🫕 Dal Makhani Recipe: Creamy Restaurant-Style (2026)

Dal makhani is India's most famous lentil dish — black urad dal slow-cooked for hours until creamy, enriched with butter, cream and tomatoes. This recipe brings restaurant magic home.

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 1 cup whole black urad dal, 1/4 cup red kidney beans — soaked overnight
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• 4 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp cream
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp each: cumin, garam masala, red chili
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Pressure-cook soaked dal and beans with salt for 6-7 whistles until soft.

2. In butter, sauté ginger-garlic, add tomato puree and spices. Cook 10 minutes.

3. Add dal, simmer on low 45 minutes, stirring often. Mash some dal for creaminess.

4. Finish with cream and a knob of butter. The longer it simmers, the better.

Tips

• Overnight soaking is non-negotiable for creamy texture.
• A tiny pinch of sugar balances the tomatoes.
• Serve with jeera rice or tandoori roti.

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