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    Bhatt ki Dal

    Yum

    Updated on January 29, 2021 By Shalini 14 Comments - This post contains affiliate links which means if you use them to make a purchase, I'll earn enough money to maybe buy me a lil' something - an ingredient, probably.

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    Bhatt ki Dal is a simple yet nutritious curry from the beautiful hills of Uttarakhand. It is a traditional recipe from Kumaon region made with Bhatt or Black Soybean.

    Bhatt ki Dal recipe in english - benefits of black soybean

    Husband and I consider it a blessing to have our posting in the 'Land of Gods' aka 'Devbhoomi'- Uttarakhand for the last three years. We were in the Garhwal region before and are now in Kumaon.

    Garhwal Vs Kumaon

    Uttarakhand can be broadly classified into Garhwal and Kumaon sectors. While the prominent Hindu pilgrimage destinations like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath lie in Garhwal, Kumaon region is all decked up with places like Nainital, Almora, Haldwani, Ranikhet, Pithoragarh, and Dharchula.

    While the food is outright delicious, the Garhwali and Kumaoni cuisine are different from each other. The Paharis (or Pahadi are those who live in the lower ranges of Himalayas) believe in easy to prepare recipes. Due to the extreme weather conditions, the Kumaoni cuisine focuses on ingredients that are high in energy and recipes that are simple but nutritious.

    My maid is a super sweet girl. When she got me Bhatt ki Dal, I was clueless. I didn't know how to use it, Argh! Forget the usage! I didn't even know what it was. I'm sure many of you haven't heard of it either and is quite spaced out about the food of Kumaon which hosts some unique and impressive herbs, spices and ingredients.

    And that's exactly why I thought I should do my bit in bringing the taste of Uttarakhand to you all.

    Yup. You needn't be a gourmet traveler to experience the endless delicacies that Uttarakhand has to offer. Follow this space for the distinct flavor of the Pahaari cuisine.

    Bhatt ki Dal - Bhatt ki Churkani - Uttarakhand recipe - Kumaoni food
    My maid was elated when I request her to hand model for me! 🙂

    Bhatt ki Dal Vs Bhatt ki Churdkani

    Bhatt ki dal is the organic black soybeans which are cultivated here, in the high rises of Uttarakhand. Using this humble ingredient, different foods are prepared, where Bhatt ki Dal and Bhatt ki Chudkani/Churdkani are the two most iconic dishes from Kumaoni cuisine.

    The difference between the Dal and Chudkani (pronounced as Churkani) lies in the process of preparation. In Churdkani, the lentil is first fried in oil while in Dal, you soak it overnight and temper once cooked. Also, the Churdkani is watery, unlike Dal which is thick in texture.

    Dals are like staple diet in Kumaoni cuisine. Usually, the lentils are soaked overnight before cooking. Cooking is mainly done in iron pans or Lohe ki kadai. The taste and composition of the food are enhanced when you cook in iron pans. You would need very less oil, it can withstand high temperature and you needn't worry about breaking it as it is heavy.

    Ghee is used for tempering as it helps in digestion of these coarse and fibrous grains. You can always use oil instead of ghee.

    Bhatt ki Dal- benefits of black soyabeans - how to make bhatt ki dal

    Benefits of Black Soybean

    Known for its high protein and fiber content, black soybeans or Bhatt ki dal also has excellent health benefits, including managing diabetes, strengthening bones, lowering blood pressure, healthy digestion and weight loss. It is also a great source of Vitamin E and amino acids which helps in keeping the skin healthy, build muscle and maintain the health of your hair. Studies also show that consuming black soybeans improves the chances of pregnancy.

    How to Prepare Bhatt ki Dal?

     how to make bhatt k idal- step by step instructionsSoak Bhatt ki Dal for a few hours or overnight. You can find the water turn black by now.
     how to make bhatt k idal- step by step instructions2Grind to a paste using little or no water.
     how to make bhatt k idal- step by step instructions3In a pan, add ghee/oil, asafoetida and splutter cumin seeds. Saute chopped ginger, garlic and green chilies.
     how to make bhatt k idal- step by step instructions4Add onion and its time for masalas. Add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and garam masala and saute for a few minutes.
     how to make bhatt k idal- step by step instructions5Stir in few tablespoons of wheat flour and cook till it turns light brown.
     how to make bhatt k idal- step by step instructions6Add the ground dal and mix well. Pour about three cups of water, mix and simmer until the curry thickens.

    Temper cumin seeds in ghee and then remove from fire. Serve hot with rice.

    Bhatt ki Dal Recipe:

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    Bhatt ki Dal recipe in english - benefits of black soybean

    Bhatt ki Dal


    ★★

    1.8 from 4 reviews

    • Total Time: 0 hours
    • Yield: 4 1x
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    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup of Bhatt ki Dal or Black Soybean
    • 3 tablespoons Ghee
    • ½ tablespoon cumin seeds
    • a pinch of Asafoetida (hing)
    • ½ teaspoon each of finely chopped Ginger and Garlic
    • 3 green chilies, finely chopped
    • 1 Onion, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon Red chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon Coriander powder
    • ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
    • ½ tablespoon Garam masala
    • ¼ cup Wheat flour
    • 3 cups of water
    • Salt, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Soak Bhatt ki Dal for a few hours or overnight. You can find the water turn black by now. Wash the dal and grind to a paste using little(about ¼ cup) or no water. 
    2. In a pan, add ghee/oil, asafoetida and splutter cumin seeds.
    3. Saute chopped ginger, garlic, green chilies, and onion until the onion is cooked through.
    4. Add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and garam masala. Saute for a few minutes.
    5. Add wheat flour and mix well. Cook until it turns light brown.
    6. Add the ground dal and mix until the dal is coated with all the ingredients.
    7. Pour about three cups of water, add salt and mix. Simmer until the curry thickens. This would take about thirty minutes.
    8. Temper with cumin seeds in ghee and then remove from fire. Serve hot with rice.
    • Prep Time: 0 hours
    • Cook Time: 0 hours
    • Category: Accompaniment
    • Cuisine: Kumaoni/Indian

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    In my opinion, Bhatt ki dal tastes more or less like the green gram dal or curry. Served best with rice, it is rich and filling. Kumaonis are not fond of tomatoes in their food. While teaching me this recipe, my maid made sure that I omitted tomatoes. You can, however, add one finely chopped tomato after cooking the onions.

    You can get Bhatt ki Dal from Amazon.

    How to prepare Bhatt ki Dal Pinterest somethingiscooking.com Kumaoni cuisine

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    *This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you buy on the site through this link, I will get a referral fee, at no additional cost to you. If you do use the link, thank you for your support.
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    About Shalini

    Namaste! I'm Shalini, the blogger behind Something's Cooking(since 2014). I share only our best, family approved recipes with YOU because I've tried and tested every recipe published on this blog. You can find easy Keto, low-carb recipes, and authentic Indian recipes including South Indian (Kerala) foods. You can rest assured that Indian cooking will be made easy. Thanks for stopping by! I'm so happy you're here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suman says

      August 26, 2019 at 5:22 pm

      I grew up in NainiTal and left only in 1969 when got married and came to USA. Never saw this dal in the market and never heard of this recipe. Saw black beans here in USA only after being here for a few years. I will try this recipe . thanks

      Reply
    2. Keerthi Vydyula says

      December 18, 2017 at 1:43 pm

      This is an interesting recipe Shalini. I never knew that dal is made out of soya beans as well!

      Reply
    3. Soumya says

      December 14, 2017 at 5:45 pm

      The idea of using wheat flour to thicken it and add texture is brilliant! The color is so vibrant and this sure looks like a bowl of comfort 🙂

      Reply
    4. Esha says

      December 13, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      It looks delicious! Thanks for bringing this to us...never knew about this dal or the recipe! I might try to savour this if I ever happen to visit Kumaon someday!

      Reply
    5. Natasha says

      December 13, 2017 at 12:12 pm

      I just died and went to heaven, just ogling at the pictures Shalzz.

      This is such a unique daal recipe. Must try I feel.

      Thank you for sharing it with us.

      Reply
    6. Nabanita Dhar says

      December 13, 2017 at 9:27 am

      My mouth is watering by just looking at it! I'm going to try this one of these days.

      And also, you I love the food pictures you take. Very tempting they are 🙂

      Reply
    7. Rachna Parmar says

      December 13, 2017 at 9:21 am

      I had never heard of this dal before and the recipe is so different from the normal way of cooking lentils. I doubt if we can source this dal here. But, it surely was lovely reading about a unique recipe from Uttarakhand.

      Reply
    8. SHALINI BAISIWALA says

      December 11, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      Another yummy and healthy recipe Shalzzz; I have had this dal on one of my trips to Kumaon sometime back when we opted for a traditional meal at one of the local cafes - it was super yum!! I love the khada masala they put it and use of cloves and fennel is a surpride for me! Thanks for sharing this
      BTW loving the snowflakes- hope you are seeing snow there yet?

      Reply
    9. Shinjini says

      December 11, 2017 at 7:36 pm

      What a great idea - to being the flavours of Kumaon cuisine to us! I’ve never heard of this daal before, but it sounds both nutritious and yummy!

      Reply
    10. Rajlakshmi says

      December 11, 2017 at 3:34 pm

      It looks so delicious... I love all kinds of dal but have never tried this one before. Thanks for this detailed recipe. You photos are so well captured.

      Reply
    11. Surbhi Prapanna says

      December 09, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      this seems like an interesting and nutritious recipe, I had not heard about black soybean before, thanks for sharing this with us, would definitely try it.

      Reply
    12. Kala Ravi says

      December 09, 2017 at 4:41 pm

      What an authentic and hearty recipe! Seems mouth-watering and easy to prepare. Thanks for introducing us to this lovely indigenous foodgrain. We need to propagate such unsung heroes of Indian origin rather than let the quinoa, chia and others take over!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Chicken Peralan | Kerala Style Dry Roasted Chicken #GFTR2018 says:
      June 10, 2018 at 11:24 pm

      […] Bhatt ki Dal and Aloo ke Gutke from Kumaoni cuisine of Uttarakhand which I shared a couple of months ago? These […]

      Reply
    2. Aloo ke Gutke | Pahari Aloo | Traditional Uttarakhand Dish says:
      February 24, 2018 at 11:38 am

      […] I shared Bhatt ki Dal, another popular dish from the region, I had mentioned the difference between the two famous […]

      Reply

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