Varan Bhat
Warm your soul with **Varan Bhat**, a hearty and comforting Maharashtrian dish that combines velvety toor dal (split pigeon peas) with fragrant tempering, served over a bed of steamed rice. This traditional recipe is a celebration of simplicity, featuring the soothing flavors of turmeric, cumin, and curry leaves, enhanced with the richness of ghee and a zing of lemon juice. Ready in under 40 minutes, Varan Bhat is the perfect choice for a wholesome, gluten-free, and protein-packed meal. Whether you're seeking a quick weekday dinner or an introduction to authentic Indian flavors, this recipe is a timeless classic that pairs beautifully with a dollop of ghee or an accompaniment of tangy pickle.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Toor dal (split pigeon peas)
- 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 4 cups Water
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 0.25 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
- 1 tablespoon Ghee
- 8 leaves Curry leaves
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 2 cups Cooked rice
Instructions
Rinse the toor dal under running water until the water runs clear, then soak it in enough water for about 30 minutes.
Drain the soaked dal and transfer it to a pressure cooker. Add 2 cups of water, turmeric powder, and salt.
Close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook on medium heat for about 3-4 whistles, or until the dal is soft and mushy.
Let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and mash the dal with a ladle to a smooth consistency. Add an additional cup of water if needed to adjust the consistency.
In a small pan, heat ghee over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds.
Add asafoetida and curry leaves, and sauté for another 10-15 seconds until the curry leaves become crisp.
Pour this tempering over the cooked dal and mix well.
Simmer the dal over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust salt to taste.
Stir in the lemon juice just before turning off the heat.
Serve the prepared varan hot over steamed rice, garnished with a little ghee if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
361 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 5.0 g | 6% | |
| Saturated Fat | 2.5 g | 13% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 10 mg | 3% | |
| Sodium | 502 mg | 22% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 64.4 g | 23% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.5 g | 27% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.3 g | ||
| Protein | 14.2 g | 28% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 70 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 3.8 mg | 21% | |
| Potassium | 465 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
