What to Serve with Dal? 7 BEST Side Dishes

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Alright, picture this: you've just cooked up a pot of delicious, soul-warming dal.

The aroma fills your kitchen, and you can almost taste the spices on your tongue.

Now comes the big question-what do you serve with it? Picking the perfect side dish for dal might seem like a daunting task.

You want something that goes with the flavors without overpowering them.

Lucky for you, we've got the scoop on the seven best side dishes that will take your dal from great to unforgettable.

Whether you lean towards rice, bread, or something a bit more out-of-the-box, we've got options that'll round out your meal perfectly.

7 Traditional Side Dishes for Dal

Whatever way you cook your dal, there is always a side dish that will bring out its best - including dal makhani side ideas for richness.

1. Skillet Potatoes with Pepper and Veggies

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Want a filling and tasty side dish? Baked potatoes side recipes for hearty pairings work the same way.

If you are craving a carb and calorie-rich diet, you can cook this dish in various ways.

One of the most preferred methods is to sauteé the tomatoes and onions in olive oil before adding the potatoes.

Before the potatoes get entirely cooked, add colorful veggies such as red and green pepper and carrots, giving that beautiful yet tasty dish.

Finally, add black pepper for that extra kick of flavor.

2. Classic Basmati Rice

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Basmati rice is long-grained, flavorful, and comes with many health benefits.

This carb-rich flavored rice is basic in most homes and is the easiest recipe - see chicken fried rice side ideas for complementary dishes for similar rice-friendly pairings.

However, the correct way to cook this rice is very challenging.

One has to be very observant of the amount of water used or the pot to maintain the shape and flavor of the rice.

Soaking the rice for 30 minutes before cooking helps achieve better results from this recipe.

Avoid stirring the rice while cooking to preserve the shape of the rice.

This would take around 10 -30 minutes, depending on the pot you use to cook the rice.

Using a pressure cooker takes lesser time.

You can cook this rice with just water, but if you want some flavor, you can add some complementary herbs like bay leaves, cumin, and star-shaped anise.

3. Roasted Tomato and Egg Chutney

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This is not the most common recipe but a super tasty side dish that complements with dal.

You can try out this dish if you have no options left to cook; you would be surprised by how much it blows your mind because you didn't think it would be tasty.

A barbeque-roasted tomato brings out the most flavor and aroma to this dish.

First, roast the tomatoes till it's soft but not dried off their juice to make this dish.

In a mortar, grind some roasted chilies and fresh garlic and make it into a paste.

It is best to cool the tomato before mixing it with garlic-chili paste.

Then the best part of this dish is to add a fried egg to the remaining paste.

Finally, add salt to taste.

Roasted tomato chutney shares that caramelized-veg appeal with roasted carrots side ideas for sweet-savory depth.

4. Methi Missi Roti

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Roti means flatbread. Methi Missi roti is a type of Indian flatbread that is spiced and flavored and pairs well with many Indian dishes, including dal.

Most Methi Missi roti has a simple flavor achieved using salt and pepper, and they are also spiced with turmeric and green chilis - try kasoori methi substitute options for similar fenugreek notes if fresh methi isn't available.

It is simple in preparation because these rotis are generally used to accompany other dishes, so they do not need much flavoring.

To serve methi missi roti with dal, dip the rotis in the dal or tear them and add the pieces into the curry.

5. Peas Pulao

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Peas pulao is a classical Indian dish commonly known as matar pulao.

There is no specific way to make this dish, and it can be made in any style, depending on one's palate.

This one-pot meal can be taken without other dishes, but it can never go wrong when combined with dal or meat - see purple hull peas serving ideas for similar pairings.

To make this simple and easy one-pot dish, you need classic basmati rice, some dried herbs, and green peas.

Use either the fresh peas or the frozen ones, and skip any herbs that don't compliment your palate.

You can easily prepare this pulao in under 30 minutes.

6. Lemon Garlic Pork Ribs

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This dish requires only a few ingredients and is relatively simple in preparation, but the result is a work of awe.

Pork ribs, garlic, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice are the main ingredients you will need.

The pork ribs are marinated in a seasoning mixture before being barbequed.

Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the cooked pork ribs to give a tangy freshness to the meat and also prevent possible causes of gastrointestinal issues.

This recipe is so delicious that you'll be tempted to lick your fingers to get that residual gravy off.

For a contrasting citrus-sweet finish, consider lemon curd side pairings for bright desserts after a rich main like these ribs.

7. Dry Bombil Masala with Beans

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If you love fermented food or its aroma, you should try this recipe. Bombil is also known as Bombay duck.

It is a fish usually dried and has a fermented odor and many health benefits.

Those having it for the first time would find its taste weird, but you will want more of this dish with the right ingredients and spices.

This is how addicting the dish is. Since it is dried and fermented, wash the fish well in hot water before cooking.

Use vegetables such as beans, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, curry masala, and garam masala to bring out that flavor.

For legume swaps and cooking alternatives, see urad dal substitute suggestions for recipes. For more dal-focused accompaniments, dal makhani side ideas for richness lists complementary dishes.