Dal chicken, also known as chicken dal or chicken dal curry, is a flavorful dish of Indian cuisine made by mixing dal (lentils) with chicken. The dish is prepared both dry and with gravy, and the taste of the dish ranges from mild to spicy as per the choice.
Besides India, dal chicken is also relished in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Middle East, United States and United Kingdom.
Preparation Overview of Dal Chicken
Ingredients- The ingredients which are required by dal chicken recipe include lentils, chicken, vegetables and spices. The choice of lentils can vary for the dish. Toor dal, chana dal, moong dal, urad dal and even masoor dal are used for making chicken dal. Also, the chicken used for the dish can include leftover chicken as well as fresh chicken. Onions, tomatoes and mushrooms are mainly used for the dish. Garlic, cumin, mustard, turmeric, cloves, and bay leaves are the commonly used spices for dal chicken recipe.
Method of Preparation- For making dal chicken, the pieces of chicken are rinsed and boiled. Lentils are also pressure cooked along with salt and water. Oil is heated in a skillet and cumin, ginger, garlic, turmeric powder and mustard powder are added. The onions are fried and tomatoes and mushrooms are stirred in. The boiled chicken and lentils are also added to the skillet along with water and cooked. Seasoning is adjusted as per the taste and the dish is garnished with coriander leaves and whipped cream.
Serving Dal Chicken
Dal chicken is included in main course meal and is usually served hot along with Indian breads or rice. Onions dipped in vinegar and papad are also served along with dal chicken.
Popular Dal Chicken Recipes
Roasted chicken dal- It is a delicious and wholesome dal and chicken dish which combines roasted chicken pieces with boiled lentils. The dish is usually made dry and is served with chapatis and pickles.
Kozhi parippu kootan- Also known as dal chicken curry, this is a dal chicken dish of Southern India. Red lentils are combined with grated coconut, chicken pieces and variety of spices to make this dal chicken dish. The dish is also known as Murgh masoor in India and is prepared with a slight change in the set of ingredients.
Dal chicken shorba- It is a flavorful soup prepared by using mung dal and boneless chicken. The lentils and chicken are cooked with onions and tomatoes and then strained to form a rich and delicious soup. The soup is recommended to those suffering from cold. It is also a great food for building immunity.
