Mung Bean Dhal
21g protein
The spices are toasted in oil for a full minute before the tomatoes arrive, and that minute is not a formality. Cumin, turmeric, coriander and garam masala are fat-soluble — bloomed in hot oil they open up, tipped into liquid they stay flat and slightly powdery.
Mung beans get soaked and then boiled separately before they join anything else. Cooked straight in the tomato, the acid stops them softening and they stay stubbornly firm however long you wait.
The last fifteen to twenty minutes are where it becomes dhal rather than beans in sauce. The beans start breaking down and thickening the pot themselves, so stir occasionally and let it go. Sixty-five minutes, 21 g of protein.
Ingredients
dhal
- 200 g mung beans
- 400 g canned crushed tomatoes
- 250 ml coconut milk
- 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tbsp turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tbsp ground coriander
serve with
- 1 handful fresh coriander leaves
dhal
- 1 tbsp garam masala
serve with
- 200 g basmati rice
dhal
- 20 g ginger, grated
How to make it
- Rinse the mung beans thoroughly and soak them in plenty of cold water for at least 2 hours, or overnight if possible.
- Rinse the soaked beans under running water and transfer them to a large pot. Cover with about 1 liter of water. Bring to a boil and cook for 20–25 minutes, until they expand and become tender. Then drain and rinse with clean water.
- In the same pot, heat rapeseed oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent and starts to turn lightly golden.
- Next, add the grated garlic and ginger. Sauté the aromatics, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute until the raw smell of garlic disappears.
- Add all the spices—cumin, turmeric, ground coriander, chili flakes, salt and garam masala. Mix well and sauté, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Then pour in the canned tomatoes and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked mung beans and pour the coconut milk into the dhal. Mix everything well and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the beans begin to break down into a thick, creamy consistency, about 15–20 minutes. Taste and season with salt as needed.
- Serve hot over basmati rice, topped with fresh coriander leaves.
Nutrition
950Calories
21 gProtein
124 gCarbs
44 gFat
14 gFiber
per serving