Moth Beans, what a delightful name! It is pronounced as Moat beans, the delights of transliteration not making that immediately obvious. They have a delightful flavour – rich and nutty. The tiny beans go well in salads, snacks and curries, and they can be sprouted too.

Today we are cooking a dal with Moth Beans, also called Matki Beans, in the Maharashtrian style. It is tangy and delicious.

Similar recipes include Matki Sprouts Misal, Lemon Dal, Moringa Leaf Dal, Daikon Dal, and Dal Tadka.

Browse all of our Moth Bean dishes and all of our Dals. All of our Indian recipes are here, and our Indian Essentials are here. Or explore our Late Autumn recipes.

Dal with Moth Beans

ingredients

1 cup moth beans, soaked overnight

2 tspn ghee

1 tspn brown mustard seeds

2 cloves garlic

1cm piece ginger

1 green chilli, chopped

2 white onions, finely chopped (set aside some onion slices for garnish)

1 tspn cumin powder

0.5 tspn turmeric powder

1 tspn coriander powder

1 tspn Indian red chilli powder

1 tspn jaggery or palm sugar

1 tomato, finely chopped or pureed

1 tspn garam masala

sea salt, to taste

lemon juice

coriander leaves, to garnish

onion slices, to garnish

method

Puree the garlic, ginger and chillies into a paste. Put aside.

In a kadhai or other pan, heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. Allow them to pop and then add the green chilli-garlic-ginger paste and fry for a few seconds before adding the onions.

Cook the onions over medium heat until they are translucent and beginning to colour. Add the cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric and chilli powder and mix well, Then add the tomatoes and again mix well. Add the jaggery and some salt to taste and continue to saute for some minutes.

Now add the pureed tomatoes, and the drained moth beans with sufficient water to cover.Simmer for 20 – 30 mins until the moth beans are tender. Add the garam masala, and mix through well. Add a squeeze of lemon juice.

Remove from the heat, cover with a lid and allow to sit for 10 mins so the flavours can develop.

Garnish with coriander leaves and onions slices, and serve with rice and a spicy vegetable dish, or with paratha.

recipe notes and alternatives

This can be made with moth bean sprouts.