The Guide to Different Dal Varieties in Indian Cooking

Whole Dal vs Hulled Dal vs. Split Dal

Dal is a pulse or lentil that grows in pods. Whole dal are the lentils that are removed from their pods, dried, and sold whole, whereas split dal is split into thinner flatter discs. Whole dal can either have its skin on or off (shelled vs. non-shelled) whereas split dal is more commonly hulled.

Most dal varieties can be sold both in whole or split varieties and choosing which one you want depends highly on the dish you are trying to create. There are three general rules when deciding whether to use whole dal vs. split dal.

1. Use whole dal if you want the dal to retain its shape and split dal if you want a creamy dish - For example, when making a dish like dal makhani or lentils in a burger where the dal adds texture to the dish, use whole dal, whereas when making a spinach dal where the lentils should be silky and and dissolve, use split dal.
2. Use split dal for temperings or tadkas - Split dal roasts faster in quick oil tempering resulting in a thin crunchy addition that imparts flavors to tadkas. Whole dals can simply not cook through in the time frame in which tadkas are made and would be hard to bite into.
3. Use whole, skin off (shelled) dal for batters - For dosa, idli, and vada batters it is best to use whole urad dal that does not have the skin on it. The skin prevents the batter from becoming creamy and smooth, so it is best to avoid it. The whole dal is less dry compared to the split dal and therefore leads to a fluffier batter.

Five Main Types Of Indian Dal

Masoor Dal

Masoor dal is often referred to as red lentils and is one of the best lentils for making a quick and creamy stovetop dal because of how thin it is compared to its counterparts.

Although the split version of masoor dal is often red or orange in color, in it's whole form, it is a brown/green color and therefore referred to as brown dal. French lentils are a great substitute for whole masoor dal.

Moong Dal

Moong dal, also known as green gram, is green (as its moniker suggests) in its whole form and bright yellow in its split form. The split moong dal is comparable in thickness to split masoor dal and they are interchangeable when making creamy dal dishes like spinach dal.

The whole version of moong dal, aka whole green gram, on the other hand, is great when sprouted and incorporated into lentil salads.

Urad Dal

Urad dal, also known as black lentil, is a versatile dal that when whole and un-skinned is black in color and white otherwise. In its whole form, this dal is great in hefty dishes like dal makhani where the dal will retain its shape even after long cooking times.

The un-skinned whole urad dal, which is sold as urad gota, is white in color and great for making South Indian batters like dosa, idli, and vada.

Last but not least, the split version of urad dal is great to add in tempering or tadkas. The dal crisps up adding a nice crunch and adds a layer of nuttiness to the tadka.

Toor Dal

Toor dal, also known as pigeon peas, is a bright yellow color when split. It looks very similar to moong dal but is noticeably thicker. Split toor dal can be used in place of moong or masoor dal but should be soaked for at least 30 minutes to ensure even cooking.

Chana Dal

Chana dal is the split Indian chickpea called kala chana. It is high in protein and has a whiter hue compared to other yellow dals like toor dal. It is a hefty and thick dal that can be used to create a batter like in masala vada. Another variety of this dal is dalia which have been roasted after being split. This roasted dal can be added to chutneys to thicken them, eaten on their own as snacks, or added in temperings/tadkas.

Dal Recipes that You Will Love

Which Dals Are Best For Health?

All dals are great meat alternatives and are packed with anywhere between 8-12g of protein for every 50g. In general, dals that are whole have more fiber than their split counterparts. This is especially apparent in masoor dal which has more than 2x the amount of fiber in its whole form than its split form. Chana dal has the highest fat and lowest protein content compared to other pulses like masoor, moong, toor, and urad dal. You can choose the dal that meets your dietary macro needs to find the best one that is suited to you.

Dal Type (50g) - Raw	Calories	Protein	Carb	Fiber	Fat
Masoor Dal - Whole	180	12g	30.4g	14.4g	.5g
Masoor Dal - Split (Red lentil)	190	12g	33g	7g	.5g
Moong Dal - Whole (green gram)	180	9g	31.5g	8g	.5g
Moong Dal - Split	170	12g	31g	6g	.7g
Toor Dal - Split (pigeon peas)	175	11.8g	32g	7g	.5g
Urad Dal (black lentil)	170	12g	31.3	9g	.7g
Chana Dal (baby chickpea)	190	8.5g	21g	6g	2g

Frequently Asked Questions