Ghee rice dal, a delightful and humble food, has been a cherished comfort food for many during chilly winter nights or rainy afternoons. The heavenly aroma of this dish brings back loving memories of our mother’s touch and the comforting embrace of home. Its simplicity lies in the harmonious blend of flavourful lentils, creamy ghee, and fragrant basmati rice, effortlessly blending to create a heart-warming and wholesome meal. With ease of preparation, one can quickly prepare this dish with few ingredients, making it perfect for both novices and seasoned cooks. The luscious aroma of golden elixir infuses the dish, enhancing its flavour and deliciousness, leaving our taste buds craving for more. With every bite, it warms and comforts both our body and soul, leaving behind a sense of pure bliss.
Introduction
Ghee rice dal is an exotic food that enchants our taste buds while nourishing our bodies with its impressive nutritional value. This recipe seamlessly combines the wholesomeness of lentils and the goodness of ghee-infused rice, creating a full feeling and hearty meal loved by many. The nutritional benefits of golden elixir are abundant, as lentils are an incredible source of fibre, plant-based protein, essential minerals and vitamins like folate, potassium, and iron. Moreover, clarified butter that infuses the rice adds healthy fats and provides wonderful flavour and aroma to the dish. Another reason that makes the dish even more appealing is its ease of preparation.
With only a few basic kitchen ingredients, this recipe is accessible to cooks of all skill levels. The lentils and rice, when cooked to perfection, are even more appealing. One can also customise this dish according to individual preferences by adding aromatic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cumin, enhancing the taste profile. For beginners or seasoned cooks, ghee rice dal is a complete recipe, ensuring a delicious culinary experience. Ghee rice dal is a true gem in the culinary world, a timeless classic that continues to delight and captivate food enthusiasts across the globe.
5 Health Benefits of Ghee Rice Dal
Improves Digestion: Ghee rice dal, a recipe that offers excellent dietary fibre content. This fibre promotes healthy digestion by preventing constipation and regulating bowel movements. Additionally, ghee also contains butyric acid, which fosters better absorption of nutrients, supports a healthy gut lining and promotes overall digestive health.
Great Fat Burner: Contrary to famous belief, ghee is a beneficial source of healthy fats when consumed in moderation. The presence of median-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) can eventually help in burning stubborn fats, leading to potential weight loss. These fatty acids are readily converted into energy, boosting metabolism and also helping the body to utilise fat stores efficiently.
Helps In Stabilizing Blood Sugar Levels: Contrary to popular myth, Ghee rice dal can be beneficial for individuals suffering from diabetes when consumed in moderation. This golden elixir down the process of absorbing sugar in the bloodstream, preventing rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Additionally, this hearty combination provides a balanced source of proteins and carbohydrates, which helps in maintaining stable blood glucose levels and keeps hunger and cravings at bay.
Boosts Immunity: Ghee is a rich source of antioxidant property that helps in boosting our strengthening our immune system. It also contains fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, D and K, which are vital for maintaining immune functions and overall health. However, lentils contain various minerals and vitamins that also support our overall immune functions, making this recipe a nourishing food choice for enhancing our body’s immune system[1] against illnesses and infections.
Great Source of Protein: Dal is a rich source of plant-based protein. Ghee rice dal is an ideal choice for Vegans and vegetarians seeking to fulfil their protein requirements. Protein is also an essential source for muscle building, tissue repair, and various enzymatic processes in our body, and this delightful dish also provides high taste and numerous health benefits.
While ghee rice dal offers our body numerous health benefits, it is also essential to maintain a balanced diet with portion control to reap numerous benefits without excess calorie intake.
Recipe Card
Now that you know the health benefits and other essential qualities of this delightful and hearty recipe, we have prepared a recipe card for you.
Ingredients
½ cup of red or yellow lentils
1 cup of basmati rice
3 tablespoons of ghee
3 cups of water
1 finely chopped medium-sized onions
1 teaspoon of grated ginger
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 finely chopped green chilli
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
½ teaspoon of coriander powder
½ teaspoon of cumin powder
½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
1 teaspoon of red chilli powder
Salt to taste
Freshly chopped coriander leaves
Ghee Rice Dal Preparation: Instructions
Rinse the lentils and rice separately with water until the water runs clear. Soak the lentils in water for 15 minutes and rice for 30 minutes.
In a kadhai, add ghee over medium heat. Then add Hing and cumin seeds and let them splutter for 5 seconds.
Add finely chopped onions and sauté them until they turn translucent.
Add in grated ginger, minced garlic and chopped green chilli. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the raw smell of chilli and garlic fades.
Then, add the soaked and drained dal to the kadhai. Stir well to mix everything well together.
Pour in lukewarm water, reduce the heat to simmer, and let the dal cook for 10-15 minutes or until partially covered.
Then add soaked rice to the pot along with coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, black pepper powder, and salt. Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
Cover the kadhai with a tight-fitting lid and let the lentils and rice cook on low heat for another 15 minutes or until they are cooked, and water is completely absorbed. Check and stir occasionally and add more water if required.
Once the dish is ready, fluff it up with a fork. Garnish it with freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Serve this delicious delight with one teaspoon of warm a2 gir cow ghee with A2 dahi, papad, or pickle.
In a Nutshell
Ghee rice dal is not only a cherished and delightful comfort food but also a treasure trove of essential nutrients and numerous health benefits. This harmonious blend of rice and dal with beneficial golden elixir offers benefits like stable blood sugar levels, improved digestion, enhanced immune system, and more. This dish is not only easy to prepare but accessible to all, along with its nutritional value and immense flavour that adds more appeal. Enjoying the bowl of this timeless classic can bring nourishment and warmth to both a body and soul, reminding us of the comfortable embrace of a sweet home and the heavenly touch of a mother’s hand.