Best Dhal Makhani Recipes

NEXT LEVEL DHAL MAKHANI

Steps:

• Tip the dhal into a sieve and rinse under cold water several times until the water runs clear. Put in a large bowl or pot and cover in double their volume of warm water. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda and leave to soak at room temperature for at least 12 hrs.
• Drain the dhal (but don't rinse), tip into a pan and cover with 1.5 litres water. Add the sliced ginger, whole chilli and turmeric, then bring to the boil, skim off any scum that rises to the top and reduce the heat. Simmer uncovered for 1 hr until very tender, or cook in a pressure cooker for 20 mins. Remove the ginger and chilli.
• Heat the butter in a separate pan over a medium-high heat until it has foamed up and turned nut-brown. Pour half into a small container and set aside. Return the pan and remaining butter to the heat and add the cumin seeds, fenugreek leaves, ground coriander, garlic, grated ginger and tomato purée and cook for 2 mins more. Stir the spice mixture into the cooked dhal, then add the kidney beans along with the liquid from the can and season generously with salt.
• Roughly mash the dhal mixture with a potato masher until some of the pulses are crushed. Cook, stirring, over a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the dhal is thick and creamy. Stir through most of the reserved brown butter, the garam marsala and half the cream. Tip the dhal into a serving dish and drizzle over the remaining cream and brown butter. Scatter over the chopped chilli and ginger matchsticks and serve.

MAKHANI DHAL

Steps:

• Boil the lentils in 800ml water for 15 mins until almost tender. Meanwhile, fry the onions and chillies in the 50g butter for about 7 mins until starting to soften. Stir in the ginger, garlic and spices and cook over a low heat for 1 min more.
• Pour in 800ml boiling water followed by the cooked lentils and any liquid. Add the bay leaves and beans, then simmer for 20 mins more until thickened. This can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, or frozen for up to 1 month.
• To serve, return to the heat if necessary and stir in the cream. Season well. Pour into a bowl, dot with the remaining butter, dust with garam masala and scatter with coriander.

MOONG DHAL MAKHANI

Steps:

• Wash the mung beans thoroughly under cold water, and repeat two-three times until the water runs clear when drained. Put the beans in a small saucepan with 200ml water and 200ml milk and bring to the boil. Let it boil vigorously for 5 mins before reducing to a low heat. Simmer for 30-45 mins half-covered with a lid. Check the mung beans after 30 mins. When they are cooked, they should be soft enough to smash with the back of a spoon.
• In a separate frying pan, heat the sunflower oil and butter. Once warmed through and the butter has melted, add the tomato purée and chilli powder (depending on how hot you like it). Cook for 5 mins on a low heat before adding this paste to the bean pan.
• Increase the heat of the saucepan to medium, add salt to taste, and reduce, uncovered, if you need to. The consistency should be slightly thinner than a custard. At this point, add the remaining 50ml milk, and stir well. Cover with a lid, and cook on a low heat for 30 mins, adding a splash of water during cooking if it gets too thick. Check for seasoning, before serving topped with the coriander.

DHAL MAKHANI

Steps:

• Mix the lentils and kidney beans and soak them overnight in water. Wash them thoroughly. Boil the lentil and kidney bean mixture in sufficient water with a bouquet garni tied in muslin, 50g of butter, 50ml oil, and salt for an hour or until the lentil mixture is well cooked (check kidney beans). The mixture, once cooked, should be of a thick stew consistency. If you run out of water you can add more to ensure the mixture is cooked properly. Heat some oil in a pan and saute the ginger-garlic paste for a couple of minutes, then add the red chilli powder, cumin powder, and one teaspoon of the fenugreek leaves. Add the tomato puree. Cook thoroughly. Add this to the lentils ans dimmer for 15 minutes. To finish add a generous dollop of cream and stir through the garam masala, half a teaspoon of the fenugreek leaves, salt and the rest of the butter. If you like it tangy, top it with fresh lemon juice and finely chopped green chillies. Serve with naan or roti.