Dal: Easy Indian Comfort Food

While Indian cuisine can be complex, Dal is a simple, comforting dish that acts as a centerpiece that binds everything together in a typical Indian meal. Each region has a unique take on the dish, and it can be made easily with a few pointers and a combination of spices like cumin, garam masala, and turmeric. Chitra Agrawal of Brooklyn Delhi guides us through making a delicious and healthy Indian Dal topped with spiced ghee.

Follow along in the video or check out Agrawal's recipe here:

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[pinkmonkeybird]

I am not Indian, but I have been cooking and eating dal with or without tadka for decades. I’m a vegetarian and for me, Indian cuisine is one of the most approachable for meatless eating. So many recipes are naturally vegetarian and many are vegan, and so they just taste right. I just checked my recipe app and I have 39 distinct dal entries. They can be simple comfort food with gentle warm spices for when you are feeling unwell or they can be bold with multiple chilis and spices that will wake you up and surprise you with complex flavors and textures. It is comfort food that is both super easy to make and highly customizable to suit your own taste preferences.

[misubi]

I like this lady’s down to earth vibe. More of her please.

[fabiss]

If you never had an authentic curry or a dal you are missing out a TON!!! go there and find a place where you can taste authentic indian cuisine!!!! i learned to make myself authentic indian foods and recipes with all the whistle and bells spices and condiments, its now one of my life's pleasures. if you cook this in your house beware, your house will smell like heaven!

[dankzilla]

Shes absolutely right about Dal. Its cheap, healthy, easy to make and a alternate protein source!

[SoulessStranger]

This video was really wholesome. I felt like cooking with a friend. I learned a lot about Indian food that I had no idea about and I would love more videos like this. Especially the little twists, the family stories, the explanation of some of the names and how things are used.
I love Indian food to bits and will never forget about all the flavours and richness I experienced when I lived there. I hope to recreate it someday again back home and I will for sure try to cook this.

[brianmoody]

It’s great to have someone who will take time out and share with everyone, about their experiences on how to create and cook their cuisine or their home.

[natw]

Wow, I love how approachable she made this dish and her insight offered on tradition vs her upbringing and that interpretation ❤

[xAsianish]

It's very special to hear her add her peculiar twists, with the yogurt or the use of potato chips when out of the other thing. As a Viet person, I'll be sharing this to my family! Bought the ingredients to try it out. Can't wait!

[bertoman]

If you are one to explore indian cuisine, then this is the best introduction for you

[curtisthomas]

Dal is a popular staple in Trinidad and Tobago (due to half the population being descendants of indentured Indian laborers). The hot ghee/oil topping is known here as "chunkay". The most popular ways served are on white rice with a stewed green vegetable like spinach/amaranth, taro leaves/dasheen, bok choy or fried bitter gourd rings or fried fish.
Dal is also popular as a base for soups.
The yellow lentils are most widely used

[NC-qcwd]

She is pretty awesome, so much detail in this and you know she is doing it perfectly.

[buzzingtruth]

Love this authentic representation of dal chawal, i also eat mine with achaar/chutney for tang, papad for crunch, yogurt for cooling effect, and maybe some raw onion slices in some bites. ❤

[richardheidelberg]

I bought the Brooklyn Delhi and cooked the recipe. FANTASTIC!!

[hecatommyriagon]

What's so beautiful about a recipie like this, is that you can easily expand and develop it. Add some chopped tomatoes, bell pepper and even a splash of coconut milk or add this or that and you have an infinite number of versions of this dish.

[TheMovingEye]

The concept of flavor oil to finish a dish is a thing even in Hungary of all places. There you will put in garlic but most importantly powdered paprika in the oil. It elevates even simple stews like potatoe or beans to something amazing.

[harshibhatnagar]

Important takeaway that I feel is missing from YOUTUBE Indian cooking: “Garam Masala” is a finishing spice and is used sparingly!! Please don’t use it by the spoonful!!

[RachelSimons-tm]

Yay!!!! Love Chitra! This video is fantastic. I can attest that her Tomato Achaar is so good I eat it by itself from the jar with a spoon!

[FishareFriendsNotFood]

Just made this, it's such a forgiving and versatile recipe, it's my go to for lazy days. Also good for babies!

[kazzban]

I have been making dhal for about 15 years . However I am never really proud of it . I used this recipe today and it came out absolutely perfect ! Thank you so much

[davebhojwani]

Love your explanation of culture, food and textures. I eat exactly the way you eat with Dahi and achar