Five-Lentil Stew (Panch Dal)

Name: Five-Lentil Stew (Panch Dal)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: South Asia — Muslim traditions
Ingredients: 0.25 cup channa dal; 0.25 cup Urad Dal; 0.25 cup masoor dal; 0.25 cup toor dal; 0.25 cup mung dal; 5 cup water; 0.5 tsp turmeric; 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper; 1 tbsp oil; 1 large onion; 1 tbsp garlic clove; 1 tsp cumin seed; 1 tsp garam masala; 2 large tomatoes; 1 tsp salt

Lentils and tomatoes come together in this South Asian stew, fragrant with turmeric and cayenne and simmered on the stove.

1 hr 15 min · Serves 4 · Medium

Method

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Time: Prep 15 min · Cook 60 min · 75 min total
Difficulty: medium

1
Rinse dals. Bring water to boil in large pot. Add dals, stir, and bring back to boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit 2 hours.
120 min
2
Add turmeric and cayenne to dal and bring water to boil. Reduce heat slightly and simmer until dal is tender, approximately 35 minutes.
35 min
3
10-15 minutes before dal is ready, begin cooking spice mixture. Heat oil in heavy skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add onion and garlic and fry 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add cumin and garam masala and cook another minute. Add tomatoes and salt and cook until tomatoes have been reduced, approximately 10 minutes.
4
Add onion mixture to dal and stir well. Cook 2-3 minutes more to blend flavors. Taste for salt and adjust seasoning.
3 min
5
Serve hot in one large bowl or in individual-sized bowls with chapati or naan.