Dal

For other uses, see Dal (disambiguation).
Dal

Lentils are a staple ingredient in South Asian cuisine. Clockwise from upper right: split red lentils, common green whole lentils, and Le Puy lentils both with their outer coats visible
Main ingredients Lentils, peas or beans
Cookbook: Dal  Media: Dal

Dal (also spelled daal or dhal) (IPA: [d̪aːl]) is a South Asian term for dried, split pulses (that is, lentils, peas, and beans). The term is also used for various soups prepared from these pulses. These pulses are among the most important staple foods in South Asia, and form an important part of Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi cuisine.[1]

Dals are frequently eaten with flatbreads such as rotis or chapatis or with rice, a combination referred to as dal bhat. Dals are high in protein.

The outer hull is usually stripped off; dal that has not been hulled is described as chilka (skin), e.g. chilka urad dal, mung dal chilka.[2][3] The term dal is often contrasted with the term gram, used in South Asia for pulses that are whole rather than split.[1]

Etymology

The word dāl derives from the Sanskrit verbal root dal- "to split".[4]

Use by region

Dal preparations are eaten with rice, as well as roti, chapati and naan on the Indian subcontinent. In India, it is eaten with rice and with a wheat flatbread called roti. The manner in which it is cooked and presented varies by region. In South India, dal is primarily used to make the dish called sambar. It is also used to make pappu that is mixed with charu and rice.

In Iran and some other middle east countries, it is usually served as a stew, called Gheimeh, with beef/lamb meat, tomato sauce, black lime and a choice of fried potato or eggplant. It is also used in a large meat ball, called koofteh, including ground beef, rice and some herbs.

Nutrition

Proteins

Dal tadka served with rice and papad, staple meal in South Asia.

Its protein contents are 3.5 times that of rice and 2.5 times that of wheat. It provides an excellent source of protein, particularly for those adopting vegetarian diets or diets which do not contain much meat. It is typically around 25% protein by dry weight, giving it a comparable protein content to meats. However, by weight, cooked (boiled) dal contains 9% protein, 70% water, 20% carbohydrates (includes 8% fiber), 1% fat.[5] Note that as extra water is added to cooked dal, as in the case of sambar, proportion of proteins and other nutrients will reduce further. Protein contents of cooked dal[6] are one third that of cooked chicken.[7] Most dals (except soybean, being exceptionally higher) have a similar amount of protein.

On its own, soybean is the only vegetarian complete protein. All other dals including toor dal do not have individual amino acids within protein in ideal proportion (unlike eggs and meats). However, if the proteins in dal are combined with rice or wheat (for example, chapatis), it provides amino acids in the right proportions, making it a complete protein. Bioavailability of proteins from dals is less than those from eggs and meats.

Macronutrients in common foods as a % of Carbohydrates
Food Carbs (non-Fiber) Fiber Protein Fat
Wheat 100 20.6 21.3 2.5
Rice 100 1.6 9 0.8
Soybean 100 44.2 174 95
Pigeon Pea 100 31 45.4 3
Milk 100 0 61 61.8
Guava 100 60 28.6 11.2
Carrot 100 41.1 14.7 3.6
Spinach 100 157 207 28
Potato 100 14.4 13 0.6
Sweet Potato 100 17.7 9.4 0.5
Eggplant 100 148 43.4 8.6
Apple 100 21 2.2 1.4
Orange 100 25.6 1.0 1.2

Note: Carbohydrates do not include fiber. Source:https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/

Split toor dhal, a common variety of dhal
Selected nutrients in grams per 100 g
Item Water Protein
Cooked Rice[8] 68.4 2.7
Cooked Dal [9] 68.5 6.8
Roti[10] 33.5 11.5
Cooked Soybean[11] 62.5 16.6
Boiled Egg[12] 74.6 12.6
Cooked Chicken[7] 64.3 25.3

Note: Average daily protein requirements are 55 grams per person.

Ch. = Choline; Ca = Calcium; Fe = Iron; Mg = Magnesium; P = Phosphorus; K = Potassium; Na = Sodium; Zn = Zinc; Cu = Copper; Mn = Manganese; Se = Selenium; %DV = %Daily value i.e. % of DRI ( Dietary reference intake ) Note : All nutrient values including protein are in %DV per 100 grams of the food item. Significant values are highlighted in light Gray color and bold letters.[14][15] Cooking reduction = % Maximum typical reduction in nutrients due to boiling without draining for Ovo-lacto-vegetables group[16][17]

Minerals and vitamins

It is also rich in the B vitamins thiamine and folic acid, as well as several minerals, notably iron and zinc. Note that absorption of this iron is reduced by about 65% if tea is consumed immediately after meal. This is important for vegetarians since tea reduces iron absorption from all plant sources including Dal significantly.[18] Iron absorption can be increased by about up to 85% by having vitamin C rich foods such as Guava or Orange juice along with meal. Vitamin C contents of lentils can be increased up to 10.5 times by sprouting.[19][20] (See sprouting).

Ch. = Choline; Ca = Calcium; Fe = Iron; Mg = Magnesium; P = Phosphorus; K = Potassium; Na = Sodium; Zn = Zinc; Cu = Copper; Mn = Manganese; Se = Selenium; %DV = % daily value i.e. % of DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) Note: All nutrient values including protein and fiber are in %DV per 100 grams of the food item. Significant values are highlighted in light Gray color and bold letters.[21][22] Cooking reduction = % Maximum typical reduction in nutrients due to boiling without draining for ovo-lacto-vegetables group[23][24] Q = Quality of Protein in terms of completeness without adjusting for digestability.[24]

Common varieties

Dhokla, steamed chana dal snack.
plain dal served with roti, sauteed vegetables and mango pickle.

Split and whole pulses

Although dhal generally refers to split pulses, whole pulses are known as sabit dhal and split pulses as dhuli dhal.[25] The hulling of a pulse is intended to improve digestibility and palatability, but as with milling of whole grains into refined grains, affects the nutrition provided by the dish, reducing dietary fibre content.[26] Pulses with their outer hulls intact are also quite popular in India and Pakistan as the main cuisine. Over 50 different varieties of pulses are known in India and Pakistan.

Preparing dal

Dal tadka served over rice.

Most dal recipes are quite simple to prepare. The standard preparation begins with boiling a variety of dal (or a mix) in water with some turmeric, salt to taste, and then adding a fried garnish at the end of the cooking process. In some recipes, tomatoes, tamarind, unripe mango, or other ingredients are added while cooking the dal, often to impart a sour flavour.

Main article: Chaunk

The fried garnish for dal goes by many names, including chaunk, tadka and tarka. The ingredients in the chaunk for each variety of dhal vary by region and individual tastes. The raw spices (more commonly cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, and sometimes fenugreek seeds and dried red chili pepper) are first fried for a few seconds in the hot oil on medium/low heat. This is generally followed by ginger, garlic, and onion, which are generally fried for 10 minutes. After the onion turns golden brown, ground spices (turmeric, coriander, red chili powder, garam masala, etc.) are added. The chaunk is then poured over the cooked dal.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Davidson, Alan; Jaine, Tom (2014-01-01). "Dal". The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199677337.
  2. Yotam Ottolenghi. "Pulse points: Yotam Ottolenghi's dried bean and pea recipes". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. Sample recipe for Chilka Urad dhal, split unhulled urad
  4. Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary accessed online 2007-09-02
  5. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  6. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  8. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  9. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4338/2
  10. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/8109?fgcd=&manu=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=35&offset=&sort=&qlookup=roti
  11. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  12. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  13. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  14. "Show Nutrients List". usda.gov. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  15. "SELF Magazine: Fashion, Workouts, Beauty, Recipes, Fitness Tips and More - SELF". SELF. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  16. "USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6" (PDF). USDA. USDA. Dec 2007.
  17. "Nutritional Effects of Food Processing". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  18. Wierzejska R (2014). "Tea and health--a review of the current state of knowledge". Przegl Epidemiol (Review). 68 (3): 501–6, 595–9. PMID 25391016.
  19. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  20. "Nutrition Facts". self.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  21. "National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28". United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service.
  22. "Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis". NutritionData.com.
  23. "USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6" (PDF). USDA. USDA. Dec 2007.
  24. 1 2 "Nutritional Effects of Food Processing". NutritionData.com.
  25. Mehta N. (2006), p 12
  26. Wang, N.; Hatcher, D.W.; Toews, R.; Gawalko, E.J. "Influence of cooking and dehulling on nutritional composition of several varieties of lentils (Lens culinaris)". LWT - Food Science and Technology. 42 (4): 842–848. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2008.10.007.
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