Instant Dal Mix Recipe | Instant Dal Powder | Gluten Free and Vegan Recipe

Hi Supermoms,

You might have heard of the popular saying ,"Necessity is the mother of invention".

This 'Dal Mix' recipe was born out of necessity. My elder one is away from home for his higher studies.  After a long day , it becomes difficult for him to cook a complete meal. I had taught him how to make a quick cooker sambar and also sent home made sambar podi. It has helped him on many days. But cooking only sambar might get boring. So, this instant dal mix idea was born 😇.

This podi/spice mix is almost like magic. It reduces so much of cooking time and effort. 

All one needs to do is to sauté vegetables  and add this dal mix. Your delicious dal will be ready in just a few minutes. 

I have added more pepper and cumin seeds so that the dal can also be enjoyed as a soup. You can adjust the spice levels according to your taste. Other ingredients like turmeric powder, asafoetida , curry leaves are also added . 

You can make different types of dals using this Dal Mix . It is sure to help those who are pressed for time and students/working professionals who are bored of bland food or restaurant food. 

This recipe will help each and every one of you. Do make a batch today. I will share various ways of using this Dal Mix in the coming days. 

Instant Dal Mix Recipe | Instant Dal Powder :

Cooking time : 20-25 minutes

1 cup = 250 ml cup 

Special vessel : Heavy bottom pan or wok/kadai

Chef Tip : You can make this dal only using one variety of dal also. You can use moong dal or pigeon peas. 

Ingredients :

1 & 1/4 cup pigeon peas/toor dal/ arhar dal

1/4 cup husked and split green gram/moong dal 

1/2 cup coriander seeds/dhania

1/4 cup black peppercorns ( you can reduce the quantity, if you want less spice)

1/4 cup cumin seeds/jeera

5-6 dry red chillies

1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

handful of curry leaves ( washed and pat dried)( optional)

1/2 cup grated dry coconut ( optional) ( I skipped) 

2 teaspoons rock salt 

1 teaspoon dry ginger powder  ( no frying required)

1/2 teaspoon asafoetida ( no frying required)

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder ( no frying required)

1 teaspoon oil ( I used sesame oil)

Method :

1. Heat a heavy bottom pan and dry roast each ingredient separately till they are lightly brown and fragrant. 

Chef tip : Cook over low flame only and keep stirring to avoid the ingredients from burning. 

2. Only for dry red chillies, add oil and then fry them.

3. Once all the ingredients are roasted, switch off and add the salt to the hot pan and stir for a few seconds and add it to the other roasted ingredients.

4. Once they cool, transfer all the roasted ingredients to the jar of a mixer/mixie, add turmeric powder, asafoetida, dry ginger powder and grind them into a fine powder.

5. Transfer the Instant Dal Mix to a wide bowl and allow it to completely cool.

6. Once cooled, add them to a clean, dry, odour free container .

Your Instant Dal Mix is now ready !!

Happy Cooking !

With love,

Masterchefmom