Bengal gram dal rice or Chana dal pulao is a quick and nutritious dish that you can make in just 30 minutes. It is a protein rich dish and when vegetables are added to it, it makes a wholesome filling meal. It pairs well with a simple raita or chutney.
Soak 1/2 cup bengal gram dal in boiling water for 2-3 hours. It should be soaked for a minimum of 2 hours.
Wash and soak 1 cup of basmati rice in 1 3/4 cups of water for 30 mins.
Thinly slice 1 onion and fry until golden brown. This step is optional. If you like garnishing fried onions, you can do this.
After slicing the onions, sun dry it for 15 mins. Then fry the onions. It will not absorb much oil and it will be a little crisp and not soggy.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil + 1 tbsp ghee, add bay leaf, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, 1/2 tsp whole black pepper, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 3 red chilies, cashew nuts and raisins.
Once cashew nuts starts to brown, add 1 onion finely chopped and a tsp of finely chopped ginger.
Sauté until onions turn transparent.
Add curry leaves, a tsp of ginger garlic paste and sauté until the raw flavor of the paste goes.
Add 1 tomato chopped, turmeric powder, a tsp of Kashmiri chilli powder, salt 2 tsp (flat) and cook until the tomatoes soften.
Add 1 carrot chopped. You can add any vegetables like sweet corn, beans, cauliflower, peas, capsicum etc.
Add the soaked channa dal, half of the fried onions, the soaked rice and mix well.
Add 1 3/4 cup of boiling water. (I have added the same water in which rice was soaked).
Add juice of half a fresh lemon.
Taste the water and check for salt. The water should be slightly salty. If needed, add at this stage.
Cook covered until rice turns soft. Stir once or twice in-between.
Garnish with coriander leaves and the remaining fried onions.
Enjoy piping hot chana dal pulao with a simple raita, tomato chutney or any tomato based gravy.
You can also make this in pressure cooker. Instead of the cooker weight/whistle, you can invert a small cup and cook until done.