Dal Cooking Tips: What can we say about dal in India? Whether it’s lunch or dinner, if there is no dal on the plate, it feels incomplete. And why not? Our dal is number one, not only in taste but also in health. It is a treasure trove of protein, fibre, vitamins and many more nutrients. That is why dal is called a ‘perfect meal’. However, do you know that you will only reap the benefits of dal when you prepare it in the right way?
Yes, you read it right! Often, we make small mistakes while preparing dal, which reduces the essential nutrients in the dal. Well-known nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar has mentioned these mistakes in one of her posts, which most of us are not even aware of. Let’s find out what the experts say about this and how we can make our dal even healthier!
Mistake number 1: Forgetting to soak dal!
Are you also one of those people who wash dal and put it directly in the cooker? If yes, then this is a big mistake! Nutritionist Shalini says that the first and most crucial step in making lentils is to soak them. Not more, just soaking them for 20 minutes is enough.
Why is this important?
Lentils contain some anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid. These phytic acids prevent the full absorption of iron, zinc, protein, and other minerals in our body. When you soak lentils, these phytic acids are removed. This allows our digestive system to absorb protein more effectively, enabling us to reap the full benefits of lentils.
So, remember this for next time: do not forget to soak them a little before making lentils! Many of us do this, right? Pouring the water in which the lentils were soaked straight into the drain! But nutritionist Shalini considers this the biggest mistake.
Why not throw away the lentil water?
Many essential nutrients like Vitamin B and C dissolve in the water in which you soak the lentils. If you throw away this water, then you are directly letting these essential vitamins go to waste. Shalini Sudhakar clearly states that the next time you make lentils, instead of throwing away the soaking water, use it to cook the lentils. This will make your lentils even more nutritious.
So you see, how healthy these small things can make our everyday lentils! Next time, whenever you make lentils, definitely follow these tips and treat your family to a delicious, nutritious meal.