My easy slow cooker dal is perfect for a busy lifestyle. This split pea dal is so easy to throw in the pot in the morning and then it is ready for your lunch or dinner later in the day!
This cold weather makes me want to eat food that will warm me, both with the flavour of spices and with the heat from a long slow cook.
Dal is vegan, based on store cupboard ingredients and makes a tasty meal paired with naan bread or rice, or as a side dish to other curry dishes.
It ticks all the boxes!
Jump to:
What is dal
Dal is sometimes also spelt daal, dhal or dahl. The word is derived from the Sanskrit word for “split”.
It refers to a type of split pulse that doesn’t require pre-soaking, and also the dish made by simmering the peas, beans or lentils with water and spices.
This is typically an Indian dish but is also popular in other countries.
There are different types of dal (or dried pulse):
- Chana dal – Split yellow gram. These are made by splitting and skinning brown chickpeas. This is what is used in this recipe.
- Urad dal – black gram or urad bean.
- Mung dal – split mung beans.
- Toor dal – pigeon peas.
- Masoor dal – split red lentils
- Matar dal – dried yellow peas.
- Rajma dal – split kidney beans.
This recipe uses yellow split chickpeas and so is a chana dal recipe.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need to make this recipe – get the quantities in the recipe below.
- chana dal – this is available in the World Food section of supermarkets or from Indian stores or other specialist stockists. It is also known as split yellow gram or split dried chickpeas. If you can’t get hold of it you could substitute with yellow split peas which are similar in appearance even though they are a very different product.
- onion
- garlic – replace fresh garlic with garlic puree or jarred garlic if you need to.
- ginger – replace fresh ginger with ginger puree or jarred ginger if you need to.
- red chilli – replace fresh red chilli with jarred red chilli if you need to.
- turmeric – this gives dal its characteristic yellow colour and flavour.
- salt and pepper – seasoning brings out the flavour of the dish.
- boiling water
- optional – fresh coriander and red chilli as garnish.
Instructions
Before you start, read my step-by-step instructions, with photos, hints and tips so you can make this slow cooker dal recipe perfectly every time.
Scroll down for the recipe card with quantities and more tips at the bottom of the page.
Step 1. Put all the ingredients (except for the garnish) in the slow cooker pot.
Step 2. Add the boiling water.
Step 3. Cook for 4-5 hours on high or 8 hours on low, until the peas are very soft.
Step 4. Serve garnished with fresh coriander and sliced red chilli, if desired, with naan bread and rice.
Sides
I like to serve my dal with homemade naan breads, using this simple recipe from BBC Food by Anjum Anand. It requires no yeast or proving time and is so easy to do.
Store bought mini naan are my next choice, for busy days!
Storage
Once cooked, store your dal in the fridge for up to 3 day, in a covered container.
Freezing
Allow dal to cool completely then freeze in tubs or freezer bags, to prevent freezer burn, for up to 3 months.
Serving
Traditionally dal is topped with a friend onion and spice garnish just before serving.
This is sometimes known as tarka or tadka.
Flatbreads such as roti, chapati or naan are often served on the side of dal, as well as rice.
When dal is eaten with rice, this makes a complete protein, which is useful for vegetarians.
More veggie slow cooker dishes
If you like this vegan slow cooker dish, you might also like these other vegetarian and vegan slow cooker dishes:
- slow cooker halloumi bake (vegetarian)
- slow cooker spicy bean stew (vegan omitting the sour cream garnish or using an alternative)
- slow cooker vegetable curry (vegan)
- slow cooker chickpea and paneer curry (vegetarian)
- slow cooker sweet potato and chickpea stew (vegan)
- slow cooker whole spiced cauliflower (vegan)
- slow cooker bean chilli (vegan)
Get even more ideas from my Vegetarian recipe archives.
For dal recipes using other types of pulse I would recommend visiting Mamta’s Kitchen who has many authentic dal recipes including slow cooker and pressure cooker methods.
Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Dal
Ingredients
- 250 g chana dal 'yellow split gram' or split chickpeas
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 cm fresh ginger chopped
- 2 tsp turmeric
- ½ fresh red chilli chopped
- 800 ml boiling water
- salt and pepper
Equipment
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker.250 g chana dal, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, 2 cm fresh ginger, 2 tsp turmeric, ½ fresh red chilli, 800 ml boiling water, salt and pepper
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for eight hours.
- Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve with naan bread or rice. Can also be served as a side dish to other curries.
Notes
Linking up with March’s Slow Cooked Challenge with Janice from Farmersgirl Kitchen, where the theme this month is Spicy.
Linking up with Credit Crunch Munch, which is hosted this month by Jo from Jo’s Kitchen, and organised by Helen from Fuss Free Flavours and Camilla from Fab Food 4 All.
I think this is a great Credit Crunch dish, since slow cookers are so cheap to run. I also used up a bag of split peas for this recipe.
Parm says
Can you add tomatoes
bakingqueen74 says
Hi Parm, yes you could add tomatoes to this dish.
Lucie says
Hello!
Thank you for your recipe. Could you tell me which quantity of salt do you put in your slow cooker? Is it possible to use chili powder instead of lazy chili? If yes which quantity?
Thank you very much!
bakingqueen74 says
Hi Lucie, I would recommend using salt and pepper to your taste in this recipe. I normally use a few (3-4) grinds of the salt mill. The lazy chilli can be swapped for 1 fresh red chilli or 1-2 teaspoons of chilli powder to your taste – I would use 1 teaspoon hot chilli powder but you may prefer mild. I hope that helps!
Maria says
Can I use green lentils or green split peas instead?
bakingqueen74 says
Hi Maria, I would look for a recipe designed to use those, I only make this recipe with yellow split peas.
wen says
Can I use the orange lentils instead of yellow split peas? And does it freeze well? Thank you
bakingqueen74 says
I have not tried this recipe with red lentils, as they are a bit smaller than yellow split peas they make take less time to cook. I have not yet managed to freeze a batch to try I’m afraid but I would expect it to work.
Stewart says
Hi I cant get hold of lazy ginger or chilli, can I just use fresh ginger and chilli? and what would the quantities be? Thanks in advance
bakingqueen74 says
Yes you sure can. The equivalent ginger is a small piece of ginger eg 1-2 cm. the equivalent red chilli is 1 red chilli.
Cathy says
This is so easy and really delicious! Proper comfort food.
bakingqueen74 says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Cathy!
2b4b says
Lazy ginger, lazy red chili lol. Uh, will try this, looks good!
bakingqueen74 says
I like to be lazy!
Jackie says
Do you have to soak the split peas?
bakingqueen74 says
Hi Jackie, no soaking needed, the long cooking dispenses with the need for that. Do rinse them well first though.
Leila Benhamida says
Fantastic, will definitely try this.
bakingqueen74 says
Great!
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
Every single time I use up a packet, tub or jar of something I let out a chorus of “Another one bites the dust”. I LOVE using stuff up!
I love how you use your slow cooker for everything.
Thank for linking up to #creditcrunchmunch
goodiegodmother says
I love a good dal, but haven’t tried making it at home. I’m pinning this to try since the recipe looks delicious and very easy (a plus!).
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Mary, easy is good isn’t it!
patisseriemakesperfect says
This looks great Lucy, I love dal and I’ve tried a couple of slow cooker dals and been a bit disappointed. Nice to have a tried and tested recipe to give a go!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Angela,it was really good and easy!
Diana says
This looks amazing Lucy! I don’t own a slow cooker but hopefully I will get one after my wedding haha it sounds like it makes everything so easy to cook 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
it does, you have to try it Diana!
harrietyoung38 says
Wow, this looks delicious Lucy! And so straightforward! Will definitely be trying it.
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Harriet, it was very simple but very tasty
ciaraattwellc says
The sounds so good. I haven’t had a nice dal in ages and this looks delicious. Also love that its so easy to make!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Ciara, I hadn’t had it in ages either, going to make it regularly now