There I was—minding my own business, scrolling through reels of cats knocking things over, when my daughter barged into the room with a glint in her eye and her YouTube history in hand.
“Mom, you HAVE to see this dal,” she said.
Now, I’m used to dramatic entries. After all, I live with a teenager and a tween. But this wasn’t about the latest BLACKPINK song or who’s the coolest dancer in the group. This was about food.
More specifically—Ranveer Brar’s Nizami Dal.Yes, the man who makes dal sound like poetry. She had been watching a MasterChef episode (I swear this child switches from K-pop to cooking faster than I can say “masala”), and somehow, one click led her to the YouTube rabbit hole of Chef Ranveer Brar.
And there it was—a video titled “Nizami Dal | Ranveer Brar”. It wasn’t flashy or overhyped. No drama, no food levitating in slow motion. Just a pot of slow-cooked, golden mix dals—generously laced with ghee—bubbling on the stove, while Ranveer Brar narrated like he was sharing a royal kitchen’s best-kept secret.
Food trend vs Mom’s reality
Now let’s be honest—how many of us have tried those viral food trends we keep bookmarking and saving like there’s a quiz on them at the end of the year?
There’s the Dalgona coffee phase, the 3-ingredient Nutella brownies (that were really 5 ingredients), and that feta pasta which I lovingly renamed “the salty blob bake.”
But this… this felt different.
This wasn’t a trend. It was tradition—slow-simmered, ghee-soaked, and spiced with love. Plus, the ingredient list was surprisingly normal—no unicorn dust or liquid nitrogen involved.
Nizami Dal Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Oil
- Prepared Onion Coriander Paste
- ¼ tsp Asafoetida
- 1 tbsp Coriander Powder
- ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 cup Curd, beaten
- 1 tbsp Degi Red Chili Powder
- A pinch of Cumin Powder
- 2 tbsp Fried Onion (optional)
- Boiled Dal
- 1–2 tbsp Ghee
- 2 tbsp Fried Onion (optional)
- ½ inch Ginger (peeled & julienned)
- 2 tbsp Fresh Coriander Leaves
Prepare tampering/ tadka
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Ghee
- 5–6 dry Red Chillies
- ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
Process
Wash & Soak Dal
Rinse green moong dal, chana dal, and toor dal well. Soak them in water for 10–15 minutes.
Boil dal
Pressure cook the soaked dals with water, ghee, salt, and turmeric for 3–4 whistles. Let it cool, mash well, and set aside.
Make the green paste
Blend onions, green chillies, coriander leaves, salt, oil, and ginger into a smooth paste. Set aside.
Cook the Dal
Heat oil in a pan, add the prepared paste, and sauté for 5–6 minutes till golden. Add asafoetida, coriander powder, turmeric, and curd. Cook well.
Then add red chilli powder, a pinch of cumin powder, fried onions, the mashed dal, and some ghee. Cook for 4–5 minutes.
Finish with fried onions, ginger, coriander leaves, and the tadka. Mix well.
Make the tadka/tempering
Heat oil and ghee in a pan, add dry red chillies and cumin seeds. Let them splutter. Use as garnish.
To Serve
Pour the dal into a serving bowl, top with tadka, coriander, and fried onions. Serve hot with roti or naan.
And just when I thought I had earned my cool-mom badge for the day, my teenage son walked in.
Let me just tell you: this boy avoids anything new like I avoid my gym membership emails. His food preferences start with “anything dry” and end with “no onion, please.” But something magical happened.
He sniffed the air.
Paused.
Raised an eyebrow.
And said, “What’s cooking? It smells… nice?
”Nice? Did he just say nice? To dal?
Be still, my mom heart.
Looked up and said, “This doesn’t even taste like dal. It’s actually… good. Like, restaurant-good.”
I wanted to record it and submit it for historical archives. Or at least frame the words on the wall.
I am sure, If you’ve got a picky eater at home, you’ll totally get this.
There were no “Can I eat later?” or “Is there bread?” or “Where’s the ketchup?” questions. Just silence, chewing, and an occasional, “Mmm.”
Ranveer Brar, if you’re reading this, you made me feel like the kitchen queen I always knew I could be. Bless you and your tadka.
Now I make Nizami Dal at least twice a month. It’s not your everyday “ghar ki dal.” It’s rich, layered, and tastes like it was meant to be savored, not rushed. The yogurt gives it a little tang, the spices bring depth, and the ghee at the end? Pure luxury.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a cooking experiment. It became a core memory. My daughter discovered a chef she admires. My son found a dal he doesn’t dread. I found a moment where the kitchen wasn’t about rush or routine—it was about joy, smells, laughter, and togetherness.
So if you’ve been thinking about that dal recipe on Instagram, or your kids are tired of eating Maggi—give this Nizami Dal a try. It’s totally worth it. And who knows? Even your picky teen might love it.
Have you tried any food trends with your kids? Did it end in applause or a kitchen disaster? Let me know in the comments. And if you try this dal—don’t forget to tag me and Chef Ranveer Brar too.
This blog post is a part of #BlogchatterFoodFest
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mister Tikku.
As someone who grew up on dal and now has to convince the next generation to love it too, your tips really spoke to me. The little tweaks you suggested make it both kid-friendly and still full of flavor. I loved how simple, no-fuss, and realistic the recipe is—totally something I’d try on a busy weekday. Thanks for making comfort food so accessible and lovable again!
Thanks dear. Do give it a try and check out Ranveer Brar’s video for a more authentic touch.
You’ve got me curious enough to want to make this Dal! When kids approve of something, you know it is almost always better than good! Also, ready your post had me salivating and made me hungry!
Dal is a staple in our home but with so many cuisines popping up, the kids sometimes do not wish to have it. This Nizami Dal recipe is quite different and I am sure we all will love it. I am saving this one , thanks!
This is a great recipe. I feel we don’t need much in a menu if the dal is so tasty.
My husband loved the pachmarhi dal, I used to make.You made this dal with three and mine would be 5. I have somehow not heard of Nizami Dal. I am going to try out your recipe soon. By the way, my son was just the opposite. He always wanted a new dish, and I used to conjure up novel recipe names for him.
Anjali, you could tag Ranveer Brar on socials and your son could say thank you! A dal which brings the family together is certainly an auspicious dal. All the three dals are my favourite, so am tempted to try this.
Great 👍- love the way you describe the whole ‘experience ‘ of making the dish – from the start to finish 😊
Thanks a bunch.. Praise from a pro like you,that’s a tasty compliment 😆
hahha.. this boy avoids anything new like I avoid gym membership emails… lol.. that cracked me up.. some of these online recipes are such gems really
I came across a bun dosa recipe by Kunal Kapoor and it’s become our favourite so much so that the husband has also become an expert in making it.. doling out dosas like a chef himself.. another one I tried and turned out excellent was a palak khicdi recipe on an Instagram reel.. will try out this dal too now coz as you said it doesn’t involve exotic ingredients 😀
My mother had hard time raising us as we had so many tantrums eating what was cooked and demand something different. This blog reminded me of my childhood.
I feel DAL is the underrated comfort food. On tiring days, sick days, cozy days I feel DAL is the most precious food on plate. Thank you for the recipe!
Loved the way you wrote about it. Saving the recipe too.
Dal undoubtedly the best home food. We all know mothers food is always healthy but being tasty is a rare phenomenon.
This recipe is such a win: simple, nourishing, and kid-approved. I love how you included tips to adjust the spice levels.
Adding this to my weekly meal rotation for sure!
The name itself sounds royal &may be the taste too. so, I will give it a try.
Anjali, you know what? I love dal, and this dal… I have to make it. Thanks for the whole story, but for me, yes, I got that damn dal recipe, and now I have to make it…tons of thanks.
I come from a family of dal lovers. We had dal even with rajma and chhole so this sounds right up my alley. I must try it soon.
I love how simple and comforting this daal recipe is! As a mom, finding dishes my kids enjoy is always a win. The mild flavors and healthy goodness make it perfect for family dinners. Can’t wait to try this soon!
Firstly I love how you have included Blackpink in the post. My elder is a preteen and shes already obsessed with the group. That’s the comfort food you have mentioned. Its a fact that kids love the simple food sometime
This looks so easy and comforting! My son is becoming a picky eater but loves dal when it’s made mildly spiced, definitely trying this version soon. Thanks for sharing this recipe of Nizami dal that still feels wholesome!
Luckily, both my kids love dal. A generous helping with chawal aside, my son loves to have a katori dal topped with ghee. I might’ve seen this Nizami dal recipe during my Ranveer Brar phase too. 😁Sounds yummy. Will surely try this.
Nothing compares to dal. Like they say it feels like home. I have never cooked the Nizami dal and will surely try it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
What an amazing post and I am not going to deny the fact that I am among those mommy’s who bookmark food reels and videos…. Yes, Yes, Yes I do…. and I love it. Sometimes these recipes actually become a life saver for you when you really want to make your simple regular recipes intersting and super yummy. Tara Dalal to our Madhu Mam, from Kunal Kapoor to Pankaj bhadoria…. I do love their reels. Aur rahi bat dal ki… I also keep experimenting with it in my style and Patidev ko acha bhi lagta ha swad. But it feels heaven when my little one says ” Mumma aur do na” 🙂
dal and rice is like a comfort food!!!! and this posts made me crave it
You got me curious. Must try this
I love how you’ve balanced tradition and taste; slow-simmered dals with simple ingredients yet elevated through ghee and tempering. It’s comfort food that feels fancy enough to share. Plus, the part about your son calling it ‘nice’ had me smiling, that’s when parenting wins!
Ah, this sure sounds so much fun! I hope my kid will grow up to having a favourite chef and recipe.
This recipe is mouthwatering and I can’t wait to try this out soon.
Rabit hole of Ranveer Brar is the correct description you can give to his content! It’s really adictive.
Dal should be an integral part of the kids’ diet, especially if they are vegetarians. Such great and practical recipes. I usually make a new dal everyday for my kiddos.