EatPedia Logo

EatPedia

←Brown LentilsFrench Green Lentils→
Plant-BasedLegumes & Pulses
🟢Safe

Chana Dal

Cicer arietinum split

Chana Dal is a lentils leguminous food, known for its mild flavor profile, and rich in essential nutrients like Folate, Thiamin, Vitamin B6.

Regional names

Chana Dal

Origin

Chana Dal is cataloged inside the lentils lane of legumes & pulses.

Native region

Global temperate and subtropical zones

Season

Available year-round depending on form, preservation, or sourcing

Food Combinations & Timing

✅

Safe Combination Profile

It is safe to eat this food item with other food items.

Nutritional profile

Calories

106 kcal / 100 g

Protein

8.2 g

Carbs

18.2 g

Fat

0.4 g

Fiber

7.2 g

Water content

Moderate when cooked (60% to 70%)

Glycemic index

Low to moderate

Vitamins

  • Folate
  • Thiamin
  • Vitamin B6

Minerals

  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Zinc

Health benefits

Evidence-aligned highlights

  • Provides key macronutrients and micronutrients that support metabolic vitality.
  • Contributes essential dietary compounds that support tissue structure and recovery.
  • Ready for future custom nutritional mapping.

Flavor notes

Mild

Texture

Crisp

Aroma

Fresh

Pairings

Various flavor pairings

Safety & toxicity

Edible parts

Standard edible portions

Toxic or risky parts

Discard non-food-grade or spoiled forms

Raw vs cooked

Safe to consume according to culinary standards.

Allergies & intolerances

No common allergy warning.

Drug interactions

No major interactions for normal food amounts.

Safe daily limit

Enjoy as part of a balanced diet.

⚠️ Notice: This safety profile is a general guideline. Dietary tolerances differ; consult a healthcare professional for allergies or drug interactions. See our full disclaimer.

Who should avoid & how to handle it

Who should avoid or moderate

  • General population safe.

Preparation & storage

  • Clean: Wash or wipe clean according to the usual market form.
  • Cut: Slice, chop, or portion as needed for your recipe.
  • Cook: Prepared raw or cooked according to recipe preference.
  • Store: Keep in a cool, dry place or refrigerate.
  • Preserve: Freeze or dry for longer storage.

Cuisine & cultural use

Common cuisines

  • Global culinary use

Chana Dal appears in Global culinary use, often because its flavor structure and prep speed fit both everyday cooking and ceremonial dishes.

Dynamic Substitutions

No alternatives recorded for this specific item. It is chemically or botanically unique in the database.

🌱 Cultivation & Production

Chana Dal Home Growing Guide

Learn how to grow and cultivate chana dal at home, whether you live in an urban apartment or have access to outdoor garden land.

Apartment Friendly

✗ Not Ideal for Apartments

No

Urban Space Advice

Not recommended for apartments unless using specialized dwarf varieties in large, heavy pots.

Difficulty

Hard

Propagation

Grafting (commercial propagation) or seeds (slower growth).

Soil Type

Deep, well-draining garden soil

Watering

Deep watering once a week

Sunlight

Full sun (8+ hours daily)

Best Season

Spring planting; fruits in Summer/Autumn

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

  1. 1

    For garden planting: Choose a sunny spot with deep, fertile, well-draining soil.

  2. 2

    Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and plant at the same depth as the container.

  3. 3

    Water deeply once a week, especially during the first two years and during fruiting.

  4. 4

    Prune annually in late winter to remove dead wood and shape the tree for sun exposure.

Quick recipes

Fast recipes using Chana Dal

Dinner

Indian Chana Dal Fry

☆Sign in to save

Split Bengal gram lentils cooked and sautéed with onions, tomatoes, and spices.

Ingredients

Servings:2
  • 1/2 cup chana dal, boiled
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1/2 tomato, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Nutrition

  • 220 kcal
  • 11 g protein
  • 38 g carbs
  • 4.5 g fat

Preparation Steps

  1. 1Heat oil in a pan, sauté minced garlic and chopped onions for 5 minutes.
  2. 2Add chopped tomatoes and turmeric powder, cooking until tomatoes soften.
  3. 3Pour in the boiled chana dal along with its cooking water.
  4. 4Simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes until flavors combine and dal is thick.

Dinner

Slow-Cooked Durum Wheat Haleem

☆Sign in to save

Traditional slow-cooked stew of cracked durum wheat, lentils, and spices.

Ingredients

Servings:2
  • 1 cup cracked durum wheat
  • 1/2 cup chana dal lentils
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1 small onion, fried crisp
  • 4 cups vegetable stock

Nutrition

  • 320 kcal
  • 12 g protein
  • 56 g carbs
  • 6 g fat

Preparation Steps

  1. 1Soak durum wheat and chana dal for 2 hours.
  2. 2Bring stock to a boil, add soaked wheat and dal.
  3. 3Simmer covered on low heat for 2.2 hours, stirring frequently.
  4. 4Mash with a wooden spoon until thick and silky, then temper with ghee and fried onions.