India, so a lot of North Indian dishes and the authentic flavors bring back memories of my childhood. I have to say that I just made this dal and it is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! It is creamy, tomato-y with a hint of garlic flavor from the tempering! I am sooo grateful to you for posting this recipe. The flavors take me back to my childhood and now this dal will be in my daily rotation of dishes I make. Thank you so much!!

      Reply
    8. Annie says

      August 04, 2015 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness. This has to be the good old KhyberPass/Tikka 'shop'. Between 1973-1984 it was a weekly affair! Simply The best tikka, Dal and Pooris EVER. Never found a recipe to perfectly match the tikka or the dal. My dal is nearly there but I don't add the amount of ghee they did. It still lacks the dark depth of the Khyber's. As for the tikka - it is a quest I am still on.

      Reply
    9. Kelly says

      June 09, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      Hello! I just discovered your website. I recently bought a can of organic black lentils...how would I go about making dahl makhani with these, instead of uncooked lentils? Thank you - looking forward to trying your recipe.

      Reply
      • Meena says

        June 11, 2015 at 9:26 pm

        Hi Kelly! You can definitely skip the pressure cooker and cook this on the stove-top. Just adjust the cooking time since the canned lentils are already soft. Also, you will want to omit the dried red kidney beans as well.

        Reply
    10. Sage says

      March 13, 2015 at 5:41 am

      5 stars
      Wow! This looks delicious! I have a traditional Dal that I make with red lentils, it's one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to giving this a try... as soon as I'm able to track down black lentils in Denmark.

      Reply
    11. Karen Patrick says

      February 19, 2014 at 1:43 am

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious. I am going to make this. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    12. missmahi.com says

      December 12, 2013 at 7:22 am

      5 stars
      Howdy! I could have sworn I've been to this blog before but after browsing through many of the posts I realized it's new to me. Nonetheless,
      I'm definitely happy I discovered it and I'll be book-marking
      it and checking back often!

      Reply
    13. Greg says

      July 21, 2013 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this twice, and both times had too much liquid at the end.... should I be soaking both the lentils and the kidney beans, or only the kidney beans? I didn't want to simmer the dal down after cooking in the pressure cooker. Perhaps 3rd time will be the charm. It's delicious regardless!

      Reply
      • Meena says

        July 21, 2013 at 9:31 pm

        Hi Greg, yes both the lentils and kidney beans need to be soaked overnight - which you can do that together in the same bowl. I'm sorry if it wasn't clear. Also, make sure you thoroughly rinse the lentils and beans after soaking. Maybe next time try adding in a bit less water in the pressure cooker. Please let me know how it turns out again when you try it. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    14. Rashmi says

      April 10, 2013 at 11:06 am

      I don't have whole black lentils. Can we make use of urad dal instead and follow the same recipe?

      Reply
      • Meena says

        April 11, 2013 at 9:29 pm

        You probably can Rashmi, but just keep in mind that it would taste completely different from the original!

        Reply
        • Catheline Ash says

          January 05, 2022 at 4:23 pm

          I thought whole black lentils, buluga, and Urad were all the same just in different languages. ?? Makhani dal is usually made with Urad dal, or whole black lentils from what I've learned. Can you clarify for me and others? Many thanks!!

          Reply
          • Meena says

            January 06, 2022 at 10:23 am

            Hi Catheline,

            Yes, you are correct! Dal Makhani is made with whole Urad dal, which is black in color and what I've used here. But you can also get Urad dal which is white in colour which is basically the same lentil, just without its black skin.

            You should be able to find them in any Indian grocery store, but depending on where you live, they are also easily available in most regular grocery stores nowadays.

            Reply
    15. Rachelle says

      December 02, 2012 at 6:47 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you! This is a wonderful recipe. I have seen many for Daal Makhani with a lot of butter and cream but you have proved it's not necessary. I found your recipe to be very flexible -- I boiled brown lentils with canned kidney beans then mixed with the onion paste. I was too lazy to make the garlic butter so I just stirred garlic into the pot. I also made a triple batch and measured quite roughly -- delicious!

      Thank you and thanks to your mom. This is going into my regular rotation, sharing top place with the red lentil daal from my friend Krishna's mom.

      Reply
    16. Emmy says

      October 07, 2012 at 2:56 am

      5 stars
      I use this recipe over and over again! Its simple enough to replicate, and easy to adjust to your preferences. My adjustments:

      I add a whole can of tomato paste (smallest size)
      turmeric, cumin, curry powder, and red pepper flakes for added heat
      1 cube of vegetable bouillon
      sometimes I will add shredded carrot for more vegetable content, and a splash of color!

      Reply
    17. JohnTheFoodWriter says

      April 30, 2012 at 5:06 pm

      What is the purpose of the kidney beans in this recipe? Is it to form a complete protein? Or is it for taste?

      Reply
      • Meena says

        March 11, 2012 at 9:33 pm

        It's just to add a deeper red colour, as well as enhance the flavour and texture of the dish.

        Reply
    18. Dean says

      November 10, 2011 at 11:08 pm

      5 stars
      PS would also have more than doubled the chili powder, we didn't get much heat from the 1 tsp once we'd doubled it.

      Reply
    19. Dean says

      November 10, 2011 at 11:05 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, stumbled across this recipe and tried it out last night, like everyone else we think its great - I forgot the milk so have to go back and try it again, but my g/f thought it was fantastic. Nice rich and tomatoey and even without the milk, pretty creamy.

      Like someone else I just mashed garlic and ginger for the ginger paste and used canned tomatoes, which I wouldn't think made any difference,

      I'd doubled the beans and lentils, so just doubled everything else, I think for some of the ingredients I'd be inclined to triple them. Well I probably did for the tomato paste anyway, didn't seem worth leaving that little bit in the tin, probably on the edge for the garlic, but the ginger got a little lost, so I'd probably go for a two -3 inch long, thumb sized piece if you're using it fresh (for a doubled recipe).

      My main question was about the tempering. I haven't come across it in this context, usually just for adding milk or eggs to hot dishes, so like to bridge the heat difference for new ingredients being added to a hot dish.

      So how long should the butter and garlic be heated for? I wasn't that keen on whole raw garlic being added (especially as I'd already added about 4-5 cloves crushed), so cut the garlic into large slices and fried it in the butter till it was all foamy and the garlic seemed cooked. It still tasted great, but just wanted to check how far away we were from the original intention.

      For Elizabeth, I definitely wouldn't keep the water you soaked the beans in. Kidney beans have a toxin that's removed through the soaking and cooking process. Not sure what retaining that soaking liquid would do for the toxin removal. Just check the amount of water you add to the bean/lentil mix when you add it to the sauce before pressure cooking. I only added a tomato can full of additional water, but I had used canned tomatoes and that had a fair bit of liquid and a whole tin of tomato paste. So just judge it before you put the lid on and made sure its perhaps just a bit more liquidy than you want at the end, as the pressure cooker doesn't lose much liquid during cooking.

      Reply
    20. chris says

      November 02, 2011 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe. I lived in Kuwait from 1985-1996 and fondly remember the first night the Moghul Mahal reopened after the invasion. Their Adrak Kapanji were to die for. Also their cricket ball sized Samosas were amazing. They catered for many parties at our villa and they never disappointed us. Off to make another batch of Dhal Makani as per your recipe 🙂

      Reply
    21. Angelica says

      October 06, 2011 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      Hi Meena, I made this dish last night and it was fantastic, but turned out sweeter than I expected. Is it supposed to be very sweet? I am trying to figure out what I can change next time. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Meena says

        October 11, 2011 at 9:35 pm

        I'm not quite sure Angelica. Maybe it could be your tomatoes were too ripe? Also, you can try lowering the amount of milk a bit.

        Reply
    22. ed hansen says

      September 09, 2011 at 9:22 am

      where to find a crock pot, slow cooker in Kuwait ?

      Reply
    23. Sophie says

      September 05, 2011 at 12:06 am

      5 stars
      I saw this recipe probably about a year ago, and it looked so amazing, but I didn't have a pressure cooker, nor a slow cooker. Then my laptop got stolen and I lost the recipe.

      But now! I have ordered a pressure cooker, it's on it's way to NZ from the USA, and I'm so excited that this will be the first recipe I cook in it!

      Reply
    24. sue says

      August 28, 2011 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this black lentil dish at a street market stall in Southampton on Saturday and was blown away by the taste. After enquiring to them about the dish and its contents looked it up on the internet and found your site. Seems many people really like this dish. I am going to give your recipe a try as it seems similar to the way they told me they prepare it, except she added butter at the end. Guess your is a healthier option. I also lived in Kuwait many many years ago and enjoyed the food there immensely especially the fish/prawn dishes due to the lovely fish they have available there. If I ever return to Kuwait I will certainly be visiting the Kyber.

      Reply
    25. Myrtle Vinyard says

      January 15, 2011 at 11:30 pm

      Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is excellent, let alone the content!

      Reply
    26. Sean says

      December 13, 2010 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! Such an easy recipe to make! Dal makhani became a favourite of mine at a local Philadelphia restaurant. This version is slightly different, equally delicious. I'm not a cook, just my second Indian dish under my belt. But I have great taste in food and this will keep me home and not in the restaurant!

      I, too, am curious about doubling the ingredients so I can make a bigger portion. If anyone has tried this, please share!

      Reply
      • Meena says

        December 15, 2010 at 9:36 pm

        This recipe doubles up really well, Sean. I NEVER make a single batch! 🙂

        Reply
    27. jeyanthi says

      November 15, 2010 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      Thanks a loooooot...the receipe was just awesome!!!

      Reply
    28. Lynnie says

      November 01, 2010 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      OMG- Were you trying to replicate Kyber's Dal Makhani in Kuwait? Because if so, this is a god send.

      Reply
    29. Karen Schuld says

      October 29, 2010 at 7:18 am

      5 stars
      i love your recipe of dal makhan - One of my favorite lentil dishes

      Reply
    30. Karla says

      September 16, 2010 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      I soak lentils (green/brown because they are easily available), and kidneys in a large container of water with a little salt overnight. It is amazing how much water they absorb. Seems to reduce my cooking time, because I then add them to the slow cooker in which the rest of my ingredients are ready and waiting. Simmered during the day. Took about half of the mixture and creamed in a small food processor then returned to cooker. Ready for the garnish of cilantro for dinner. Wonderful.

      Reply
    31. jaspreet says

      July 10, 2010 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      it came out very well. had tried making dal makhani with so many different ways, this one won it hands down.
      thanks a lot!!!

      Reply
    32. Ryan says

      June 28, 2010 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      I cook this recipe regularly... has become my signature dish 🙂 thank you!

      Reply
    33. Alex says

      June 05, 2010 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      Just tried it. Indeed, very very tasty!

      Reply
    34. Michael says

      May 28, 2010 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      I've always enjoyed dal makhani as a treat while eating out, but have never made it at home due to the typically high saturated fat content. This version is equally satisfying as its richer counterparts, yet healthy enough to eat on a more regular basis. Thank you for posting this outstanding recipe!

      After doing some research last night, I am still unclear as to exactly what type of bean this recipe requires. I believe that dal makhani is supposed to use whole 'urad' beans, which I think are also called 'black lentils' sometimes. Apparently, there are also actual black lentils, which are not urad beans.

      At any rate, I can't find either type of bean in my area, but I did have a few cups of mung beans on hand. To me, the mung beans look like green version of urad beans, so I used them as a substitute in this recipe for dinner last night. The result was amazing! I'll still keep looking for urad and/or black lentils when I'm traveling, but I'll happily make this with mung beans (or maybe adzuki beans) again.

      I also bought a pressure cooker for making this dish. Man, I should have done that years ago. I've never had luck in the past with dried beans, but the pressure cooker made them quickly and perfectly tender. To those who have asked about the necessity for a pressure cooker, I would say: If you can spare $20 for an entry-level pressure cooker - do it. I got the cheapest one I could find at the local mall, and it worked beautifully. I might need to upgrade to an 8 qt. in the future (this is a 6 qt. model), but I wasn't ready to spend $100 on the larger in-stock model right now.

      Lastly, for anyone who hasn't worked with it before, consider using ghee instead of 'normal' butter. This dish has so little butter, that it's worth a few extra cents to splurge on the heavenly, nutty flavor of ghee. You'll notice - and appreciate - the difference.

      Thanks, again, for the great recipe.

      P.S. Elizabeth (post 58), I had to add water after cooking the beans because mine were too dry. Just stirring in and heating enough water (and a little more skim milk) to bring the level back up to the top of the beans made a delicious gravy, just like the photo on this page. I think the stirring, alone, mashes enough beans to make the gravy.

      Reply
    35. Elizabeth says

      April 16, 2010 at 7:33 pm

      I made this tonight and it turned out to be beans in a tiny bit of sauce. I think my mistake was draining the beans after they were done cooking and then adding the sauce- should I have kept the cooking water? The whole thing was not creamy as it should have been. Do you ever mash some of the beans for added creaminess?

      Reply
    36. Pooja says

      April 12, 2010 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      Wow, it came out really nice, do we have anything else which we can prepare with same dal? any other different recipe?

      Reply
    37. Mike Sharq says

      January 05, 2010 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      Erin:
      I worked in Kuwait in the Al-Rashed Building, 3 blocks from Al-Muthana with Khyber in between. 1/2 Tikka, salad, and Dal was at least a once a week affair. Just before I returned to the U.S. the first time, they opened another near the Coast Guard Station by the Pyramid Mosque and my buddies and I from KBR ate there frequently during deployment for the Iraq 2003 invasion.
      You're so right about their Dal. I'm trying your recipe tonight but with added butter and cream. I take Lipitor (LOL)
      Regards,
      Mike

      Reply
    38. Brigite says

      December 29, 2009 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      I'm a Brazilian living in Cleveland, and I love Indian food! I've tasted this dish at the Cafe Tandoor and I always wanted to make it! Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    39. Julie says

      November 06, 2009 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this recipe in a slow cooker instead of a pressure cooker and it worked great. The only substitution that I made was 1/2 a can of black beans instead of the dry kidney beans.
      Thanks for a great recipe Meenakshi!
      - Julie

      Reply
    40. Divya says

      October 13, 2009 at 12:46 am

      5 stars
      I am makng this tonight for my in-laws... 🙂 Hope it turns out just as well as it looks like in your pic... Thanks for the easy recipe...!!!

      Reply
    41. Bob says

      October 03, 2009 at 7:08 am

      5 stars
      I just made this today and it's really delicious. I didn't have ginger garlic paste so I just mashed up my own ginger and garlic in a mortar and pestle. The texture is also very nice; I like it better than the completely soupy dals. But I would love to try the "loaded with cream and butter" variety someday. 😉

      Reply
    42. Kat says

      June 23, 2009 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is so exciting! Daal Makhani is my favorite food! I'm moving to Kuwait in a couple of months to teach and I'm definitely going to go to the restaurant you mentioned! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
    43. neelam says

      February 23, 2009 at 6:31 am

      5 stars
      the Daal makhani was excellent, the ingredients blended so well , I am Pakistani there is not concept of Daal makhni but i tried this and it was excellent

      Reply
    44. jean says

      February 21, 2009 at 7:27 am

      Hi, I'm looking for this daal makhani recipe since I tasted it with naan here in Thailand. I'm a filipina engaged to my indian boyfriend and want to make daal makhani for him. Thanks for posting the recipe.

      Reply
    45. bindiya says

      January 17, 2009 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      I tried it once and it came out very good. thankyou so much. If I have to double the quantity, would it make sense if I double all the ingredients?

      Reply
      • Meena says

        January 18, 2009 at 9:40 pm

        You'll have to adjust the salt and spices according to your taste Bindiya - doubling them up might be a bit too much.

        Reply
    46. TeeKay says

      December 30, 2008 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      This is the simplest and the tastiest daal makhani. I always wanted to make daal makhani as my husband loves it, but used to think it would be difficult. But this recipe is pretty simple and tasty.

      I have made it 2 times and it has turned out really good each time. I will be making this again for my potluck dinner tomorrow.

      Thank you so much for sharing it with everyone!

      Reply
    47. Fionnuala says

      October 29, 2008 at 2:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is by far THE BEST dal we have ever tasted, much less made ourselves! Taste of India in Minneapolis has a black lentil dal that comes close - but this is the cats pajamas!

      Reply
    48. redcheckapron says

      October 08, 2008 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is absolutely fantastic! I just started living by myself and also cooking but i am enjoying the process of learning. The best thing about this recipe is that it is flavorful and does not use heavy cream etc which some recipes suggest.... but i have a problem my kitchen and house always smell of spices when i cook indian food.....if anyone has any suggestions to prevent this it would be great!

      Reply
    49. Buttonwillow Six says

      August 17, 2008 at 9:36 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious! Do you think this could be made with pre-cooked lentils? (asks the girl with a bag of Trader Joe's pre-cooked lentils)

      Reply
      • Meena says

        August 17, 2008 at 9:42 pm

        I'm guessing you definitely could, just cook it in a normal pot instead of a pressure cooker and lower the cooking time by half. Do let me know how it went.

        Reply
    50. Shikara says

      June 05, 2008 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      thanks Meena for such a yummy looking recipe. I'm going to make it tonight. Hubby loves Dal makhani when we eat at my MIL's house or in resaurant, now it's my turn.
      Thanks again for the simpler version.

      Reply
    51. Patti says

      June 03, 2008 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for this recipe - I have been looking for a simple one for years. It is my husband's favourite and I made it very successfully once, then lost the recipe! The only trouble is we are trying to eat less fat and salt. Have you any tips for this recipe?

      Reply
    52. tik-tiki says

      April 14, 2008 at 12:38 am

      5 stars
      got it just right the second batch around. made a few variations but that's what it's all about.

      Reply
    53. tik-tiki says

      April 11, 2008 at 10:10 pm

      5 stars
      this was just what i was looking for. thanks. off to give it a try.

      Reply
    54. Heather says

      April 04, 2008 at 12:16 pm

      5 stars
      HI,

      I tried this recipe and love it! I have three children 4 and under, so I don't have a lot of time. I used canned organic lentils and canned chopped tomatoes to cut my time in half. I just tasted it and it is very yummy. I'm sure it tastes even better your way. Thanks, Heather

      Reply
    55. Roxanne says

      February 14, 2008 at 1:55 am

      5 stars
      Is there another name for black lentils? what would the Indian name for them be? We also got addicted to Dal Makhni here in Kuwait...but at Mughal Mahal. Been looking for the recipe ever since...Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Meena says

        February 15, 2008 at 9:45 pm

        They're called Kali Urad in Hindi Roxanne, it should be easily available at Indian grocery stores. Mmm... Mughal Mahal was a favourite pit-stop for their Biryani!

        Reply
    56. Rani says

      January 31, 2008 at 3:16 am

      Can anyone please tell me, how this CREAMY BLACK LENTILS look like.., I wanna prepare this dish, its so rich.

      Reply
    57. Kim says

      January 19, 2008 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      Is There a way to make this without the pressure cooker? Can it be cooked in a crockpot all day?

      Yes, of course!

      Reply
    58. mysie says

      January 18, 2008 at 4:55 am

      5 stars
      thanks for the lovely recipe.

      Reply
    59. Rasa Malaysia says

      January 10, 2008 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      Hah, I know about mee goreng!!! I could never get it right...despite multiple attempts. I think they are not telling us the secret ingredients in those pot of red-color sauce filled with cuttlefish!!! 😉

      Reply
    60. veena says

      January 09, 2008 at 10:50 am

      can I use red chori instead of black lentils?

      Reply
    61. rokh says

      December 07, 2007 at 11:21 pm

      i totally understand about a dish we cannot really replicate elsewhere 🙂

      Reply
    62. ginger says

      November 26, 2007 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      Hi! I wondered if you have any recipes that use fresh fenugreek/methi that you would share. I have never ever seen it fresh in our stores and yesterday, there it was staring back at me, so I had to buy it, now to use it! Thanks!

      Reply
    63. Lulu says

      November 26, 2007 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      which is this non-descript place in kuwait??????? can you believe that i am seeing your blog after ages and it is just before dinner in kuwait city. am here for a business trip. the coincidence is too much. now if you had only mentioned the name of the restaurant, i might be tasting this famous dal makhani and making you very jealous 🙂

      Reply
    64. A says

      November 24, 2007 at 8:22 pm

      5 stars
      I dont like daal but I love daal makni..will try your recipe! You said in your intro to the recipe on how you love chicken tikka, do post your recipe if you have a favourite one. Its my favourite Indian dish!

      Reply
    65. Meera says

      November 23, 2007 at 1:05 am

      5 stars
      What a lovely picture & recipe too!

      Reply
    66. Shella says

      November 21, 2007 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      Wow your version looks so perfect. Creamy & delightful.

      Everybody has their own versions of daal makhani. I really like the one which does not show the daal at all, its all mashed up!!

      Reply
    67. Mythreyee says

      November 19, 2007 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      I was just wondering what to make with the canned black lentils that I have. Thanks for this awesome recipe.

      Reply
    68. Cynthia says

      November 16, 2007 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      Yes Meena, that is a plate of perfection. I truly wish I could taste it.

      You must definitely try it out Cynthia, I just know you will enjoy it!

      Reply
    69. Mona says

      November 16, 2007 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      Looks Incredibly Delicious and Mouth Watering !!

      Reply
    70. Lisa says

      November 16, 2007 at 9:43 am

      Sounds wonderful - do you have an alternative method for those who do not have a pressure cooker?

      Reply
      • Meena says

        November 18, 2007 at 9:47 pm

        Hi Lisa! I haven't really tried making this without a pressure cooker, since it would take ages on the stove and you might have to keep adding water to prevent it from drying, which in turn would dilute its wonderful flavour. You could definitely make it in a slow cooker. Just do the cooking in a deep pan, and once you're ready to add the soaked lentils, pour the contents into a slow cooker, letting it cook for 4 hours on low. Let me know how it turned out if you decide to try it.

        Reply
    71. Chakli says

      November 16, 2007 at 7:21 am

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely amazing. I am going to try it this weekend.

      First time on your blog - the photographs are beautiful, and food presentation is also really eye-catching. I hope you get your book deal soon!

      Thanks Chakli! I do hope so too! 🙂

      Reply
    72. Vicki says

      November 16, 2007 at 1:17 am

      I love dal makhani! Do you think I could make this on the stove instead of a pressure cooker?

      Reply
      • Meena says

        November 18, 2007 at 9:49 pm

        Hi Vicki! I haven't really tried making this without a pressure cooker, since it would take ages on the stove and you might have to keep adding water to prevent it from drying, which in turn would dilute its wonderful flavour. You could definitely make it in a slow cooker. Just do the cooking in a deep pan, and once you're ready to add the soaked lentils, pour the contents into a slow cooker, letting it cook for 4 hours on low. Let me know how it turned out if you decide to try it.

        Reply
    73. Kari says

      November 15, 2007 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      doesn't makhan mean fat? i'm surprised there isn't more butter/cream/milk in this dish...pleasantly surprised, that is! now i can enjoy it without guilt.

      Reply
      • Meena says

        November 18, 2007 at 9:50 pm

        Makhan actually means butter, and this dish is traditionally made with loads of butter and cream. This recipe is much less fat version due to the minimal butter and milk used. Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    74. collegestudent says

      November 15, 2007 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      thank you for posting this! it's my absolute favorite food!

      Reply
    75. Meeta says

      November 15, 2007 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      Looks absolutely gorgeous. I made Dal Makhini a while back too and it was just dreammmmmy. Love your version - perfect for the mingle.

      Reply
    76. Angela says

      November 15, 2007 at 1:25 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Meena.. Are you talking about Khyber's dal makhani ?? Or if it is some other place let me know, I'll have one for you!! Nice recipe there, thanks for the same. Angela

      Reply
      • Meena says

        November 18, 2007 at 9:53 pm

        Hi Angela, YESSS!!! I am talking about Khyber! Are you from Kuwait too? I can't wait for my next trip there, plan to load up on their food!

        Reply
    77. arundati says

      November 15, 2007 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      I'm a recent addict to dal makhani, but always thought it needed hours and hours of cooking and stirring....you make it so simple...and it looks perfect...cant wait to try it out...

      Reply
    78. Christine says

      November 15, 2007 at 9:32 am

      5 stars
      A reason to go out and buy a pressure cooker! Thanks, Meena - it looks amazing. I can never get up the courage to make urad or other lentils, but I will try your dal makhani this weekend. Thanks, and Saal Mubarak!!

      Reply
      • Meena says

        November 18, 2007 at 9:56 pm

        A pressure cooker is a wonderful thing to have Christine, right next to the slow cooker. You'd be surprised how quick it cooks some of the tougher lentils, beans and not to mention meat!

        Reply
    79. sagari says

      November 15, 2007 at 8:57 am

      5 stars
      i always have this in restaurent but i never tryed at home and your recipe and pic both looks sooo yummyyyyyy i will defenetly try this recipe at home

      Reply
    80. Kaykat says

      November 15, 2007 at 12:42 am

      This looks delightful. And it seems so light and flavorful. Many thanks!

      Reply
    81. ektaran says

      November 14, 2007 at 11:20 pm

      5 stars
      my all time....all time fav thing on earth!!!

      Reply
    82. Simple indian food says

      November 14, 2007 at 11:14 pm

      5 stars
      Dal Makhani is an all time favourtie dal and urs looks perfect

      Reply
    83. AG says

      November 14, 2007 at 8:41 pm

      5 stars
      God bless you, Meenakshi. I kept looking for dal makhani recipes and wasn't convinced about them. Now that my favorite food writer has given her own, simple-sounding recipe, I'm going to try this tomorrow!!

      Reply
    84. Dhivya says

      November 14, 2007 at 8:06 pm

      5 stars
      I have never used black lentils for this dish! Time to try! 🙂 luks yum! I luv dal makhani

      Reply
    85. bee says

      November 14, 2007 at 7:41 pm

      5 stars
      this does look perfect. thanks for the recipe. i hate those things with an oil slick on the top.

      Reply
    86. meeso says

      November 14, 2007 at 6:31 pm

      5 stars
      It drives me crazy when there's a dish like that, my friends mom cooks food that I can never replicate or get anywhere else...It's horrible! I crave it like crazy! The dal looks great 🙂

      Reply
    87. Deepa says

      November 14, 2007 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      This is awesome and very tasty and yummy .....

      Reply
    88. Mansi says

      November 14, 2007 at 3:36 pm

      5 stars
      Yup! This does sound and look perfect Meena:) Hope you had a great Diwali, and belated wishes!!

      -Mansi

      Reply
    89. Katerina says

      November 14, 2007 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      Wow this sounds fabulous, I really have to get a pressure cooker! Otherwise this would take hours..

      Reply

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