Odia Recipes

Dalma is Odisha's everyday comfort dish — toor dal slow-cooked with a mix of vegetables like raw banana and pumpkin, finished with a fragrant panch phoron tempering. Simple, wholesome and vegetable-forward, it's a lentil dish unlike any other regional dal.

Dalma at a Glance CuisineOdia CountryIndia MealLunch CourseMain Food TypeVegan DifficultyEasy Preparation15 minutes Cooking30 minutes Total timeAbout 45 minutes Servings4 Suggested serving1.5 cups Dalma Ingredients 1 cup toor dal; 2 cups mixed vegetables (raw banana, pumpkin, eggplant, carrot); 1/4 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp cumin seeds; a pinch of hing; 1-2 dried red chillies; 1 tsp panch phoron; a small piece of ginger, grated; salt to taste; 2 tbsp ghee or oil; coriander leaves to garnish. How to Make Dalma Pressure-cook toor dal with turmeric, mixed vegetables and salt until both the dal and vegetables are fully soft, about 15-18 minutes. Lightly mash the mixture with a ladle, keeping some texture from t…