Chana Dal chutney makes a good accompaniment with idli, dosa, gundapongal and even hot, steamed rice. Bengal gram chutney is easy to prepare. A few ingredients from the pantry, a little of your time and your chutney is ready.
What is chutney ?
Chutney is an integral part of lunch/ thali  in Indian cuisine. It is one of the essentials in any South Indian home as the breakfast mainly comprises of idli and dosa. Chutney is an accompaniment made by roasting chilli, coconut, along with lentil or vegetables and a few other substances with a seasoning over it.  It is spicy and makes a good accompaniment with any meal.
Different kind of chutney
Different varieties of chutney are prepared as the need for different dishes arises each day. Making a chutney is less cumbersome. It make a good accompaniment with hot steamed rice and a dollop of ghee. Using peels of vegetables to make a chutney  conserves the waste. One is not deprived of the nutrients that are usually lost by throwing in garbage. I have shared orange peel chutney and ridge gourd chutney earlier.
The other chutney variety shared earlier are raw tomato chutney, sonth chutney, Â green chutney, Â gongura chutney, mint chutney
Today, I am sharing a chutney made using Chana Dal. Bengal gram chutney pairs well with idli, dosa or gundapongal. One can use it with hot steamed rice too. It is quite common in many parts of Karnataka to eat chutney and rice.
bengal gram chutney
Bengal gram chutney recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1+1Â teaspoon oil
- 4 red chilli
- 2 tablespoon bengal gram
- a few curry leaves
- 1 table spoon coconut
- 1onion
- 1 tomato
- little coriander
- tamarind
- salt
For seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
- a little asafoetida
- a little turmeric powder
Method:
- Take a little oil in a pan, roast bengal gram, put it aside. Next add red chilli and curry leaves, once they are crisp, put them aside.
- Add a little oil, saute the onion. Once they are translucent, add tomato to it. Once it is soft, add coriander to it. Saute for a minute, let it cool.
- At first, grind the lentil and green chilli. Now, put the cooked onion and tomato and pulse.
- Finally, add salt and tamarind to it, give a final pulse.
- Put the chutney in a bowl.
- Make seasoning, pour it over the chutney and serve.
About the group:
This post is part of Shhh Secret Cooking Group. Priya Vijayakrishnan suggested the theme.as Chutney. Â I liked her kunukku paniyaram and bookmarked it to try. She is also my partner for this month and the secret ingredients given are curry leaves and tamarind. I gave urad dal and turmeric, she has made raw mango chutney, known as mango thogayal.
Bengal gram chutney
Ingredients
Method
- Take a little oil in a pan, roast bengal gram, put it aside. Next add red chilli and curry leaves, once they are crisp, put them aside.
- Add a little oil, saute the onion. Once they are translucent, add tomato to it. Once it is soft, add coriander to it. Saute for a minute, let it cool.
- At first, grind the lentil and green chilli. Now, put the cooked onion and tomato and pulse.
- Finally, add salt and tamarind to it, give a final pulse.
- Put the chutney in a bowl.
- Make seasoning, pour it over the chutney and serve.
Pin Chana Dal Chutney to your food board:
Bengal gram chutney
Chana dal chutney definitely looks fiery hot and chatpata. Would love to enjoy it with some hot idli or uttapam. An easy chutney to make as we normally have all the ingredients at hand.
Yes, most of the ingredients are available. I like this version as it has onions in it
Looks nice and spicy. It is a nice idea of using chana dal for a change instead of roasted gram . I will give it a try too. Perfectwith South Indian snacks and tiffin items.
Yes, it is versatile to use. Thank you for the visit.
A very healthy and a protein rich chutney this is with chana dal. Will go so well with idli , dosa or chila.
Thank you Renu.
Love the colour of the chutney, I would have never have guessed such and exciting recipe with the simple channa dal. I will love this as it will keep well in the fridge for a while too.
Yes, stays good in refrigerator Seema. Glad you liked it. Thank you.
Chana dal chutney looks so spicy and delicious. I mix chana dal and urad dal. Your recipe sounds interesting with onion and tomato. Would love to try this some time soon.
Thank you Preethi. We too make that version also at home.
Chana dal chutney looks so spicy and delicious Jaya. It is a good combo with chillas and idlis..loved that it can be made in jiffy with all the ingredients available in our pantry.
Thank you Swathi. It is versatile to use.
This chana dal chutney looks fiery hot. A delightful treat with breakfast dishes like Idli, dosa or Pessaratu.
Yes Poonam. Thank you.
Chana dal chutney looks so spicy and delicious and does look like a perfect accompaniment for chutneys and idlis.
My grandmother use to prepare this chutney, she mix this chutney in hot rice with dollop of ghee. We all grand children’s are big fan of this chutney in our house. Loved ur version alot.
Good to know that. Thanks for the visit Vasus Veg Kitchen.
Thank you Anu Kollon.
Chana dal chutney looks tangy hot and superbly delicious. I would love to have it with hot steamed rice. Loved that you used all the easily available ingredients. A must try recipe.
Superb chutney to go along with some piping hot rice and ghee and a tall glass of chilled butter milk ..curry leaves chutney with tomato is so tongue tickling that will increase someone’s appetite instantly
Thank you Priya
Thank you Sujata. Do give a try to this.
Chana dal chutney looks lip smacking and delicious. I love spicy chutneys and would love to drizzle sesame oil on top and enjoy with some hot idli
Thank you Narmadha. Yes, adding sesame oil is a good idea.
Wow! this chutney is delicious and will taste great with hot rice and ghee. I love the use of tomato and onions in this yum chutney. Nice fiery chutney and a glass of majiige! My weekend plan!
That’s a nice way to end with a glass of majjige Archana. Thanks for the visit.
This chana dal chutney looks simply amazing, I love the colour! I am definitely going to give it a try as I can imagine how well it will go with everything, and how it will liven up a simple meal.
Thank you Azlin. Do let me know how it was.
Such a spicy and delicious-looking chutney using chana dal Jaya !
It seems super easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.