Let’s check how to make panchmel dal or mixed dal recipe step by step with pictures. Panchmel dal is a famous rajasthani traditional pancharatna dal tadka recipe. As the name suggests, it is made with a combination of five different lentils that give an amazing taste and flavour. It is a famous dish from rajasthan state and is served mainly with chapatti, baati, or jeera rice.
About panchmel dal recipe
Dal is an essential part of the vegetarian diet in India. We can make a single dal or combine different dals to make varieties and change the monotonous taste. This dish is a thick, creamy textured lentil-based curry which is very healthy and nutritious.
This recipe is a traditional rajasthani dish made with a variety of lentils. It is often served as a side dish or as a part of a multicourse meal. Panchratna dal tadka is a spicy and delicious sauce that is made from dried lentils. We’ll also show you how to make a mixed dal, a dish that is made from a variety of lentils. If you’re a fan of Indian cuisine, then this recipe is a must-try! It’s easy to make and it tastes great.
Panchmel dal is also called Panchkuti Dal, Panchratna Dal, or Rajasthani Panchmel Dal, and is a signature dish of Rajasthan state cuisine.
In Panchmel dal, panch means “five” and mel means “mix” or “fusion”. So, panchmel or panchratna dal means “a fusion of five lentils together”.
How Many Types of Lentils in Panchmel Dal Recipe
- Chana dal(Yellow chickpea lentil )
- Toor or tuvar dal(pigeon peas)
- Yellow moong dal(washed green gram)
- Red masoor dal(red lentil)
- Spilt black urad dal (black gram).
Although this combination gives a unique taste, you can also change the combination according to your taste or the availability of dal at that time.
This dal has also an interesting history. There is a legend that this dal is first made by Pandava Bhima for king Virat by slow cooking in an earthen pot and addition of lots of ghee during their exile. It is said that this panchmel dal got royal status only after it is introduced by Hindu Queen Jodhabai.
This dal can also be prepared without adding onion and garlic. This dal is ready in less than 30 minutes. We can make dals in advance and serve them later.
Other winter’s special veg curries and dal you should like to try
Why You Should Try this Dal
- Simple recipe with less cooking
- Ready within 30 minutes
- Rich in all essential nutrients
- Can be made in advance and refrigerated
- Good for party or get together
Mixed Dal or Panchmel Dal Ingredients
Dals or lentils– Chana dal, red masoor dal, tuvar dal, yellow moong dal, split black urad dal. Dals will be mixed in equal parts. We can also buy ready-made mixed dal packets or can make them at home by mixing them.
Spices– laung, tej patta, black cardamom, cinnamon stick, salt, turmeric powder, red chilli- impart a nice unique flavour and colour to the dal.
Oil– used mustard oil which adds an aromatic flavour. You can replace it with other refined oil or for a rich flavour can add desi ghee.
Garam masala and kasoori methi– increase the flavour and adds a unique aroma.
Seasoning– heeng and red chilli in ghee add richness and make it easily digestible.
This lentil curry is made with a simple onion and tomato base gravy and a combination of basic spices. The texture and colour somewhat look like dal makhani but have a unique and amazing taste.
Give it a try to this lip-smacking panchmel dal recipe a, it is simply delicious. This dal is a little thick in consistency than yellow dal tadka. you can serve it with both rice as well as chapatti.
FAQs
Can we make this dal if we don’t have 5 different dals?
As the name suggests this dal recipe is made with 5 different types of dal or lentils but don’t worry you can still make mix dal if you have 2, 3 or 4 dals. You can also add the spices of your choice and enjoy the deliciousness of mix dal anyway.
Do I need to soak lentils before cooking?
Yes, I will highly recommend soaking dal that will help not only in faster cooking but also deactivate the phytate content in the dals and make them easy to digest. But If you have not preplanned for it, don’t worry, just increase the duration of pressure cooking.
How to Make Panchmel Dal or Mixed Dal-Step by Step Preparation
Boiling of dal
1.Add all the dals in a bowl, wash them with water a few times. Then add water and soak them for an hour.
2. After soaking strain the soaked water and transfer dal to a pressure cooker. Add ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric powder.
3. Now take 2 laung, 1 black cardamom, and 1 inch cinnamon stick, tie them in a small piece of cloth and place in the dal.
4. Cover the pressure cooker and cook up to 3-4 whistles. Wait till the pressure released.
5. Once the pressure is released, check if dal is cooked well or not. Put it aside.
Making of tadka
1.Now in a frying pan add 2 tbsp mustard oil, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 bay leaf, and 1 whole red chilli. Roast them for few seconds.
2. Then add chopped onion, ginger, garlic and green chilli paste. Saute them till they becomes brown and their raw smell is gone.
3. Now add ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp coriander powder, ¼ tsp turmeric powder and cook for few seconds.
4. Then add tomato puree, mix and cover the pan. Cook it for 4-5 minutes on a low flame till the gravy starts leaving oil. Add 1 cup of water and wait till it starts boiling.
5. Now add boiled dal mixture and mix well, cover and cook it on simmer for 4-5 minutes.
6. Finally, add garam masala and some kasoori methi rubbing into your hands and mix. Cook further 1-2 minutes. Switch off the flame.
How to prepare seasoning
1.In a small pan, add 1 tsp ghee, ¼ tsp heeng and ½ tsp red chilli powder. Cook for few seconds and then switch off the flame.
2. Transfer to a serving bowl, add tadka and garnish with green coriander leaves. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious panchratna dal along with boiled or jeera rice, or with traditional Rajasthani baati or simply with plain chapatti.
Tips and Tricks
- This Dal tastes best when we add a seasoning with desi ghee.
- Soak dal at least 30-40 minutes or best if can do for an hour for fast cooking and better taste.
- Cook well the onion and tomato gravy before adding boiled dal into it.
- This Dal shouldn’t be too thick or too thin in consistency.
- You can choose any 5 dals of your choice.
Recipe Card
Mixed Dal Recipe | How to Make Panchmel Dal | Pancharatna Dal Tadka
Ingredients
For boiling of dal
- ¼ cup chana dal
- ¼ cup yellow moong dal
- ¼ cup toor dal
- ¼ cup red masoor dal
- ¼ split black urad dal
- 2 laung
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 1 small sized black cardamom
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 3 cup water
For making tadka
- 2 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 tej patta
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 small whole red chilli
- 1 medium sized onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger garlic and green chilli paste
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp kasoori methi
For seasoning
- 1 tsp ghee
- ¼ tsp heeng
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
Instructions
Boiling of dal
- Add all the dals in a bowl, wash them with water a few times.
- Then add water and soak them for an hour.
- After soaking, strain the soaked water and transfer dal to a pressure cooker. Add ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric powder.
- Now take 2 laung, 1 black cardamom, and 1 inch cinnamon stick, tie them in a small piece of cloth and place in the dal.
- Cover the pressure cooker and cook up to 3-4 whistles. Wait till the pressure is released.
- Once the pressure is released, check if dal is cooked well or not. Put it aside.
Making of tadka
- Now in a frying pan add 2 tbsp mustard oil, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 bay leaf, and 1 whole red chilli. Roast them for few seconds.
- Then add chopped onion, ginger, garlic and green chilli paste. Saute them till they becomes brown and their raw smell is gone.
- Now add ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp coriander powder, ¼ tsp turmeric powder and cook for few seconds.
- Then add tomato puree, mix and cover the pan. Cook it for 4-5 minutes on low flame or till the gravy starts leaving oil. Add 1 cup of water and wait till it starts boiling.
- Now add boiled dal mixture and mix well, cover and cook it on simmer for 4-5 minutes.
- Finally, add garam masala and some kasoori methi rubbing into your hands and mix. Cook further 1-2 minutes. Switch off the flame.
How to prepare seasoning
- In a small pan, add 1 tsp ghee, ¼ tsp heeng and ½ tsp red chilli powder. Cook for few seconds and then switch off the flame.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, add tadka and garnish with green coriander leaves. Enjoy!
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Notes
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