Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
Maharastrian Curry

Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe

Siddhi Ballal · June 15, 2026 · 4 min read
Jump to Recipe
Prep 30m
Cook 35-40m
Total 1h
Serves 3-4
Level Easy

Konkani-Style Dal Recipe:

Traditional Maharashtrian Chana Dal Recipe is a simple, warm, and comforting dal recipe made with soaked chana dal, onion, tomato, basic spices, and roasted coconut masala. It is the kind of homemade dish that feels perfect with hot rice, chapati, or bhakri. The flavour is mild, slightly rich, and full of that traditional home-cooked taste.

This recipe is not too spicy or heavy. The boiled chana dal gives a nice bite, while the roasted coconut, garlic, ginger, and onion masala makes the curry thick and flavourful. When this roasted masala mixes with the dal and boils properly, the whole dish gets a beautiful aroma and taste.

This Traditional Chana Dal Curry is perfect for everyday lunch or dinner. You can make it with simple ingredients that are usually available in the kitchen. The main thing in this recipe is to cook the masala slowly and roast the coconut nicely until it turns light golden-orange. That one step gives the amti a proper homemade flavour.

4 Ingredients to Keep Ready before Cooking:

Before starting the recipe, keep all the ingredients cut and ready. Finely chop one onion for the main masala and chop one tomato into small pieces.

Slice one more onion lengthwise, as this will be used for roasting with coconut. Peel the garlic cloves and keep a small piece of ginger ready.

Grate the coconut if you are using fresh coconut, and wash and chop the coriander leaves for garnishing.

Also, wash the chana dal properly and soak it in water before cooking. Keeping all these ingredients ready will make the cooking process easier and smoother.

Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
Preparation Before Cooking

Serving Suggestion:

This Chana Dal tastes best when served hot with steamed rice and a spoon of ghee on top. The soft rice soaks up the flavourful curry perfectly, making it a comforting and complete homemade meal. You can also serve it on the side with chapati, bhakri, pickle, papad, or a simple onion salad.

Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
Chana Dal Amti Recipe | Traditional Maharashtrian Chana Dal Curry

Reasons You Will Like Maharashtrian Chana Dal Recipe:

This maharashtrian chana dal recipe is simple, homely, and full of flavour without using too many ingredients. The roasted coconut masala gives the curry a rich taste, while the chana dal keeps it filling and satisfying. It is a good recipe for days when you want something comforting but not too heavy.

One of the best things about this recipe is its homemade taste. The onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, and coconut are roasted and cooked slowly, which gives the curry a deep and warm flavour. It does not feel like a plain dal, but it is still simple enough for everyday meals.

Another good thing about this curry is that it goes well with both rice and chapati. If you make it slightly thin, it tastes perfect with hot steamed rice. If you keep it a little thick, you can enjoy it with chapati, phulka, or bhakri. This makes it a very useful everyday recipe for lunch or dinner.

This Chana Dal Recipe is also filling because chana dal has a nice bite and texture. It keeps the meal satisfying without making it too heavy. You can serve it as the main dish with rice, or as a side dish with chapati and bhaji.

The roasted coconut masala is what makes this curry special. It adds a mild richness and a traditional flavour to the dal. When the coconut paste boils with the cooked chana dal, the curry becomes thick, aromatic, and comforting.

This recipe is also good for family meals because the taste is balanced. It is not too spicy, not too oily, and not too strong. You can easily adjust the spice level, thickness, and salt as per your family’s taste.

Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
Main Course
Prep
30m
Cook
35-40m
Total
1h
Servings
3-4
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

Tap to check off as you go

For Chana Dal

For Roasted Coconut

For Garnish

Method

  1. 1

    Soak the chana dal - Wash the chana dal 2–3 times with water. Soak it for at least 30 minutes. Soaking helps the dal cook faster and gives it a better texture

    Step 1 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  2. 2

    Boil the dal - Add the soaked chana dal in a kadhai with enough water. Cook until the dal becomes soft. Do not overcook it completely. The dal should be soft but should still hold its shape slightly

    Step 2 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  3. 3

    Prepare the tempering - Heat oil in a pan. Add jeera and turmeric powder, curry leaves let it crackle. Then add hing. Hing gives a nice aroma and also balances the dal

    Step 3 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  4. 4

    Cook onion and tomato - Add finely chopped onion and cook until it becomes soft and light golden. Then add chopped tomato and cook until the tomato becomes soft and mixes well with the onion.

    Step 4 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  5. 5

    Add the spices - Now add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala or homemade masala, and salt. Mix everything well. Let the masala cook for a few minutes until the raw smell of spices goes away and the oil starts to separate slightly.

    Step 5 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  6. 6

    Roast the coconut - In another kadhai, heat a little oil. Add garlic and ginger and roast for a few seconds. Then add sliced onion and cook until it turns light brown. Then add sliced onion and cook until it turns light brown.

    Step 6 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  7. 7

    After that, add grated coconut and roast everything together on low to medium flame. Keep stirring and roast until the coconut turns slightly golden-orange. Do not burn the coconut.

    Step 7 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  8. 8

    Grind the roasted ingredients - Once the coconut mixture cools slightly, add it to a mixer jar. Add a little water and grind it into a smooth or slightly coarse paste.

    Step 8 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  9. 9

    Add boiled dal to the masala - Add the boiled chana dal into the onion-tomato masala. Mix it well and let it boil for a few minutes so the dal absorbs the flavour of the masala.

    Step 9 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  10. 10

    Add coconut paste - Now add the roasted coconut paste into the dal. Mix everything properly. Add water as required to adjust the consistency. If you want thick amti, add less water. If you want it slightly thin for rice, add more water.

    Step 10 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
  11. 11

    Boil the amti - Let the amti boil on medium flame for 8–10 minutes. Finally, add freshly chopped coriander leaves. Mix once and turn off the flame.

    Step 11 — Maharashtrian Chana Dal – Traditional Konkani-Style Dal Recipe
Aaji's Tip

Roast the coconut slowly on low to medium flame. Do not hurry this step. When the coconut turns light golden-orange, it gives the amti a deep homemade flavour. Also, do not make the chana dal fully mushy. A little bite in the dal makes the amti taste better.

Notes
Do not overcook the chana dal, as it should stay soft but still have a slight bite. Roast the coconut masala slowly on low to medium flame for the best homemade flavour.
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From the Kitchen of
Siddhi Ballal

Celebrating the coastal flavours and food heritage of the Konkan coast — one recipe at a time.

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