Go Back
+ servings
kalo dal recipe - served with rice and kimchi

Nepali kalo Dal (Easy Black Lentil Soup)

Enjoy a warm bowl of Nepali Kalo Dal, a simple yet flavorful black lentil soup that's a staple in Nepali cuisine. This kalo dal recipe is easy to make and the perfect side dish to serve with rice.
Print Pin Rate
CourseMain
CuisineNepali
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings6
Calories250kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Dal

  • 1 cup black lentils (split black gram)

Spice

Seasoning

  • Salt to taste
  • ½ tsp ginger garlic paste

Tempering

  • ½ tbsp Ghee or vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp jimbu

Water

  • 3 cups Water (while cooking dal)
  • 3 cups hot water

Instructions

  • Rinse the black lentils with cold water until the water runs clear.
    1 cup black lentils (split black gram)
  • Then, add the turmeric powder, lentils, ginger garlic paste and water to a pressure cooker.
    ¼ tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp ginger garlic paste, 3 cups Water (while cooking dal)
  • Cover the lid and let it cook for 8-10 minutes on medium heat until you hear three whistles.
  • Let it cool down for 10-15 minutes until it release naturally and remove the lid. You will see the thick texture of the dal.
  • Add hot or warm water and bring it to a boil for 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat. Let it simmer, and turn off the heat.
    3 cups hot water

Tempering

  • Heat ghee in a pan. Add one teaspoon of jimbu and let it splutter for a minute.
    ½ tbsp Ghee or vegetable oil, 1 tsp jimbu
  • Finally, pour it into the dal. Add salt to taste and mix everything well.
    Serve hot with rice or roti.
    Salt to taste

Notes

#1. If you have time, soak the dal for an hour. This will help soften the dal and reduce cooking time. If not, you can cook it straight after washing it.
#2. It's important to let the pressure release naturally before opening the cooker. Wait for the cooker to cool down and the pressure to drop on its own, which can take about 10-15 minutes. Quick-release methods (like running the cooker under cold water) are not recommended for dal, as they can affect the texture.
#3. If you prefer a thin, soupy texture, add more water and let it simmer until your required consistency is met.
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and may not be exact.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 0.003g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 3mg
Subscribe and stay updated! SpoonBun

If you tried this recipe, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. If you liked it, remember to rate the recipe. Your feedback helps other readers decide if they want to make this recipe. Thank you!

𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚛: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝙽𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚒 𝚌𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙸 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚘!