Chef Kunal Kapur’s dal chutney recipe: A crispy, spicy twist to make everyday meals more interesting

Dal is a staple in many Indian households and is often prepared as part of everyday meals. If you want to give the humble dal a different twist, celebrity chef and MasterChef India judge Kunal Kapur has shared an interesting dal chutney recipe that can be paired with roti, dosa, idli and paratha.

The chef shared the recipe on Instagram and explained how roasted dal, spices and chillies give the chutney a crispy, spicy and slightly nutty flavour.

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A post shared by Kunal Kapur (@chefkunal)

In his caption, he wrote, “Is wali chutney mein dal ko roast karke, masalon aur mirchi ke saath grind karo - and bas, boring khana instantly interesting! Crispy, spicy, thodi nutty aur full desi vibes. Roti, dosa, idli, paratha… honestly, sabke saath iska rishta serious hai.”

Ingredients For Dal Ki Chutney

2 tbsp oil

½ tsp asafoetida (hing)

3 dry red chillies

¼ cup Bengal gram (chana dal)

1 tbsp chopped ginger

A handful of curry leaves

½ tsp turmeric powder

½ cup grated coconut

1 tbsp tamarind paste

Salt to taste

½ cup water

Ingredients For Tadka

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp split black gram (urad dal)

A handful of curry leaves

How To Make Kunal Kapur’s Dal Chutney Recipe

Step 1: Roast the Dal and Spices

Heat oil in a pan and add hing and dry red chillies. Once they begin to splutter, add the chana dal. Roast everything over low heat until the dal turns a golden-brown shade.

Step 2: Add Ginger and Curry Leaves

Add the chopped ginger and curry leaves to the roasted dal. Sauté the mixture well, then add turmeric powder and stir everything together. Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.

Step 3: Grind the Chutney

Transfer the cooled mixture to a mixer grinder. Add grated coconut, tamarind paste, salt and some water. Blend until you get a smooth chutney.

Transfer the prepared chutney to a bowl.

Step 4: Prepare the Tadka

For the tempering, heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, split urad dal and curry leaves. Allow the ingredients to crackle and release their aroma.

Step 5: Finish the Chutney

Pour the hot tadka over the prepared dal chutney and mix lightly.

Your dal chutney is ready to serve. It can be enjoyed with dosa, idli, roti, paratha or other Indian meals.