Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils)
Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils) features black lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans cooked until luxuriously soft, then folded into a spiced onion-tomato masala. Butter and a touch of yogurt round it out with a silky, rich finish, while fresh cilantro brightens each bite. Ideal for a cozy dinner alongside rice or warm flatbreads.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook25 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 62 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 22 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 53
- Heart Health
- 90
- Metabolic
- 54
- Digestive
- 41
- Inflammatory
- 42
- Performance
- 55
- General Wellness
- 1
Put black lentils, chickpeas, and red kidney beans in a large container, cover them with several inches of cool water, and let them soak for 6 hours to overnight.
- 2
Transfer the lentil mixture and its soaking liquid to a pressure cooker. Bring to high pressure as directed by the manufacturer and cook until soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and release the pressure using the natural release method per the manufacturer's instructions.
- 3
Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, and cumin seeds; cook and stir until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes; cook and stir until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the ground coriander, garam masala, red chile powder, turmeric, and salt.
- 4
Fold the onion mixture into the cooked lentil mixture. Add the butter, yogurt, and cilantro leaves; stir to combine.
- Calories 323.5 kcal Moderate 16%
- Protein 10.54 g Good Source 21%
- Carbohydrate 55.1 g 20%
- Total Fat 6.11 g Moderate 8%
- Saturated Fat 2.04 g Moderate 10%
- Trans Fat 0.04 g High --
- Cholesterol 6.9 mg Low Source 2%
- Sodium 424.41 mg Moderate 18%
- Dietary Fiber 13.6 g Good Source 49%
- Total Sugars 6.27 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 139.39 mg Moderate 11%
- Iron 3.49 mg Moderate 19%
- Potassium 612.43 mg Moderate 13%
- Vitamin A 147.86 mcg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin C 32.72 mg Good Source 36%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils) is an Indian side dish recipe made with 17 ingredients. It takes about 50 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Butter, Chana Dal, Chili Powder, and Diced Tomatoes. Each serving provides about 323.5 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils)?
- It is an Indian recipe made with 17 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils) made of?
- The main ingredients are Butter, Chana Dal, Chili Powder, Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Cilantro. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils)?
- About 50 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 323.5 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils) healthy?
- Makhani Daal (Buttery Lentils) has an easyChef Pro health score of 58/100. Per serving, it provides 323.5 calories and 10.54 g of protein, or 21% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 424.41 mg (18% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 2.04 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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