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Chana Dal with Lauki

4.36 from 14 votes
Total: 40 minutes
Serves 4 SERVINGS

Enjoy your daily dose of protein and fiber in this Chana Dal with Lauki recipe. This is a gluten-free dish made with Split Yellow Chickpea Lentils and Bottle gourd. A healthy and comforting meal that perfect for busy weeknights! In addition to that, it’s super easy to make, tasty, and can be adapted easily to suit the vegan diet.

Chana dal with lauki in a bowl

Chana Dal with Lauki is an excellent combination of lentil and vegetable. Split yellow chickpea lentils or Chana dal when cooked with boiled bottle gourd makes it a nutritional delight.

Nutritional Value of Chana Dal with Lauki!

Bottle gourd also referred to as lauki, dudhi, or gheeya, has many medicinal properties. Due to its high fiber content lauki helps cure acidity, indigestion, and constipation. 

Chana dal is good for diabetic patients because it has a low glycemic index and is rich in protein – 25.4 grams of protein, zinc, and fiber.

Chana Dal ingredient

About Chana Dal with Lauki!

Chana dal with lauki is an everyday dal that is prepared in nearly every Indian household. Because of its rich nutritional content, I try to include chana dal with lauki in my meal plan every other week.

Lauki or bottle gourd may not appeal to your kids. Therefore, to make it more appealing for your kids, mash the boiled lauki and mix it in the dal.

Trust me, once they taste chana dal with lauki, their taste buds will crave for more and they will come asking for more. 

Can I cook this Dal without the pressure cooker?

Of course, you can! If cooking without a pressure cooker, then soak the chana dal for 3-4 hours and then boil it in a pan for 30-40 minutes or until soft. Same way boil chopped bottle gourd/lauki in a covered pan for 30-40 or until soft.

After the lentils and lauki are cooked, follow the step by step process to prepare the tempering and assembling the dal. 

Can I cook this dal in the Instant Pot?

Absolutely! This dal gets cooked beautifully in the Instant Pot. To make this dal in the Instant Pot, follow this link

Can I make this dal vegan?

You sure can! Simply swap ghee with coconut oil or any vegetable oil and you are all set. 

chana dal with lauki top view

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Chana dal with lauki

4.36 from 14 votes
Enjoy your daily dose of protein and fiber in this Chana Dal with Lauki recipe. A healthy and comforting meal that perfect for busy weeknights! In addition to that, it's super easy to make, tasty, and can be adapted easily to suit the vegan diet.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Calories: 205 kcal
Servings: 4 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS 

BOIL DAL

BOIL BOTTLE GOURD

  • 1 cup Lauki/bottle gourd, chopped
  • 1 cup Water

TADKA/TEMPERING

  • 1 tablespoon Ghee
  • ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • 1 small Onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger, chopped chopped
  • 1 medium Tomato chopped
  • ½ teaspoon Red chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Chopped cilantro leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Thoroughly wash the chana dal and transfer it into a pressure cooker. Add 1.25 cups of water to it. Add salt along with turmeric powder. Cover the pressure cooker and set on the cooktop at a medium-high flame. Pressure cook the dal for 3 whistles.
  • After the cooking time, take the pressure cooker off the flame. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Set it aside.
  • Time to boil Lauki. Peel and wash lauki/bottle gourd. Cut into cubes.
  • Transfer it to a pressure cooker and cook for 2 whistles.
  • After the cooking time, take the pressure cooker off the flame. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Set it aside.

PREPARE THE TEMPERING/TADKA

  • In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat ghee on a medium flame. Add cumin seeds and as it starts to splutter, add the chopped onions, garlic, and ginger. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the spices and mix to combine.
  • Cover the pan and cook the tempering on low heat for 2-3 minutes until the ghee starts to leave the pan.
  • Stir in the dal.
  • Mix well to combine.
  • Add boiled lauki/bottle gourd to the lentils. Once added, stir the lentils carefully so that the bottle gourd doesn’t get mushy and disintegrates.
  • Feel free to add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water to the lentils to match the consistency you like. Do the taste test. Boil for 3-4 minutes and take it off the flame.
  • Enjoy it with hot rotis or serve over rice.

NUTRITION

Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 203IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided above is approximate. Variations may exist due to the ingredients/brands used. These numbers should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietician.
Author: Ruchi
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

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Comments

  1. Sathya @Mykitchenodyssey says:

    This simple dal would make our meal really delicious.Fantastic clicks

  2. Leena says:

    What a healthy combination? Looks yummy will surely give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Leenika says:

    This recipe is so good. Made it for my family and they liked the combo. Thanks your explanations are lengthy but you cover every tiny aspect of your recipe. That’s what I like about your recipes. Thanks and keep up the hard work. Regards, Leenika

  4. Barkha says:

    Excellent recipe and excellent use of lauki. Please post some more dals. Website with a personal touch Thanks Ruchi.

  5. Shelja says:

    Hello Ruchi,

    You came back with a bang. For the last so many years I have been making your recipes and undoubtedly all a hit. But now its more clear and well explained. Loved your chana dal with lauki. so yummy my whole family was in awe of this dish. Post some more. Also you mentioned about some meal plans you do for your family. Do you provide this service. If you do, count me in. Again congrats on the fresh and successful new look.

    Your long time follower.
    Shelja from Germany

    • RK says:

      Thanks Shelja for such a wonderful comment. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for being my follower for so long. As of now I haven’t thought of doing meal planning but the thoughts are in the pipeline and will come up with something in the near future. Will surely keep you posted 🙂

  6. Smriti says:

    This recipe is very good. My family loved it. Your recipe design is very user- friendly and pictures are worth a visit. pictures are like grab the bowl and walk away. Keep up the hard work.

    Smriti

  7. Diya says:

    Made this, so yummy and so tasty recipe. Your recipes have saved my dying kitchen and my tasteless cooking. Now I look and cook with confidence. Bless you for what you do. Thanks from Diya 🙂

    • RK says:

      So sweet of you Diya!! I am glad you liked the recipe. Stay connected and keep visiting back for more 🙂

  8. Neelima says:

    There’s one word to describe this dish: EXTRAORDINARY DELICIOUS!!! Thank you, Ruchi, for a wonderful, tasty and above all, EASY recipe! The chana dal had a very nice texture and boiled lauki, tomatoes and cilantro gave the dish a very fresh flavor. Loved it and will be making it again.

    • RK says:

      You are welcome Neelima! Glad you liked it!! Thanks for stopping by and keep visiting back for more 🙂

  9. Suzie says:

    Loved it!.. My Mom made this the last time we were there and I really enjoyed it! Having found the recipe on your website with hands on steps, I decided to try to make it too. I must say yours was far better and adding lauki made it even more delicious and nutritious. PHENOMENAL!!! Thank you, Ruchi, for such a wonderful, tasty and above all, EASY recipe!

  10. Pallavi says:

    Hello Ruchi,
    First of all I love your recipes all the time and refer them for my cooking! I am not a great cook myself and it feels great with website like yours which can NAVIGATE me through each step whether be breakfast ,lunch and dinner. Explained to the point, no step missed better than video tutorial and are displayed and plated so well. Tried this recipe last weekend and it was so yummy that my husband and MIL liked it and have asked me to make it more often. I have also tried your Paneer tikka on oven and Palak paneer recipe and many more and they all turn out so beautifully. All I have to do is adjust spices and oil content. You add way to less oil in your recipes.

    Regards,
    Pallavi from Britian

    • RK says:

      Thanks you for such a wonderful feedback Pallavi. It’s always a pleasure to hear back from lovely people like you. Thanks for sharing your experience with me and I glad that you and your family liked the recipe. Yes, I prefer to keep ghee/oil on a lower end, unless the recipe demands 🙂

  11. Kashish says:

    Wondered why this recipe received so many comments. Tried this yesterday! And now I am in the line to leave a comment, very lovely recipe. Great ingredients and yummy results. Will make it more often. Thanks Ruchi

    • RK says:

      You are welcome Kashish and can’t stop laughing at your lovely comment. Thanks dear, glad you liked the recipe 🙂

  12. Sudha says:

    Please add more dals. Dals are a staple in my house and everyone whats a change. Your way of cooking is different and very yummy. Tried this one and its everyones favorite in my house. Healthy and simple dal. Requesting you to post some day to day simple dal recipes.

    • RK says:

      Thanks for trying out the recipe, Sudha! Have noted down your request and will be working on it. In the meanwhile search “DAL” in the search menu and you will find some more on the blog.

  13. Anu says:

    Yum and fab dish! My family loved it. Adding lauki was a great concept of bringing health and nutrition in a dish. Loved it!!

  14. Viranda says:

    One of your very very best recipes. Have made it many many times and all my family loved it. Healthy and a total dose of nutrition. Thanks for sharing your culinary skills with us!

  15. Nawal says:

    You are my inspiration!! Totally admire your approach towards explaining recipes. Excellent recipe tried many times without fail.Thanks and looking for more.

  16. Catie says:

    I appreciate you for sharing that wonderful written content on your site. This recipe is truly very delicious. Came out really nice.
    I will be likely to check back again as soon as you publish even more recipes.

  17. Manmohan Bhamra says:

    I cooked today and it is really yummy