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Mango Dal

April 21, 2023 By Sarah 10 Comments

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Mango Dal is packed with protein and fiber, has a hint of sweetness from the mangoes, a touch of earthiness from the spices, and is a gorgeous orange color. 

plate of mango dal and coconut carrot rice with text overlay, gold forks, blue napkin

This recipe was originally published in October 2012. // As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Irving and I have been making this Mango Dal for years and years—paired with my Coconut Carrot Rice, it is the perfect comfort food.  And our kids like it too!  Win for everyone.  We found this recipe years ago in our CSA Produce Box Subscription and have tweaked it a bit to our liking.  It’s packed with protein and fiber, has a hint of sweetness from the mangoes with a touch of earthiness from the spices, and is a gorgeous orange color.  What’s not to love?

pot of mango dal with blue napkin, wooden spoon in background

How do you make Mango Dal?

Mango Dal is very simple to make.  I start the lentils cooking in one pot while I work on the aromatics in another.  Sauté onion, spices, ginger, and the mango (I use frozen mango to make it even easier) while the lentils cook.  Once the lentils are soft I add them to the pot with the mango mixture and give it a good stir.  Allow it to simmer a few minutes more to let the flavors meld together and it’s ready to enjoy!

ingredients used to make mango dal—red lentils, ginger, mango, cumin seed

What does “dal” mean?

Dal often is translated to lentil, but it actually refers to a variety of legumes split in half.  It could be a lentil, split pea, or even a garbanzo.  Importantly, because they are split they don’t require any additional soaking time before cooking.  In this recipe dal refers to the red lentils.  

bowl of mango dal and bowl of coconut carrot rice with blue napkin and gold silverware

Kid Approved!

My kids love this dish!  Jonny will eat anything that has mango in the title, so this is a go to fave.  The leftovers heat up wonderfully for lunchboxes, and dare I say taste better the next day.  I pair it with my Coconut Carrot Rice for a totally kid approved meal!  We like to heat up some roti or paratha on the side and dip in samosa chutney too!

bowl of mango dal with cilantro garnish, gold spoon

close up of plate of coconut carrot rice and mango dal

What do you serve with Mango Dal?

My favorite way to serve Mango Dal is heaped over my Coconut Carrot Rice. But you could really serve it with any grain, or along side a salad.  And it would be delicious paired with some samosas!

  • Coconut Carrot Rice
  • Instant Pot Basmati Rice
  • Instant Pot Quinoa
  • Bulgur Salad with Chickpeas, Mint, and Pine Nuts

front view of bowl of mango dal with blue napkin in background

Let’s Make Mango Dal!

You’re just a few steps away from this yummy, cozy dish!  Leave a note in the comments below and let me know how you like it!

fried dandelions

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Mango Lentil Dal

Mango Dal is packed with protein and fiber, has a hint of sweetness from the mangoes, a touch of earthiness from the spices, and is a gorgeous orange color. 
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Sarah De la Cruz

Ingredients

  • 1 pound red lentils (they are actually orange, see note)
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt divided
  • 1 Tablespoon canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 pound frozen mangoes (you can use fresh if you prefer)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Place lentils in a colander and rinse until the water runs clear. Combine lentils, 4 cups water, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until water is mostly absorbed and lentils are falling apart.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pot over medium heat (I like my large enamel cast iron pot for this). Add cumin seeds and cook until fragrant and starting to brown, about 30 seconds.
  • Add onion; cook, stirring, until soft and beginning to brown, 4 to 6 minutes.
  • Add garlic, ginger, coriander, turmeric and the remaining teaspoon of salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add mangoes, stir, and set aside over low heat.
  • Stir the cooked lentils (and any remaining water) into the onion mango mixture. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more, allowing the flavors to meld together.
  • Stir in cilantro. Serve with Coconut Carrot Rice, basmati rice, roti, or paratha.

Notes

If you can't find red lentils at your grocery store you can use green lentils.  They will not be as soft as red, and will hold their shape, but they will still taste delicious!

Filed Under: Entree, Recipe Tagged With: Indian, lentil, mango

Previous Post: « Coconut Carrot Rice
Next Post: 5 Ingredient Mango Salsa »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura says

    April 25, 2023 at 4:49 pm

    This is so good! Made it for dinner tonight and made some mango lassis to go with it. Will definitely make it again! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      April 27, 2023 at 12:32 pm

      Oh, what a perfectly delicious combination! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating—very much appreciated!

      Reply
  2. Christine says

    July 31, 2022 at 10:32 am

    Hello! Sounds delicious! Can I make this a day in advance for meal prep? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      July 31, 2022 at 11:07 pm

      Yes, I think it would hold up well! I often save some for leftovers—its one of our favorites!

      Reply
  3. Jenn says

    September 11, 2016 at 5:50 am

    This looks so good, Sarah! I love dal and I love that you added some fruit. So good1

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Restaurant Style Vegan Lentil Soup - Fried Dandelions says:
    January 8, 2019 at 11:01 pm

    […] dissolve and turn into mush when they cook.  They are perfect for use in soups and dal (like my Mango Lentil Dal), but for a firmer texture in salads you might want to use green, brown, or black […]

    Reply
  2. +30 Mango Recipes [Best Blogger shares] | Masala Herb says:
    June 13, 2018 at 6:32 am

    […] Mango Dal Curry […]

    Reply
  3. +17 Indian Lentil Recipes - Collection of Easy Dal Dishes [Healthy] says:
    January 4, 2018 at 7:27 am

    […] Mango Dal […]

    Reply
  4. Gluten Free on a Budget: 10 Dollar Dinners - Cricket’s Confections says:
    August 1, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    […] 7. Mango Lentil Dal by Fried Dandelions Vegetarian cooking is always a great way to stick to your budget. I love this one because there are so many different layers of flavor. While it’s definitely a 10 dollar dinner, it’s also a great meal prep lunch! […]

    Reply
  5. Coconut Carrot Rice - Fried Dandelions says:
    September 12, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    […] Irving and I first discovered the original recipe for this dish in our farm box many years ago—it was on a print out along with a big bundle of fresh carrots.  We’ve been tweaking and adjusting it ever since—this is our version!  This rice is so delicious that I can eat straight out of the pot. It is total comfort food to me, the same way mac and cheese is.  It pairs really well with another favorite of ours, Mango Lentil Dal. […]

    Reply

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