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Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry

Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry blends earthy brown and red lentils with garlic, cumin, and warm spices for a balanced, gently spiced bowl. A quick onion tempering and a splash of milk add depth and a lightly creamy finish. Perfect as a cozy weeknight dinner or a comforting side with rice or flatbread.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook40 mins
  • Serves2
  • DifficultyEasy
Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

57 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
57 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
29 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
93 / 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.

60
Heart Health
48
Metabolic
56
Digestive
27
Inflammatory
30
Performance
57
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Soak brown and red lentils in plenty of cool water for 1 hour to overnight, then drain and rinse.

  2. 2

    Place the drained lentils in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the water, then the garlic, salt, coriander, cayenne, and turmeric. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.

  3. 3

    While the lentils cook, melt the clarified butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until golden brown. Stir in the cumin and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  4. 4

    Stir the onions and milk into the lentils and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes, then sprinkle with cilantro to serve.

About This Recipe

Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry is made with 13 ingredients and serves 2. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Butter, Cayenne Pepper, Fresh Cilantro, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 593.28 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry made of?
The main ingredients are Butter, Cayenne Pepper, Fresh Cilantro, Garlic, Ground Coriander. The full list of 13 is above.
How long does it take to make Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry?
About 55 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 593.28 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 13 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry healthy?
Pakistani Dal Lentil Curry has an easyChef Pro health score of 57/100. Per serving, it provides 593.28 calories and 10.02 g of protein, or 20% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 8.3 g (42% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 19.89 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, 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.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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