This no-frills daal recipe was given to me by my Mother-in-Law. Varan is a Maharastrian style daal which tastes great with chapattis or plain white rice.
Ingredients:
ToorDaal – 1 cup
Water – 3 cups
Ginger – 1 tsp, grated
Methi Seeds (Fenugreek) – 1/4 tsp
Green Chilies – 1 or 2 (to taste), slit length-wise
Onion – 1/2 medium, finely diced (optional)
Salt – ½ tsp (to taste)
Lemon Juice – ½ tsp (to taste)
Cilantro – 5 sprigs, chopped (for garnishing)
For Vagar (Seasoning):
Oil – 4 tsp
Jeera (Cumin Seeds) – ½ tsp
Haldi (Turmeric) – ¼ tsp
Hing (Asofoetida) – pinch
Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
Garlic – 5 large cloves, roughly smashed
Tomato – 1 medium, diced
Method:
1. Wash Toor Daal with water until water runs clear.
2. Add 3 cups of water to the ToorDaal and let it soak for about 15 minutes.
3. In a pressure cooker, add soaked Toor Daal with Water, Ginger, Methi Seeds, Green Chilies, and Onion.
4. Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.
5. In a separate small pan, heat Oil.
6. Add Jeera and allow it to sputter.
7. Add Haldi, Hing, Curry Leaves and Garlic.
8. When Garlic is slightly brown, add tomatoes, stir and cook for 1 minute.
9. Mix the garlic/tomato seasoning with pressure cooked daal.
10. Add Salt and Lemon Juice to taste.
11. Allow it to boil for 4-5 minutes.
12. Garnish with Cilantro.
13. Serves 4
Tips:
1. If you don’t have time to let the Toor Daal soak, just let the pressure cooker whistle 3-4 more times.
2. If you like your daal with a thinner consistency, you can add more water at the end before you allow the daal to boil.
3. Don’t overcook the Toor Daal. The texture of the daal should be seen.
Watch and learn!
Last 5 posts in Daals/Beans
- How to make Khatti Daal - Indian Lentil Soup Recipe - September 4th, 2008
- Tadka Dal Fry - Indian Recipe Video - July 31st, 2008
- Seasoned Urad Daal - Indian Cooking Recipe - July 23rd, 2008
- Sambhar /Sambar - May 6th, 2008
- How to Sprout Beans - March 27th, 2008
Share This
Stumble it!
[PRINT ARTICLE]


Tree Of Life Bag (India) 47% off
Flower Jali 4-Panel Screen (India) 32% off
January 10th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Both me and hubby have always enjoyed Arhaar or Toor Dal, but I would cook it the punjabi way…yesterday I cooked Varan and we absolutely loved it…Thanks for the easy and very sumptuous recipe.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Great recipe! My family enjoyed it!
July 8th, 2008 at 1:22 am
I liked all your recipes. However, when Hetal says that non-stick is much healthier to use is not a right statement to make. Non-stick actually results in leaching out a lot of chemicals which may interfere with our physiological functions. Still, keep up the good work !
July 8th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Thanks for your feedback. We agree with you. The latest research shows that using non-stick cookware on high heat for extended periods of time creates harmful fumes. Using it for short periods at under 400 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered safe. We recommend that our viewers use their own judgment.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Hello Anuja/Hetal,
This dal was just too good and delicious!. My husband and I relished it with hot chappathis . I think its very creative way of getting proteins into your body. I am very inspired by your ideas and of course amazing receipes!