Sweet-and-Sour Dal Bhat

Name: Sweet-and-Sour Dal Bhat
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 whole plum tomato; 1 cup toor dal; 5 Tbsp kosher salt; 3 whole serrano chiles; 6 oz ginger; 1 cup jaggery; 6 Tbsp lime juice; 2 tsp red chile powder; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 2 cups basmati rice; 9 Tbsp vegetable oil; 6 whole curry leaves; 3 whole dried chiles; 1 Tbsp brown mustard seeds; 1 tsp asafetida; ½ tsp fenugreek

A flavorful Indian dish combining tender toor dal (pigeon peas) with aromatic spices, fresh ginger, and chiles, served with fragrant basmati rice. The dal is enriched with jaggery for sweetness and lime juice for tanginess, finished with a traditional tempering of curry leaves and whole spices.

6 servings

1 hr 45 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1 whole plum tomato
•1 cup toor dal
•5 Tbsp kosher salt
•3 whole serrano chiles
•6 oz ginger
•1 cup jaggery
•6 Tbsp lime juice
•2 tsp red chile powder
•1 tsp ground turmeric
•2 cups basmati rice
•9 Tbsp vegetable oil
•6 whole curry leaves
•3 whole dried chiles
•1 Tbsp brown mustard seeds
•1 tsp asafetida
•½ tsp fenugreek

Cooking Instructions

1.
Bring tomato, toor dal, salt, and 8 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, skimming foam from surface and stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring and skimming occasionally, until dal are very soft but not disintegrated, 45-60 minutes.
60 min
2.
Meanwhile, process chiles and ginger in a food processor to a coarse purée, about 1 minute. Transfer to a 2-cup measuring glass or a medium bowl; stir in jaggery, lime juice, chile powder, and turmeric. Set seasoning mixture aside.
5 min
3.
Once dal is done, mix in reserved seasoning mixture and simmer until flavors are melded, about 5 minutes. Blend dal with an immersion blender or in a blender until smooth; it should be about the consistency of heavy cream.
5 min
4.
Do Ahead: Dal can be made 3-4 hours ahead. Cover and keep warm.
5.
While the dal is cooking, place rice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Swish around with your fingers to remove surface starches, then drain through a sieve or colander. Repeat process until water runs clear, about 4 or 5 changes of water.
10 min
6.
Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium pot over medium. Add rice and stir to coat grains in oil. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil over high; reduce heat to low, cover pot, and cook 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
20 min
7.
Just before serving, heat remaining 7 Tbsp. oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add curry leaves, chiles, mustard seeds, asafetida, and fenugreek one at a time, pausing for a second between each addition and swirling pan. Cook until spices are toasted and curry leaves sizzle and pop, about 20 seconds. Spoon spices over dal; serve with rice.
5 min

Sweet-and-Sour Dal Bhat

6 servings

1 hr 45 min

Published October 4, 2025

Be the first to rate this recipe

Ingredients

•1 whole plum tomato

•1 cup toor dal

•5 Tbsp kosher salt

•3 whole serrano chiles

•6 oz ginger

•1 cup jaggery

•6 Tbsp lime juice

•2 tsp red chile powder

•1 tsp ground turmeric

•2 cups basmati rice

•9 Tbsp vegetable oil

•6 whole curry leaves

•3 whole dried chiles

•1 Tbsp brown mustard seeds

•1 tsp asafetida

•½ tsp fenugreek

Cooking Instructions

Bring tomato, toor dal, salt, and 8 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, skimming foam from surface and stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring and skimming occasionally, until dal are very soft but not disintegrated, 45-60 minutes.

60 min

Meanwhile, process chiles and ginger in a food processor to a coarse purée, about 1 minute. Transfer to a 2-cup measuring glass or a medium bowl; stir in jaggery, lime juice, chile powder, and turmeric. Set seasoning mixture aside.

5 min

Once dal is done, mix in reserved seasoning mixture and simmer until flavors are melded, about 5 minutes. Blend dal with an immersion blender or in a blender until smooth; it should be about the consistency of heavy cream.

5 min

Do Ahead: Dal can be made 3-4 hours ahead. Cover and keep warm.

While the dal is cooking, place rice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Swish around with your fingers to remove surface starches, then drain through a sieve or colander. Repeat process until water runs clear, about 4 or 5 changes of water.

10 min

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium pot over medium. Add rice and stir to coat grains in oil. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil over high; reduce heat to low, cover pot, and cook 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

20 min

Just before serving, heat remaining 7 Tbsp. oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add curry leaves, chiles, mustard seeds, asafetida, and fenugreek one at a time, pausing for a second between each addition and swirling pan. Cook until spices are toasted and curry leaves sizzle and pop, about 20 seconds. Spoon spices over dal; serve with rice.

5 min