Nourishing Chana Dal with Kale

Nourishing and warming Chana dal — a bowl of pure comfort with added kale. Lightly spiced and best served with flatbreads to scoop it up!
Nourishing chana dal with kale

There’s something incredibly comforting and nourishing about a dhal.

I have so many versions and honestly; I think I could eat it every day.

It takes a little while to cook the pulses, but it’s so worth it so that they go super gooey and have a deliciously soft texture.

I know many of you are as passionate about curry as I am, and it’s so much fun sharing delicious curries and getting lots more inspiration.

The key to injecting lots of flavour into this dal is cooking the onions slowly with the spices, then adding in the garlic, ginger and fresh tomatoes.

I then added lots of gorgeous greens for extra goodness and colour. I used kale this time, but spinach is great, as are spring greens.

Just mix it up with your favourite or whatever you have in your fridge.

I absolutely love experimenting with spice mixes and combinations, but I also love using authentic and flavoursome mixes so almost always sprinkle some garam masala on my curries and dhals at the end.

And, I love eating my dhal with lots of toasted seeds for crunch and scooped up with a buckwheat flatbread!

I hope you love this recipe, Niki xx

The Recipe

Nourishing chana dal with kale

Nourishing Chana Dal with Kale

Nourishing and warming Chana dal - a bowl of pure comfort with added kale. Lightly spiced and best served with flatbreads to scoop it up!
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
2-4 servings
No ratings yet

Ingredients

For the dal

  • 2 cups Chana dal–washed
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 large onion – roughly chopped
  • 1/4 tsp asafoetida
  • 2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 thumb sized knob ginger–grated
  • 3 to matoes chopped
  • 3 handfuls kale
  • Black pepper
  • Flatbreads
  • Toasted seeds

Instructions

To make the dal

  • Wash the Chana dal thoroughly.
  • Add the Chana dal to a saucepan with 6 cups of water. Bring to the boil and skim off the froth. Add in the turmeric.
  • Turn down to a low heat and let it simmer for 1 1/4 hrs then add in the salt.
  • Add the coconut oil to a large frying pan and heat to a medium heat.
  • Add in the asafoetida and mustard seeds. When they pop, add in the cumin seeds and chilli flakes.
  • Stir for a few seconds, then add in the onion. Fry for approx 8-10 minutes until soft and browning.
  • Add in the garlic and ginger and stir for another few minutes, then add in the chopped tomatoes.
  • Cook for a further 5-6 minutes, then add the kale and 120ml of water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • When the dal is cooked, add the kale & tomato mix to the dal and stir well.
  • Season with salt, pepper & garam masala to finish.
  • Delicious with flatbreads & toasted seeds.
Print Recipe

I'd love to hear your comments…

  • Jessica
    7 years ago Reply

    Hey Niki, this looks delicious! I’ve caught glimpses of your curry club on instagram and I am definitely going to have to join the fun. Lots of love from Berlin xxx

  • Nina Olsson - Nourish Atelier
    8 years ago Reply

    This looks so delicious Niki! You’re always making my favorite kind of food, just reading this recipe makes me drool! xo Nina

    • Niki
      8 years ago Reply

      Yay!! Thank you Nina. So happy you love it. I thought you might ????
      Love Niki xx

  • Kathryn Grace
    8 years ago Reply

    I had to look up “channa dal” and now I’m intrigued. I can just catch the aromas cooking as I read your recipe, which is itself almost poetic. I’ll share this soon as my pick for #RecipeOfTheDay on social media. What a joy to share something so delicious, new-to-me, and perhaps new to my readers.

  • Natalia
    8 years ago Reply

    This looks so comforting, Niki! Will make it soon, I am such a dhal fan! Thank you for sharing it!

    • Niki
      8 years ago Reply

      Thanks so much Natalia
      Ooh let me know if you make it!

      Love and hugs
      Niki x

  • Sophie MacKenzie
    8 years ago Reply

    This dal looks incredible, Niki!

Let me know what you think below…

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