During the colder months, Bengalis often prepare a hearty lentil soup called mulo diye motor dal. This dish combines yellow split peas with radishes to create a thick and satisfying meal.
One of the things I enjoy most about winter is indulging in the seasonal delicacies that bring me joy. Lately, I've been spending my time at home cooking up a storm, even trying my hand at baking. Since my weekdays are swamped with work, I reserve the weekends for my culinary adventures. Just the other week, I prepared a long-awaited dish called Mulo Diye Motor Dal, a delightful lentil soup infused with the flavors of radish. Its recipe is definitely worth sharing here.
Jump to:
- The family banter over Mulo Diye Dal!
- Mulo diye Motor Dal; the winter special!
- Yellow Pea cooked with Radish, a Bengali Vegetarian Daal Recipe
- Here's how I cook Mulo diye Motor Dal aka Bengali Yellow split pea with Radish at Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Recipe Card
- Dal Recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Related Winter Recipes
- Have you tried the Mulo diye Matar Daal recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's the Mulor Dal Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board!
During the same week, my parents were visiting, so I had no choice but to stick to our traditional Bengali cuisine throughout. On Saturday, I treated everyone to a satisfying all-vegetarian meal. However I have no complaints, as each dish, including Shukto, Mulo Diye Motor Dal, Alu Potoler Dalna, Borir Jhal, and Tomato Chutney, was comforting and delicious. It had been a while since I last enjoyed this particular dal. My grandmother used to make an incredible Matar Daal, adding a touch of ghee. But during the winter, the addition of radish made it even more exceptional.
The family banter over Mulo Diye Dal!
"Momma, Pasta absolutely despises radish! She refuses to eat it!
A few days ago, I made this humble Yellow Split Pea with Radish. To my surprise, my daughter told me that she hates radish. Curious, I asked her how she knew she hated radish. Her answer was quite amusing. She said, "Momma, Papa hates radish, so that's why I hate it too!"
I served her the dish and asked her to try it. My daughter is not a picky eater, however, she loves to follow her father, even his food preferences. She knows how to handle him, but she wouldn't dare do the same with me! Needless to say, she ate the dish without any further questions and later told me that she actually liked it! Her father also tried it and enjoyed it!
Mulo diye Motor Dal; the winter special!
In Bengali households, we cook dal almost every day, especially in Ghoti homes. We like our dal to have a slightly sweet taste with a touch of ghee, except for Biulir Dal. If we don't boil and mash Motor Dal, which is also known as Motor Dal bhate, we cook it with ghee. We add seasonal vegetables to it, including radishes, and the end result is a bowl full of joy.
Yellow Pea cooked with Radish, a Bengali Vegetarian Daal Recipe
I wouldn't classify Mulo Diye Motor Daal as an ancestral recipe. It simply isn't. This particular dish is actually quite common among Bengali families, especially during the winter season. We prepare it just like our neighbors do. However, there is something special about it, a touch of magic. As I cooked the Mulo diye Motor Dal, memories of my grandmother, Dida, and her incredible cooking skills flooded my mind. She was a phenomenal cook, and her Dal was the best I've ever had. My mother sometimes claims that I cook almost as well as Dida used to make it. And my father says that I inherited my love for cooking from my paternal grandmother, Thakuma. Both of them, the mothers of my parents, were renowned for their culinary talents. I never had the chance to meet Thakuma, but I grew up enjoying the meals cooked by Dida.
The vegetarian dish was so delicious that I couldn't resist sharing the recipe on my blog. This simple Dal definitely deserves recognition.
Here's how I cook Mulo diye Motor Dal aka Bengali Yellow split pea with Radish at Debjanir Rannaghar!
Recipe Card
Mulo diye Motor Dal
Bengali winters witness the preparation of a hearty lentil soup called Mulo diye Motor Dal, where yellow split peas are cooked with radishes.
Ingredients
- 150 g Motor Dal/ Yellow Split Peas
- 3 Radish
- 50 g Cilantro/ Coriander leaves optional
- 4 Green Chili
- 2 Dry Red Chilli
- 1 Tsp. Nigella Seed
- ½ Tsp. Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar
- 1 Tsp. Salt or to taste
- 1.5 Tbsp. Ghee
Instructions
- Clean the lentils and remove any impurities.
- Remove the leaves and peel from the radishes, then dice them into small squares.
- In a pressure cooker, combine the lentils, turmeric powder, and three times the amount of water.
- Close the lid and cook on low heat until one whistle sounds.
- Once the pressure has released, open the lid and add the radish, cilantro, and halved green chilies. Close the lid again with the weight on.
- Continue cooking on low heat until two whistles sound, then turn off the heat.
- In a pan, heat ghee and temper it with nigella seeds and dried red chili.
- Add the boiled lentils and vegetables to the pan.
- Season with salt and sugar, then mix well with a ladle.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn off the heat.
- Serve hot with steamed rice.
Notes
- Coriander leaves are optional, but I personally like to add a few.
- To reduce calories, you can substitute oil for ghee.
- You can also omit the sugar if desired.
Nutrition
Dal Recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Tok Dal (Also known as Kancha Aam diye Toker Dal)
- Bengali Veg Daal (also known as Picnic Special Vegetable Daal | Shobji Diye Moong Dal | Yellow Split Pea cooked with Veggies)
- Masoor Dal Bhorta (also known as MAsoor Dal Bhate)
- Pyaz Diye Masoor Dal (Also known as Bengali Red Lentil Soup with Onion)
- Narkel diye Cholar Dal (Also known as Bengali Cholar Dal)
- Sukhi Urad Dal (Also known as North Indian dry Urad Daal)
- Bengali Macher Matha diye Bhaja Muger Dal (Also known as Macher Muro Diye Dal)
- Egg Tadka (also known as Kolkata street-style Dim Torka)
- Pui Saag diye Masoor Dal (Also known as Red Lentil Soup with Malabar Spinach)
- Rajma Chawal (Also known as Rajma Curry)
- Bengali Kolai Dal (Also known as Biulir Dal or Bengali Urad Dal)
- Bhaja Moong er Daal a(Also known as Sona Muger Dal)
Related Winter Recipes
Have you tried the Mulo diye Matar Daal recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
Please inform me of your experience and feel free to send a photo to dolonchttrj@gmail.com. Additionally, you can find me on various social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Google News, X, and Thread. Don't forget to use the hashtag #debjanirrannaghar when sharing your attempts at my recipes or if you have any questions or recipe requests.
Here's the Mulor Dal Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board!
About Debjani Chatterjee Alam
I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.
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