Dal rice, also known as dal chaawal, is a popular comfort food relished in India. Easy to prepare, this dish comprises cooked lentils served with plain boiled rice or lentils and rice cooked together along with vegetables and spices. The latter is also known as khichdi and can be prepared in different ways.

Dal rice is a staple food of the Indians and makes for a wholesome dish. Dry vegetables like fried potatoes, spicy cottage cheese and kurkuri bhindi (crispy fried okra) served with the dish, add to its taste.

Although popular, the history and origin of this dish is still unknown. However, as per the ancient tales, dal chaawal or dal rice is a comfort food which was mainly eaten by the poor as the dish is easy to make and does not require any ingredients other than rice and lentils.

Method of Preparation and Ingredients Used In Dal Rice

Ingredients- The major ingredients that are required to make dal rice are lentils and rice. A variety of lentils can be used to make this easy food. Chana dal (split chick peas), toowar dal (pigeon peas) and moong dal (green split peas) are the commonly used lentils for this dish. The rice can be either small rice or long grained basmati rice as per the preference. Salt, pepper, clarified butter or ghee and spices are also used to make dal rice.

Method of Preparation- There are two popular ways to prepare dal rice. In some places, dal and rice are soaked separately. Dal is pressure cooked along with spices and sometimes, onions and tomatoes are added to enhance the flavor of the dish. Rice is also boiled and once prepared; dal and rice are served together.

The other method involves soaking of lentils and rice together and then pressure cooking them along with salt, mustard powder and choice of vegetables. A tempering of cumin in clarified butter when added to the dish, enhances its taste.

Serving Dal Rice

Dal rice makes a wholesome meal and is often served as it is. Several side vegetable dishes that are commonly served with the dish are fried potatoes, mix vegetables, boiled peas and fried cucumber. A mixed vegetable salad is also eaten with the dish. Curd, pickle and papad are also some popular accompaniments with dal rice.

Popular Dal Rice Recipes

Masur dal pulao- A filling dal and rice dish where dal is made by masur (red lentil) and variety of spices like cloves, cardamom, ginger, garlic and bay leaf. This nutritious and delicious dal is served over rice along with a garnishing of cilantro leaves.

Dal tadka with zeera rice- A typical North Indian dal rice dish; where chana dal or toor dal is flavored with ginger, cumin and asafetida. Zeera (cumin) is added to the rice while preparing. The dish makes a wholesome meal and is mostly savoured in after noons.

Rice and moong dal- It is a nutritious dish which is often recommended to the people suffering from upset stomack. Light on stomach and rich in fiber, this dish is savored with cucumber and tomato salad.