Lip-Smacking Turnip Recipe: Shalgam Chana Dal

shalgam chana dal

Not fond of shalgam recipes or looking for more turnip recipes to tinker the taste buds of your loved ones?

I know this may taste like a bland vegetable, but I love shalgam in every form - as salad, as chutney, as bharta, and as curry. I have even tried shalgam recipe as a snack.

Now I am sharing a new turnip recipe in the form of a finger-licking good dal curry.

A few days back a Bengali neighbor introduced me to this sumptuous chana dal shalgam recipe. I wanted to give it a try. Since hubby does not like turnip (shalgam), I found this recipe useful as I could include this healthy vegetable in our meals. When I tried it, hubby approved the recipe. Could I ask for more?


If you have fussy eaters at home, who detest the very taste of turnip, then there is a way to bring  them to the dining table!

Perhaps, you need just 2 key ingredients - chana dal (chickpea lentils/bengal gram) and turnips.

Surprised?

Well, make this healthylicious chana dal lentil curry blended with turnips to enjoy the real taste of India!

I am not exaggerating.

You need just one try and you are done!

If your family loves chana dal curry with bottle gourd, then this is a must-try recipe. It tastes even better. Trust my words!

I made it at my mom's place as well, where nobody likes turnips, and the recipe was loved by one and all. This has become a super hit shalgam dal recipe at my place.

Ingredients
2 turnip (shalgam)
1/2 cup- chana dal (gram/chickpea flour)
1/2 cup- moong dal (or you could skip moong dal and double the quantity of chana dal)
1 tsp- fennel seeds (saunf)
1/2 tsp- ginger (if you have saunth or dry ginger powder you can add that)
2 tsp- mustard oil
salt, turmeric (haldi) as per taste
red chilly -1 or more
pinch of heeng
garam masala
2 tomatoes (pureed)
2-3 onions chopped

Shalgam Chana Dal Procedure

chana dal with shalgam

1. Soak the dals for half an hour.
2. Strain, wash, and keep aside.
3. Slice shalgam.
4. Chop onions
5. Puree tomatoes
6. Heat oil. Let it reach smoking point.
7. Drop in red chilly 
8. Let it splutter
9. Add chopped onion
10. Stir fry
11. Add saunth or grated ginger 
12. Mix and fry Add saunf and mix well. Let the aroma of saunf fill your house. 
13. Add tomato puree and fry for a couple of minutes on low flame or until the raw scent goes off.
14. Add shalgam and fry for 2-3 minutes on medium flame. Add garam masala. Mix.
15. Add both dals. Mix.
16. Add 2 cups of water. You may add 1 cup more if you want it soupy. 
17. Put on high flame.
18. Turn off the flame after 5 whistles.
19. Garnish chana dal with fresh coriander leaves.
20. Enjoy shalgam dal with rice or roti. 

Here's the recipe before turnips go out of season.

1/2 cup- chana dal (soaked for 30 mts)
1/2 cup moong dal (yellow) (soaked for 30 mts)
1 turnip- chopped
2 onions chopped
1 big tomato chopped
1/2tsp- ginger powder (or fresh ginger)
1 tsp- fennel seeds (I use powder)
salt, turmeric, and garam masala
pinch of sugar
1 tsp oil
water as required for curry
red chilly powder, turmeric powder
coriander leaves

The layering goes like this:
1tsp oil, 1 tsp water
onion and tomato in bull's eye
spread turnip chopped as a layer
top it with ginger powder and fennel seeds
add soaked dals on top
salt, sugar, turmeric, garam masala
place a bowl with water (PIP)
pour 1/4 cup water by the sides
cover and cook for 6 whsitles.
Open and add the PIP water and mix all.
Garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy this instant chana dal curry with shalgam.


Feedback from Sangeeta Chandra on this shalgam recipe:

Here's another unique dal combination recipe that you may want to try. These turnip recipes are a blend of taste and health.

carrot capsicum moong dal recipe

khatta meetha matar shalgam

shalgam aloo bharta

broccoli palak saag with shalgam

makki di roti te sarson da saag with shalgam