Misti Chola Dal: Sweet And Spicy Dish

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Chana dal is a famous Indian side dish that is enjoyed with both rice and roti. Made with pulses or grams, dal is a very delicious and healthy dish. We ideally make a salty and spicy chala dal. But, as Durga Puja is around the corner, we would love to share few famous Bengali delicacies.

In Bengal, chana (Bengal gram) is known as chola. Traditional Bengali recipe of making chola dal required sugar too! Yes, misti chola dal (sweet chana dal) is a 'sweet n spicy' Bengali side dish recipe that is served with steaming rice or plain rotis. Let us take a look at the recipe to prepare misti chana dal recipe.

Misti chola dal, Bengali recipe:

Serves: 2-3
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients

• Chana dal- 1 cup
• Coconut- ¼ cup (grated or cut into small pieces)
• Green chillies- 2 (chopped)
• Ginger paste- 1tsp
• Cardamom (Elaichi)- 2
• Cinnamon (Dalchini)- 1 inch
• Clove- 2
• Turmeric powder- 1tsp
• Sugar- 1tsp
• Raisins- 4-5
• Dry red chillies- 2
• Hing- a pinch
• Cumin seeds- ½ tsp
• Bay leaf- 1
• Salt- as per taste
• Ghee- 2tsp

Procedure

• Wash chana dal in water and soak for 15 minutes.
• In a pressure cooker, add chana dal with water. Add ¼ tsp salt and turmeric. Mix and then pressure cook for 3-4 whistles. Let the pressure release from the cooker.
• Meanwhile, heat ghee in a frying pan. Add bay leaf, cumin seeds, hing, dry red chilli, clove, cardamom and cinnamon. Stir on a low flame for few seconds.
• Add grated or cut coconut in the frying pan with raisins, green chillies, ginger paste, sugar and little salt (as dal water also has salt). Saute well and cook for 2 minutes on a low flame.
• When the sugar melts, add the boiled dal with water. Bring it to boil. If water is less, you can add little more and let it evaporate. When the dal becomes thick, put the pan off flame.

Misti chola dal is ready. Serve it hot with roti or rice.