Black Dal
Rich coconut dal of beluga lentils and butternut squash.
makes 17 blocks, about 12p each
- Time
- 1 hr 5 min15 min prep · 50 min cook
- Makes
- 17 blocks
- Cost per blockPer block
- 12p
- Calories per blockCalories
- 71 kcal
- Spice
- 1 of 5
You’ll need
- 100gblack beluga lentils (dry), rinsed
- 300mlcoconut milk
- 175g (~¼ squash)butternut squash, 1cm dice
- 150gonion, chopped
- 40gtomato purée
- 15ggarlic
- 12gginger
- 6gveg bouillon powder
- 6g (2 tsp)garam masala
- 20mlrapeseed oil
- 400mlwater
Allergens: none of the 14 major allergens in the ingredients as listed. Check the labels on stock cubes, sauces and pastes, as brands vary.
Serve it
Basmati rice and pickle · Warm chapati and sliced red onion · Under roasted cauliflower
Method
- Step 1: Boil the rinsed lentils in a large pan of unsalted water for 20 minutes until just tender, then drain.
- Step 2: Meanwhile heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 10 minutes until golden. Add the garlic, ginger, garam masala and purée and stir for 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the squash, bouillon and 400ml water. Simmer, uncovered, for 12 minutes until the squash is soft.
- Step 4: Add the lentils and coconut milk and simmer for 10 minutes, mashing some of the squash into the sauce. Taste and season.
- Step 5: Cool, portion into 70g blocks and freeze.
Hotter: fry 2 green chillies with the onion.
| kcal | protein | carbs | fat | fibre | salt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per block | 71 | 2.1g | 5.6g | 4.3g | 1.5g | 0.18g |
| Per 3 blocks | 213 | 6.3g | 16.8g | 12.9g | 4.5g | 0.54g |
Cook’s notes
- Whole urad (black gram) from world-food aisles is cheaper and more authentic; soak overnight and cook about 1 hour.
- A knob of butter at the end gives a dal makhani feel.
Serve it
Basmati rice and pickle · Warm chapati and sliced red onion · Under roasted cauliflower.
Freeze, reheat and serve
- Freeze
- Cool it within two hours, portion it into 70g blocks in a silicone tray, then bag and label them. It keeps for 3 months.
- Reheat
- Microwave 3 blocks, covered, for 1 minute, stir, then heat for another 1 to 2 minutes until piping hot all the way through. Or warm them in a pan with a splash of water. Never refreeze thawed blocks.
- A portion
- 3 blocks (210g) make a dinner for one adult: about 213 kcal and 6.3g protein before rice, bread or potatoes.
Black Dal questions
Can I use a different lentil?
Green or Puy lentils hold their shape in the same way. Red lentils would collapse into a smoother, thicker dal and need less boiling.
Why cook the lentils separately?
Beluga lentils take longer than the squash, and boiling them in plenty of water lets them cook evenly without catching on the bottom of the pan.
Can I use sweet potato instead of butternut squash?
Sweet potato works in the same weight and gives a similar sweetness. Mash some into the sauce in the same way.
Sauces that go with it
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Updated . Nutrition, costs and yields are estimates.