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Moong Daal- Indian Daal Recipe

Moong Daal- Indian Daal Recipe

A wholesome healthy Indian dal recipe with vegetables and Indian moong daal (Mung Beans) cooked in whole spices. Its easy, simple and really tasty. 

Indian Moong daal fry recipe
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Dal also spelled as daal, dahl, dhal is an Indian lentils dish staple in Indian household.

A simple dal dish goes beyond any regional, religious, socio-economic boundaries.

Each Indian household has its own dal recipe that is a family favorite.

There are different types of lentils available in the market, red, and yellow lentils being the most popular once.

This Indian dal recipe is made with Moong or Mung beans a type of split yellow lentils.

This Indian lentils recipe has a personal bond as this is a typical Bengali daal dish made in our house and my dad’s favorite.

What makes this Indian Lentil recipe unique is that the lentils are lightly dry roasted for a heightened nutty taste.

Ingredients for Making Moong Daal With Vegetables at Home


This Indian daal recipe uses whole aromatic spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves, and cumin seeds.

You can read the benefits of the whole spices and how to use them for cooking below.

Here is what you will need to make moong daal at home:

FRESH INGREDIENTS 

1 chopped carrot

a handful of chopped green beans

a handful of fresh coriander/cilantro leaves

1-2 green chillies

PANTRY ITEMS

1 cup moong daal

1 tsp sugar

3 tsp sunflower oil/vegetable oil or ghee

salt to taste

SPICES

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 inch cinnamon stick

4 green cardamoms ( read the uses and benefits of green cardamom)

2-3 whole red chillies

2 bay leaves

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 /2 tsp garam masala powder ( what is garam masala powder)

SUBSTITUTES AND OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS 

If you do not happen to have few of the whole spices then you can still make this recipe with a minimum of 4 of the spices listed above.

Substitute moong lentils with any other lentils of your choice. Tips shared below

Do not add sugar if you do not wish to.

Skip using green chillies if you do not find any

Substitute whole red chilli with a tsp of chilli powder

2 tsp lemon juice for a slight tang if your wish

Here is a snapshot of the ingredients to give you an idea:

Moong-daal- recipe Ingredients

How To Make Indian Dal? Step-wise Method

The cooking process with the stepwise pictures explains how to make this easy Indian Moong Daal recipe with vegetables at home.

STEP 1 

Roast moong daal in medium to low heat stirring continuously to avoid burning the lentils until it turns into a bright yellow colour.

Roasted-moong-daal

Here is a picture to compare plain unroasted mung daal to roasted mung daal.

STEP 2 

Once roasted wash and soak the daal in water for about 15 minutes.

Soak moong daal in water

STEP 3 

Next, boil the lentils with a teaspoon of salt.

boiled moong daal for Indian lentils recipe

STEP 4

While the daal is boiling, heat ghee in a pan and add whole spices to it. Fry till it releases aroma for about 10 seconds.

temper-spices in oil

STEP 5 

Now add the vegetables and saute for 5- 8 minutes on high flame .

saute-vegetables for moong daal

STEP 6 

Add the tomatoes, salt, sugar, and turmeric powder and cook until the tomatoes becomes mushy.

add-tomatoes

STEP 7

Next, add the boiled lentils and 1 cup of water and bring to boil. Once it comes to a nice thick consistency add a tsp of Garam masala powder, fresh coriander leaves, and 1 tsp ghee (optional) and remove from heat.

Add-water-to-daal for Indian daal recipe

STEP 8 

Serve mung daal fry with plain boiled rice

Moong Daal Indian-daal-recipe

Cooking Tips & FAQs

  1. For optimum taste, I suggest roasting moong daal for a nice nutty flavour.
  2. You can make this Indian daal recipe without roasting mung daal. This may change the taste a little but will taste good too. You will also save time if you decide not to roast the lentils.
  3. It is important to keep the grains of the lentils whole and not mushy. A mushy consistency dilutes the flavour as the recipe uses whole spices.
  4. While boiling the daal ensure there is enough liquid left in the pan after the daal boils to make the sauce for the daal.
  5. Add lemon juice if you wish at the end for a slight tang.
  6. The consistency of the daal is medium. Not too runny and not too think so add water accordingly.
  7. Adding garam masala and fresh coriander leaves at the end will lift the flavours.
  8. You can add any assorted vegetables of your choice. There is no rule on the type of vegetables but root and vegetables with less water content are best.
  9. Add a teaspoon of ghee or a blob of butter before serving for a little tasteful guilty pleasure.

What is Moong Daal or Mung Beans?

Moong or mung beans is one of the most widely used lentils in India which is essentially green split grams but without the skin.

It is native to India, so you may not find mung beans in normal small supermarkets but they are readily available in any Indian grocery store.

Mung beans are healthy and easy to digest hence forms part of the baby’s first solid food during weaning.

Different types of moong lentils are used for cooking in Indian cuisine. They are :

Split Green Gram (Green Moong)
Split Green Gram (Green Moong)
Whole Green Gram ( Whole Moong Beans)
Whole Green Gram (Whole Moong Beans)
Yellow Split Gram ( Yellow Moong)
Yellow Split Gram (Yellow Moong)

This daal dish is made from the yellow split gram or yellow moong daal.

What Can You Substitute For Moong Daal

Although moong daal has a distinct taste of its own, you can easily replace moong daal with yellow lentils, or toor dal ( another type of yellow lentils).

Red lentils too can be a decent replacement but will lend the dish a different taste.

How Does Moong Daal Taste

Moong daal has a kind of nutty taste.

It is the taste that makes it a very versatile lentil, especially within Indian cuisine.

It is used for making many dishes such as mushy thick gravy, a dry dish for breakfast or any meal, pancakes, savoury snacks, and even desserts.

The other advantage of moong daal apart from the taste is the ease of making it.

It is a quick-cooking lentil and does not require a long time to cook.

I wholeheartedly recommend making this Indian Daal recipe with Moong lentils to experience the taste.

What Are The Benefits of Moong Daal

Most of us are already aware that any type of lentils is a great source of protein. Apart from protein moong daal is rich in calcium, potassium, and Vitamin B.

The dietary fiber present in moong beans makes it very easy to digest thus avoiding flatulence associated with most lentils.

Moong daal fry recipe - Indian Lentils recipe

Can You Freeze Moong Daal Fry

One of the good things about any lentils dish is that it freezes really well.

This moong daal dish made with vegetables is nutrition in one pot that can be put in a zip lock bag or a freezer container for later use.

It will keep its taste well for unto 3 months from the date it is frozen.

All you will need to do it thaw it and heat it up on a pot instead of the microwave.

Recipe Card for

Moong Daal- Indian Daal Recipe

A wholesome healthy Indian dal recipe with vegetables and Indian moong daal (Mung Beans) cooked in whole spices. Its easy, simple and really tasty. 

Indian Moong daal fry recipe
Print Recipe Card
Preparation Time - 15 |  
Cooking Time - 15 |  
Total Time to Cook - 30 |  
Servings - 4

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Mung daal
  • Around 1,1/2 cup assorted vegetables
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1 or 2 green chillies
  • 2 - 2.5 cups water
  • A large handful coriander /cilantro leaves
  • 2 tsp or to taste sugar
  • Salt To taste
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 inch stick cinnamon
  • 3 green cardamons
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 fresh green chillies or 2 whole red chillies (optional)
  • 1 tsp garam masala powder
  • 2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp ghee or any oil on your choice

Instructions

Roast Moong Dal
  • Roast moong daal in medium to low heat stirring continuously until it changes in colour and turns bright yellow in colour. This can take 5- 8 minutes .
  • Once the lentils are roasted wash and soak the lentils in water for about 15 minutes.
Boil The Dal
  • In a deep bottomed pan , add 2 cups of water with a teaspoon of salt.
  • Now add the roasted lentils to water and boil until the lentils are cooked put still retains its shape.
Make The Tadka
  • While the daal is boiling, heat ghee in a pan and add whole spices , that is bay leaves, cinnamon stick, green cardamom and whole green or dry red chillies
  • Fry the spices till it releases flavour for about 10 - 20 seconds.
  • Now add the vegetables and saute on high heat for 5- 8 minutes. 
  • Add the 1 chopped tomato, 1 teaspoon on turmeric, salt and sugar to taste and cook until the tomatoes become mushy. 
  • Next, add 1/2 water and bring the vegetables to a boil, cook the vegetables until it is almost cooked.
  • Now add the boiled lentils along with the water left in the dal. Add more water if the consistency is too thick.
  • Once it comes to a nice thick consistency add a tsp of Garam masala powder, fresh coriander leaves and a tsp of ghee which is optional or a blob of butter and remove from heat. 
  • Serve mung daal fry with plain boiled rice 

Notes

  • For the optimum taste it is recommended to keep the grains of the lentils whole and not mushy. A mushy consistency dilutes the flavour as the recipe uses whole spices.
  • While boiling the daal ensure there is enough liquid left in the pan after the daal boils to make the sauce for the daal.
  • You can add any assorted vegetables of your choice. There is no rule on the type of vegetables but root and vegetables with less water content are best.
  • Add a teaspoon of ghee or a blob of butter before serving for a little tasteful guilty pleasure.

Tried this recipe?

Mention @aspicelady or tag #cookingwithspices

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Step by step spices

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nancy
1 year ago

love the spice combo

Jamie
Jamie
1 year ago

I love the flavor of all the spices in this! So delicious!

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