Bengali style Chana dal recipe - Cholar Dal recipe

Cholar Dal recipe -   Cholar dal is a festive recipe which is often made during festival celebrations in Bengal which include times during durga pooja etc...  The cholar dal is made for special occassions like marriages, festivals or if a special guests come to home. 

The Bengali style cholar dal is a very delicious lentil dish with Bengal gram or channa dal made by adding coconut, ghee and an assorted spices.  This curry is very nutritious.  The channa dal can be served along with Pooris or phulkas.  Here is a method to prepare cholar dal .

Ingredients

1 cup Bengal gram / channa dal 

1/2 cup of coconut, cut into small bits

1 tablespoon ghee

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon sugar

For the seasoning

1 tablespoon ghee

2 to 3 dry red chillies

2 cloves

1 inch cinnamon stick

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds

2 green chillies, slit finely

2 teaspoons of ginger, grated finely

Method of preparation of Bengal style cholar dal

Begin by soaking the channa dal in 2 1/2 cups of water for about an hour to soften it.  Cook this dal in the same water until soft.

Next, heat a tablespoon of ghee in a shallow pan, and fry the coconut bits in it until they turn golden brown. Once done, keep them aside.

Now pour the cooked dal into a heavy bottomed sauce pan and add in the turmeric powder, salt and sugar and simmer on low heat for 3-5 minutes, till most of water is absorbed. Only the thick channa dal should remain. 

While the lentils are being simmered, heat a tablespoon of ghee in a small pan and add in all the seasoning ingredients, roasting them till they emit a good aroma, for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

Pour this seasoning and the roasted coconut into the dal in the pan and simmer everything together for another 3 to 4 minutes.

Your hot Bengali Style Cholar Dal is now ready to be served hot Puris or phulkas...