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Vegan Dalcha
5 from 12 votes

Vegan Dalcha

Vegan Dalcha is a spiced lentil stew featuring red lentils, green beans, soy curls soaked in broth, and a medley of whole and ground spices. It combines aromatics like onion, ginger-garlic paste, and green chili with a creamy touch from coconut cream, simmered until tender. This dish offers a hearty texture with fragrant seasoning, making it suitable as a comforting main or side dish.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 344 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
  • 2 clove whole
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaf
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 cup onion red, chopped
  • 1 green chili chopped, hot, like serrano or Indian
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste or minced ginger and garlic (1 1/2 teaspoons each)
  • 2 ounces dried soy curls soaked in broth for 10 minutes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup coconut cream (thick part from a can of full fat coconut milk)
  • 1 teaspoon kashmiri chili powder or use paprika
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup red lentils or other lentils or split peas of choice(such as toor dal or Chana dal)
  • 1/2 cup green beans or other veggies of choice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups water
For the tempering(seasoned oil)
  • 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
  • 1 teaspoon ginger julienne
  • 10 curry leaves fresh or frozen
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped leaves

Instructions

Make the dalcha.
    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the cloves, black peppercorns, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick and mix in. Cook for half a minute or until the spices are fragrant. Then add the onion, green chili, and a good pinch of salt and mix well. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the onions start to turn golden. Add the ginger-garlic paste, ground spices, tomato paste, and soy curls and mix well for a minute to combine.
  2. Add the salt and coconut cream and mix well. Cook for a minute. Then add in the lentils, green beans or veggies of choice , and water and mix really well. Partially cover and cook for 14 to 18 minutes, depending on the lentils you are using and the consistency you prefer.  (You can use 2 cups of water with 1 cup of coconut milk here to make the lentils more creamy)
  3. Once the lentils are cooked to your preference, taste and adjust the salt and flavor. If you like the dalcha more saucy, you can add in some more water or coconut milk at this point and bring to a boil. Switch off the heat and set aside.
Prepare the tempering.
  1. Heat the oil in a small skillet, and once hot add the ginger, curry leaves, and cilantro and mix carefully for a few seconds. Switch off the heat.
  2. Drizzle the tempering including the leaves all over the dalcha and serve over rice, Biryani or naan. You can also serve this stew as-is or with a little bit of garlic bread on the side.
  3. Storage: Store refrigerated for upto 3 days. Soycurls absorb more as they sit so you can add some non dairy milk during heating. Or freeze for upto 2 months .

Notes

  • You can substitute red lentils with yellow lentils or chana dal; adjust cooking time accordingly, especially pre-cook chana dal for faster cooking.
  • For soy-free variation, replace soy curls with seitan or drained canned chickpeas.
  • Reserve some cooked golden onions to use as a garnish for added texture and flavor.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten- and nut-free.

Nutrition Information

Calories 344kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 19g (38%) Fat 7g (11%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Sodium 540mg (23%) Potassium 581mg (12%) Fiber 19g (76%) Sugar 18g (36%) Vitamin A 368IU (7%) Vitamin C 60mg (67%) Calcium 117mg (12%) Iron 6mg (33%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 344

% Daily Value*

Calories 344kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 51g 17%
Protein 19g 38%
Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 540mg 23%
Potassium 581mg 12%
Fiber 19g 76%
Sugar 18g 36%
Vitamin A 368IU 7%
Vitamin C 60mg 67%
Calcium 117mg 12%
Iron 6mg 33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.