Dal Bhorta is a traditional dish from Bengali cuisine that involves mashing cooked lentils (referred to as “dal”) and mixing them with aromatic spices, and herbs.
The term “Bhorta” translates to “mashed” or “puréed.”
This dish involves cooking lentils until they’re soft and then mashing them with an array of spices, herbs, resulting in a textured and delicious dish.
Go through my recipe to master this unique and popular Bengali culinary artistry.
Key Takeaways:
- Dal Bhorta is a comforting Bengali dish featuring mashed lentils (“dal”) combined with aromatic spices. “Bhorta” translates to mashed or puréed.
- Dal Bhorta offers a blend of rich lentil flavors, earthy spices, and fresh herbs, resulting in a creamy and comforting texture with balanced spiciness.
- Dal Bhorta is commonly served with rice, roti, chapati, paratha, or naan.
- A couple of common substitutes to this dish include potato bhorta or aloo bhorta or eggplant bhorta or begun bhorta.
The Ingredients
- Dal or red lentil: 200 gm (cleaned & soaked for 10 mins)
- Turmeric powder: 2 pinches
- Garlic: 6 cloves
- Green chilis: 6 pieces (chopped)
- Onion: 1 big size (chopped)
- Coriander leaves: 1 tbsp (chopped)
- Dry red chilis: 3 pieces
- Mustard oil: 2 tbsp
- Salt to taste
How to Make Dal Bhorta (Step by Step Images)?
1. At first, put a wok on the gas stove and heat it up. Then, add 1 cup of water and simmer it.
2. Add the lentils and turmeric, and mix everything well. Now, let the red lentils boil and discard any foam forming while they are boiling, using a spatula.
3. Once the lentils are boiled, make them thick. Turn off the flame and let them cool.
4. Next, add 1 ½ tbsp of oil to the wok and let it heat up. When the oil is hot, add the dry red chilis and sauté them. Once they are done, take them out of the wok and keep them aside.
5. Now, add the garlic cloves to the wok and sauté them lightly. Add the chopped green chilis and sauté them as well. When they are lightly fried, turn off the flame.
(Pro tip: Do not over-fry the garlic cloves, or the aroma will disappear.)
6. Take the fried red chilis, remove the stems, add a pinch of salt, and smash the chilis. Add the sliced onion and mix it well. Repeat the same with the garlic cloves and chopped green chilis. Add the mustard oil used for frying the chilis and mix everything.
7. Now, add the boiled lentils and mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Add ½ tbsp of salt and mix it well with the lentil mixture. Finally, add the chopped coriander leaves and mix them in. Drizzle a bit of raw mustard oil into the mixture and mix it up.
(Pro tip: Cool the lentils before mixing, as the taste will enhance based on how well you are mixing it. Raw mustard oil enhances the flavor.)
8. Dal Bhorta is ready. Serve it with steamed rice, paratha, puri, or roti.
(Pro tip: Add the salt & chilis as per your preference.)
Recipe Card:
Dal Bhorta (Mashed Lentils)
Ingredients
- 200 grams Red lentil (cleaned & soaked for 10 mins)
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- 6 cloves Garlic
- 6 pieces Green chili (chopped)
- 1 piece Onion (chopped)
- 1 tbsp Coriander leaves (chopped)
- 3 pieces Dry red chili
- 2 tbsp Mustard oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- At first, put a wok on the gas stove and heat it up. Then, add 1 cup of water and simmer it.
- Add the lentils and turmeric, and mix everything well. Now, let the red lentils boil and discard any foam forming while they are boiling, using a spatula.
- Once the lentils are boiled, make them thick. Turn off the flame and let them cool.
- Next, add 1 ½ tbsp of oil to the wok and let it heat up. When the oil is hot, add the dry red chilis and sauté them. Once they are done, take them out of the wok and keep them aside.
- Now, add the garlic cloves to the wok and sauté them lightly. Add the chopped green chilis and sauté them as well. When they are lightly fried, turn off the flame.(Pro tip: Do not over-fry the garlic cloves, or the aroma will disappear.)
- Take the fried red chilis, remove the stems, add a pinch of salt, and smash the chilis. Add the sliced onion and mix it well. Repeat the same with the garlic cloves and chopped green chilis. Add the mustard oil used for frying the chilis and mix everything.
- Now, add the boiled lentils and mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Add ½ tbsp of salt and mix it well with the lentil mixture. Finally, add the chopped coriander leaves and mix them in. Drizzle a bit of raw mustard oil into the mixture and mix it up.(Pro tip: Cool the lentils before mixing, as the taste will enhance based on how well you are mixing it. Raw mustard oil enhances the flavor.)
- Dal Bhorta is ready. Serve it with steamed rice, paratha, puri, or roti.(Pro tip: Add the salt & chilis as per your preference.)
Video
Notes
- It is crucial to pick the right type of lentils to make this dish. The best variety to use is the yellow or red lentils. These lentils get cooked quickly and offer a rich and creamy texture.
- Clean the lentils by rinsing under running water thoroughly until the water is clear. Soak them in cold water for about half an hour. This will make the lentils softer and take less time to cook.
- Boil the lentils in a pot or pressure cooker until there are soft enough to mash easily. Add enough water for it along with a bit of turmeric powder and salt. This will add to the taste, color, and flavor of the dish. Drain the excess water using a strainer when they are boiled perfectly.
- You can leave a few chunks of lentils or make a smooth paste of it according to your like. I avoid using a mixture grinder or food processor as that will liquify the lentils.
