• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Browse Recipes
    • Latest
    • By Category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • SUBSCRIBE
Holy Cow Vegan
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Latest recipes
  • Browse by category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home > Indian Vegan Recipes > Dal Recipes

    Cholar Dal

    Posted: Jun 12, 2014 ยท Updated: Mar 28, 2022

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Cholar Dal is a Bengali dal made for special occasions. It is nutty with chana dal and rather mellow, with a hint of sweetness from coconut and raisins.

    Photo of Bengali cholar dal in a steel karahi slices of dry coconut and cilantro.

    Recipes for Cholar Dal almost always start off by alerting you that this is a dish for special occasions, served at Bengali weddings or other life events.

    Its simplicity, though, tempts one to break that hallowed tradition and label this a dal perfect for weeknight meals. In fact, that's exactly what I am going to do without taking away one bit from its Superdal status.

    Cholar Dal stands apart from other dals because, for one, it starts out with chana dal or split Bengal gram dal, a lentil that often features in Bengali cooking but is not used as much to make dals by the rest of India as, say, tuvar dal or masoor dal or moong dal are.

    Chana dal is nuttier than its counterparts, which is the reason why you'll often find it in Indian sweets. When cooked, it holds its shape better than other lentils which reduce to a sludge, giving the dish a prettier look.

    Front photo of Cholar Dal in a kadhai bowl with slivers of coconut and cilantro on a white napkin

    For another, Cholar Dal tastes quite unlike any other dal, with raisins and jaggery adding a hit of unexpected but delicious sweetness.  And then there's the richness from the coconut which makes the dal creamy and luscious and quite out of this world.

    But for me, a huge part of what makes Cholar Dal so special is that it takes all of a few minutes to make, at least after you've got your lentils all cooked and tender. There's no grinding of masalas here to add precious minutes to a weeknight cooking project. Just get some spices out of a jar, toss them into the saucepan, and you're done. In fact, as you lick off that spoon in the end you might feel just a little guilty that you're getting so much deliciousness for so little work.

    Cholar Dal is typically eaten with luchis -- small, puffy, wheat breads that are deep fried and are a lot like pooris. But the dal is equally delicious with some rice. Try it either way-- or both ways. Hurry.

    Looking for more Indian dal recipes?

    • Vegan Dal Makhani
    • Rajasthani Panchmel Dal
    • Tomato Dal
    • Dal Tadka
    • Dal Bukhara

    CHOLAR DAL RECIPE

    Overhead shot of Bengali cholar dal in a steel bowl with coconut and cilantro
    Cholar Dal

    Cholar Dal

    Cholar Dal is a nutty, delicious dal made by India's Bengali community. It's a mellow dal with a hint of sweetness from coconut and raisins. Vegan, soy-free, nut-free and gluten-free.
    4.84 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Dal
    Cuisine: Indian, Indian (Bengali)
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Bengai cholar dal
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 45 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 124kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup chana dal or Bengal gram lentils
    • ยผ teaspoon turmeric
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
    • ยผ teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
    • 4 cloves
    • 3 green cardamom pods
    • 1- inch stick cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
    • ยผ cup golden raisins
    • ยผ cup coconut milk
    • 2 tablespoon coconut sugar or jaggery
    • 3-4 slivers of fresh coconut, optional , optional
    • Salt to taste
    • ยผ cup cilantro chopped
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a pressure cooker or in a saucepan, combine the lentils with bay leaves and turmeric. If you're cooking in a saucepan, cover the lentils with an inch of water, bring to a boil, and let the lentils cook at a simmer, covered. Check frequently to ensure they don't dry up and add more water if needed. Cook the lentils until they are really soft and tender.
    • In a saucepan, heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds and, when they sputter, add the cloves, cardamom and cinnamon. Saute a minute until the cardamom looks puffy, then add the slivers of coconut, if using, and saute until they get lightly golden brown.
    • Add the raisins and ginger, saute for 30 seconds, then add the cooked dal. Stir well to mix. Add some water if the dal is too dry. You want it to have a thicker consistency than most dals do, but not so thick that it's dry.
    • Add the jaggery and coconut milk and heat the dal through.
    • Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 72mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
    Follow Holy Cow Vegan on Instagram
    Partial shot of Bengali Cholar Dal in a karahi with cilantro and coconut.
    « Keema Wrap (vegan)
    Vegan Banana Chia Cake with Crumb Topping »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gauri

      May 07, 2021 at 3:56 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for this delicious recipe, Vaishali! It's easily one of my favourites, and I've lost count of the number of times I've made it ๐Ÿ˜€ Yours is one of my favourite food blogs too!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 08, 2021 at 6:40 pm

        Hi Gauri, that is so lovely to hear. Thanks for those kind words, and for letting me know you loved the dal! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Nabeeha

      April 15, 2020 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this at home in DC for kids' lunch - because what we know is that most South Asians is that may of us are overflowing with daal and basmati rice, which makes for great food security in times of crisis. ๐Ÿ™‚ I wanted to let you know that I added sweetened shredded coconut (the kind in the baking aisle). I am a fan of coconut and didn't have any unsweetened shredded - I also didn't have to add sugar or jaggery as the sweetened coconut was enough. I added it to the pan where I was cooking the bay leaves, mustard seeds, etc. then added to the daal mix. Delicious stuff and thank you!

      Reply
    3. Nicolette Chartier

      June 18, 2018 at 7:21 am

      Hi Vaishali, I just put together the ingredients in this recipe and am now simmering everything. please review this recipe, there are some inconsistencies between the ingredients list and the directions. not sure if I was supposed to add cloves or not so I did. love your recipes!

      Reply
    4. Paul

      September 10, 2016 at 12:04 pm

      Looks like a fantastic recipe. But can you really feed 8 people with 1 cup chana dal? Im going to make dal for 15 people, nit sure how much to use?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        September 10, 2016 at 1:24 pm

        I would use 2 1/2 cups. Remember it's dry dal you start out with and will expand.

        Reply
    5. Monique

      October 10, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      What an amazing recipe! Who knew you could fry raisins?! Thank you very much. And I'm curious, how did your dog help you to become vegan? Because you love him so much, and he's an animal, so you can't conceive of eating other animals either? Just slap me down if you think I'm being too nosy...

      Reply
      • Vaishali Honawar

        January 21, 2015 at 10:59 pm

        Hi Monique, yes, it was my first dog, Lucy, who set me on the vegan path, and it was because when I lived with her I started to realize just how smart and sensitive animals are. It felt hypocritical loving Lucy so much, and contributing to killing other animals-- probably just as smart and sweet-- so I could eat them.

        Reply
    6. Ruth

      July 21, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      I finally got around to making this over the weekend and it will be my new favourite and quick (thanks to the pressure cooker) go-to meals. I doubled the recipe (but not the coconut milk) and left out the jaggery to cut down sugar. It is still richly satisfying and oh so delicious. Thank you so much for this recipe.

      Reply
    7. Rosalie Livingstone

      June 30, 2014 at 12:47 am

      5 stars
      I made this for lunch today and really enjoyed it! I cooked the dhal in a pressure cooker and it took 6 minutes. I had the dhal ready before the rice was cooked! I'm going to write this up on my blog with a link back to your recipe as I enjoyed it so much. Thanks for all your inspiration, I've never been great at Indian cooking and since discovering your blog I've lifted my game a lot! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        July 02, 2014 at 12:29 am

        Rosalie, so happy you enjoyed the dal, and thanks for letting me know. ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks also for your kind words.

        Reply
        • Rosalie Livingstone

          July 13, 2014 at 8:39 pm

          Hi Vaishali , just to let you know I wrote this up on my blog today, with credit to you and a link to your blog, so I hope you get some traffic from it. ๐Ÿ™‚

          Reply
    8. Sims

      June 15, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Hi! I just made this recipe for my packed lunch for the week. I have to say that I am so excited for this week because it tastes so good. When I was making the recipe, I noticed that you did not mention where to include the grated ginger while cooking. I added mine just after adding the coconut milk and it seems fine. Anyway, thank you for such a lovely recipe. I am really glad I have discovered your blog.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 16, 2014 at 4:41 pm

        Hi Sims, sorry about that-- you'd add the ginger with the raisins. I've added it to the recipe now. Glad you worked it out, and so glad you tried the dal! It is definitely one of my favorites. Happy lunches! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    9. Sheela

      June 13, 2014 at 8:30 pm

      Hello Vaishali,

      Happy to see many new blog posts. This Dal post of yours reminded me of your whole masoor dal with toasted spices recipe as I tried it vey recently. Although, had bookmarked the recipe a while ago.
      The recipe was so delicious. It took very less time to cook as well. I am a sucker for such short and sweet recipes.

      Thanks for sharing!

      A big hug!
      Sheels

      BTW I barely get to read about our four legged friends...All good?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 13, 2014 at 8:52 pm

        Hi Sheela, how lovely you tried that masoor dal. It was one of the first posts I put up on Holy Cow-- more than 6 years ago -- and that remains one of my favorite dals to make. I can slurp it up by the bowlful. ๐Ÿ™‚ I am a sucker for short and sweet recipes too. A big hug right back to you. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Indhu

      June 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm

      Hi Vaishali,

      I haven't commented in a long time. I still check your site frequently for recipe inspiration. Had to stop and say hi and thank you for the changes you have made to your site. Looks very nice and loads up fast. For a while it would load really slow and that had been my only issue. One more thing, there have been a few times when I have wanted a particular recipe and it would so happen you would have posted just a day prior! One that comes to mind is the pecan pie. I haven't tried it yet but will one of these days.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 13, 2014 at 8:55 pm

        Hi Indhu, so lovely to hear from you again, and I love the feedback-- thank you! I am happy the pages are loading faster. That was exactly what I was hoping for, so readers would have a better experience. And what a sweet coincidence that I was almost reading your mind on the recipes. ๐Ÿ™‚ Well, you've got no excuse-- go, get cooking! Haha. ๐Ÿ™‚ Just kidding.

        Reply
    11. Meg

      June 13, 2014 at 1:53 am

      Hello Vaishali,
      Your things are always inspiring and i haven't had a flavour failure yet! Good pics too, thx Desi
      Looking forward to cooking with you both lots more
      Warm wishes from Meg in NZ

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 13, 2014 at 11:33 am

        Hi Meg, thanks so much for your kind words, and a big hug to you! ๐Ÿ™‚ I will be sure to share your compliment with Desi, and hope you will try some of the recipes at Holy Cow!

        Reply
    12. glutenfreehappytummy

      June 12, 2014 at 8:58 pm

      sounds so delicious!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 13, 2014 at 11:33 am

        Thanks!

        Reply
    13. Raquel @ My California Roots

      June 12, 2014 at 7:54 pm

      I really just need to get out of my comfort zone and start making your food because it all just sounds so delicious! I'm just scared of the foreign-to-me Dal's! Maybe this weekend.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 13, 2014 at 11:35 am

        Hi Raquel, As much as I cook, I struggle with getting out of my comfort zone too at times, often because of a bad memory of a food or because I am not sure how something will taste. Dals are a great way to "break into" Indian cooking. They are usually simple and always delicious. This one's super easy, so it would be great to start with. Happy cooking! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    14. Toya

      June 12, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      5 stars
      Hi vaishali,I love this dal preparation so much. I am from Orissa ,and at every festival or family gathering,channa dal is cooked in different ways .we frequently make it with Indian pumpkin or with lauki. You will be surprised how much channa dal is consumed in Orissa and Bengal. Your recipe is just perfect and just adore your blogsite so much.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 12, 2014 at 4:45 pm

        Hi Toya, you are so sweet-- thanks for your kind words! Chana dal is so amazing and I can see why the folks in Bengal and Orissa love it so much-- I am going to cook with it even more now than I did before, esp. this Cholar Dal. ๐Ÿ™‚ I love the idea of adding pumpkin to it-- seems like the flavors would be perfect together.

        Reply
        • Crystal

          October 15, 2020 at 9:00 pm

          Hi, your response will be too late as Iโ€™m making this tonight but in case I like it..the instructions refer to cloves but there is no mention of cloves in the recipe. Help!

          Reply
          • Vaishali

            October 15, 2020 at 11:15 pm

            Hi Crystal, four cloves--sorry about that,some recent updates to the recipe plugin have caused a few old recipes to drop ingredients. I've updated it now. The dal should still be tasty without them.

            Reply
    15. Lisa H

      June 12, 2014 at 10:42 am

      I just spent a day cooking Indian dishes earlier this week and wish so much I had this recipe! I love dal, which I often eat for breakfast because it is so filling. I am looking forward to trying your version!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 12, 2014 at 4:46 pm

        Hi Lisa, dal for breakfast sounds like a great idea-- can't think of anything healthier to start the day with! And hope you try the dal when you cook Indian next. It's really quite a breeze to make. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

    Leave a comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Picadillo Tacos
    • Vegan Zucchini Pasta
    • Chickpea Rice
    • Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
    • Mexican Tofu with Apricots, Chipotle and Tamarind
    • Vegan Swedish Meatballs

    How to make

    • Dosa Recipe | How to Make Perfect Dosai at Home
    • Easy Mushroom Stock
    • Sambar Powder (Sambar Masala)
    • Roti recipe. How to make the softest Roti/Chapati (step by step with video)
    • Healthy Whole Wheat Vegan Puff Pastry (1/2 the fat)
    • Easy Indian Curry Paste for Restaurant-Style Dishes
    • Vegan Mayo
    • How to Make Curry Powder
    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Muffaletta Casserole
    • Cheezy Vegan Mexican Black Bean Casserole
    • Vegan Indian-Spiced Tofu Casserole
    • Lentil Soup
    • Cauliflower Rice Biryani (Keto + Vegan)
    • Easy Vegetable Curry (One-pot, 30 minutes)

    How to make

    • Vegan Instant Pot Yogurt
    • Air Fryer Tofu
    • Ginger Garlic Paste for Indian Recipes | How to make and store it
    • Garam Masala Recipe
    • How to Make a Sourdough Starter (Easy Step by Step Guide)
    • How to make sauerkraut
    • Gluten Free Sourdough Starter
    • Homemade Biryani Masala Spice Mix

    Footer


    ABOUT HOLYCOWVEGAN

    All Recipes
    Recipe Videos
    About Vaishali
    Privacy Policy

    VEGAN INDIAN RECIPES

    Vegan Dal or Dahl Recipes
    Vegan Curry Recipes
    Indian Vegan Desserts

    VEGAN BAKING RECIPES

    Vegan Bread Recipes
    Vegan Sourdough Recipes
    Vegan Cake Recipes
    Vegan Pie Recipes
    Vegan Cookie Recipes


    As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my full disclosure here.

    ยฉ 2022 Holy Cow Vegan