Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 23:33     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Homemade ghee is easy.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 22:59     Subject: Re:Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:We really enjoy restaurants’ dal makhni and I would like to try making this at home.

Where in MoCo can I buy ghee?

Might anyone have a recipe to share?

Thanks.


I realize that Chef Brar speaks in Hindi, but the CC is quite good, and the recipe is written out in the description.

Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 22:55     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:"Dal is a term for a variety of dishes made from dried, split pulses, like lentils, beans, and peas, that are slow-cooked until soft and porridge-like. The word "dal" comes from Sanskrit and means "to split".
It's a soup, so you don't pour it over rice.

"Curry" means a saucy dish in which you put meat or vegetables, on top of rice.

Dal is more watery than curry.


Dal chawal (lentils and rice) is the most common way to eat dal! Dal is not a soup at all, and is more like a curry in how it is consumed (with rice or roti).
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 18:21     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
"Dal is a term for a variety of dishes made from dried, split pulses, like lentils, beans, and peas, that are slow-cooked until soft and porridge-like. The word "dal" comes from Sanskrit and means "to split".
It's a soup, so you don't pour it over rice.

"Curry" means a saucy dish in which you put meat or vegetables, on top of rice.

Dal is more watery than curry.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 18:10     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
I think Whole Foods also sells ghee. Or you can just make it without ghee.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 17:48     Subject: Re:Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:We really enjoy restaurants’ dal makhni and I would like to try making this at home.

Where in MoCo can I buy ghee?

Might anyone have a recipe to share?

Thanks.


Get ghee at Patel Brothers Indian Grocery in Gaithersburg among many places. Or make your own.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2025 17:41     Subject: Re:Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
We really enjoy restaurants’ dal makhni and I would like to try making this at home.

Where in MoCo can I buy ghee?

Might anyone have a recipe to share?

Thanks.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2023 08:15     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Lentil curries” are not Indian dishes. They may use Indian spices but by and large they are fusion-y type dishes that sometimes have Indian flavors.

Dal is an Indian dish, fundamental to every Indian cuisine, and is prepared in different ways depending on the region. It is also an ingredient, and there are different types of dals (toor dal, moong dal, masoor dal, etc). It’s basically a soup. And in South India, it can be made like a stew with other vegetables (sambar).


How much butter is in dal makhni? I have tried to replicate it, but it never tastes as creamy as it does in the restaurants.

There’s a fair amount of ghee and heavy cream in it. Vegan Richa has a decent healthier version.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 22:37     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:“Lentil curries” are not Indian dishes. They may use Indian spices but by and large they are fusion-y type dishes that sometimes have Indian flavors.

Dal is an Indian dish, fundamental to every Indian cuisine, and is prepared in different ways depending on the region. It is also an ingredient, and there are different types of dals (toor dal, moong dal, masoor dal, etc). It’s basically a soup. And in South India, it can be made like a stew with other vegetables (sambar).


How much butter is in dal makhni? I have tried to replicate it, but it never tastes as creamy as it does in the restaurants.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 17:49     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
“Lentil curries” are not Indian dishes. They may use Indian spices but by and large they are fusion-y type dishes that sometimes have Indian flavors.

Dal is an Indian dish, fundamental to every Indian cuisine, and is prepared in different ways depending on the region. It is also an ingredient, and there are different types of dals (toor dal, moong dal, masoor dal, etc). It’s basically a soup. And in South India, it can be made like a stew with other vegetables (sambar).
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2023 07:54     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:Curry is just a generic word.


Isn’t dal too?
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2023 07:52     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Curry is just a generic word.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2023 07:49     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Anonymous wrote:Dal is usually a quick and simple prep of boiled/cooked legumes or lentils, garnished with a tadka at the end. Lentil curries can be more hearty with vegetables/cream/coconut milk/spices added.


That was what I thought but it doesn’t match the recipes I am seeing.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 20:53     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
Dal is usually a quick and simple prep of boiled/cooked legumes or lentils, garnished with a tadka at the end. Lentil curries can be more hearty with vegetables/cream/coconut milk/spices added.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 20:48     Subject: Possibly stupid question for Indian cooks about lentils
My kids have gotten very into Indian food, so I'm looking for recipes.

One thing I'll find is that the same website or youtube channel will have recipes for dal, and recipes for lentil curries.

What's the difference between the two?