Dal Bukhara Recipe

Dal Bukhara Recipe

November 25, 2022
Prep Time : 8 hrs
Cook Time : 2 hrs
Total Time : 10 hrs
 

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups whole black gram or whole urad dal (black matpe, urad bean)
  • 250 grams tomatoes or 3 medium to large tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons Ginger Garlic Paste or 1 inch ginger + 4 to 5 medium garlic cloves- crushed finely in a mortar-pestle
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder or deghi mirch – if using a hotter variety then use ½ teaspoon
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 90 to 100 grams white butter or regular butter – about 6 to 7 tablespoons white butter
  • 7 to 8 tablespoon light cream or 25% to 30% fat or 3 to 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 4.5 to 5 cups water for pressure cooking the lentils
  • 1 to 1.5 cup water – to be added later
  • 1 inch ginger – julienned for garnish, optional
  • 1 tablespoon butter or cream for garnishing, optional
  • salt as required
 

Instructions

Preparation

  • Soak the lentils in enough water overnight or for 7 to 8 hours.
  • Drain them later and rinse a couple of times. Transfer the lentils to a 3 or 4 litre pressure cooker.
  • Add 4.5 to 5 cups water and pressure cook the lentils for 16 to 18 whistles or about 18 to 20 minutes on medium heat.
  • When the lentils are getting cooked, make a fine, smooth puree of the tomatoes in a blender and crush the ginger and garlic to a paste in mortar-pestle.

Making dal bukhara

  • When the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid of the pressure cooker.
  • Then add the ginger-garlic paste, tomato puree, Kashmiri red chili powder, butter, cream and salt. Also add 1 to 1.5 cups of water.
  • Stir very well and keep the pressure cooker on low heat, without its lid on. Let the dal simmer for about 1 hour or 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • Keep stirring often, so that the lentils don’t stick at the bottom of the cooker. Also mash some of the lentils while stirring.
  • If the dal becomes thick, then add some hot water. Once done, check the taste and add more red chili powder or salt if required.
  • Lastly sprinkle garam masala powder and stir well.
  • While serving Dal Bukhara, dot with butter or cream. Garnish with ginger juliennes (optional).
  • Serve hot with jeera rice or with Indian flatbreads like naan, paratha or roti.

Notes

How to bring charcoal flavor in Dal Bukhara

  1. Secure firmly a small piece of coal between tongs.
  2. Heat it in the flame till it becomes red hot.
  3. Now place the red hot coal in a small steel bowl. Place this bowl on top of the cooked Dal Bukhara in the cooker.
  4. Pour a few teaspoons of ghee (oil or butter) on the coal and quickly cover the lid of the cooker tightly.
  5. Keep for a few minutes and then open the lid. If you want a pronounced charcoal flavor in the Dal Bukhara, then you have to keep for a few minutes more.

Instant Pot Dal Bukhara

  • Transfer the rinsed and soaked lentils to a steel insert of an 8 quart Instant pot. Add 4.5 cups water or as needed. Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. 
  • After the pressure cooking is complete allow for natural pressure release. So wait for 18 to 20 minutes. Later lift the pressure valve to check if there is any pressure or steam. Open the lid.
  • Add in the tomato puree, ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder, cream, butter, salt and water as needed. 
  • Mix thoroughly. Press the sauté function and simmer lentils for about 12 to 15 minutes or more until you get the desired consistency which is nether thick or thin. Stir often so as to ensure that the lentils do not get stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  • Lastly add the garam masala powder and mix well. While serving garnish with some cream or dot with butter. 

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