---
title: 'Sri Lankan dal'
url: 'https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/sri-lankan-dal'
markdown: 'https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/sri-lankan-dal.md'
date: '2010-09-25'
description: 'from Chintha Ingredients 1½ tablespoons coconut oil or peanut oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 stake curry leaves 5 dried red chilies 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds 1½ cups chana dal (yellow split peas), rinsed and drained 1 teaspoon turmeric 2-inch piece cinnamon stick 2 clov…'
taxonomy:
  category:
    - main
    - sri-lankan
---

# Sri Lankan dal

## Sri Lankan dal

  ![folder](https://recipes.spfinch.com/user/themes/recipes/images/folder.svg) [main](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/category:main) | [sri-lankan](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/category:sri-lankan) ![sri-lankan-dal](https://recipes.spfinch.com/user/pages/02.recipes/sri-lankan-dal/sri-lankan-dal.webp "sri-lankan-dal")

from [Chintha](http://www.chintha.com/paachakam/srilankan-dal.html)

Ingredients

**1½ tablespoons coconut oil** or peanut oil
**1 small onion**, chopped
**2 cloves garlic**, chopped
**1 stake curry leaves**
**5 dried red chilies**
**1 teaspoon black mustard seeds**
**1½ cups chana dal (yellow split peas)**, rinsed and drained
**1 teaspoon turmeric
2-inch piece cinnamon stick
2 cloves**, crushed
**2 cardamom pods**, lightly crushed
**½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1½ cups coconut milk
salt to taste**

Method

1. Place a large saucepan over medium heat, and add oil. When it shimmers, add onion and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes. Add curry leaves, chilies and mustard seeds; sauté for 1 minute.
2. Add dal, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, fenugreek and 1½ cups coconut milk. Stir in 2½ cups water.
    Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until dal is soft, 30 to 40 minutes. Do not allow mixture to become dry on bottom; if necessary, add a small amount of water.
3. When dal is soft, add remaining 1/4 cup coconut milk. Season to taste with salt. Remove cinnamon stick, and serve hot.

There is a [simpler version here](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/georges_dal_75678).

---

#### Related recipes

- [Kiri hodi with butternut squash](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/kiri-hodi-with-butternut-squash "Kiri hodi with butternut squash")
- [Cardamom and black pepper cashew spinach curry](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/cardamom-and-black-pepper-cashew-spinach-curry "Cardamom and black pepper cashew spinach curry")
- [Sri Lankan cauliflower curry](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/sri-lankan-cauliflower-curry "Sri Lankan cauliflower curry")
- [Leek, potato and cashew nut curry](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/leek-potato-and-cashew-nut-curry "Leek, potato and cashew nut curry")
- [Tamarind chickpeas with cavolo nero](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/tamarind-chickpeas-with-cavolo-nero "Tamarind chickpeas with cavolo nero")

---

## Navigation

- Parent: [Recipes](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes.md)
- Previous: [Coconut sambol](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/coconut-sambol.md)
- Next: [Mum's stuffing](https://recipes.spfinch.com/recipes/mums-stuffing.md)