We love lentils whether its soup or stew. Curry or sweets. Lentils in any form is great! It is great for protein. Snacking on lentils help you avoid salty junk food like fried chips and sweet cookies. Fried moong dal, masala chana dal have been a good snack to all of us as kids. Usually these lentils are deep fried. However, air fryer chana dal will not disappoint you.
Now, with sedentary lifestyle, it is better to go low oil. Roasted chana dal snack recipe is simple yet a great way to have lentils. Air frying helps avoid extra oil and yet relish the same taste as kids.
This recipe is similar to air fried moong dal and air fried moong beans recipe.
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Benefits of chana dal
- There is high protein in chana dal.
- Great for iron.
- Keeps your heart healthy.
- Great for magnesium.
- It lowers blood pressure.
- It is high in fiber and is fat & cholesterol free.
Ingredients
- oil or ghee
- chana dal or split chickpea lentils
- Salt and pepper as per taste
- Refer to recipe card for quantity.
How to make roasted chana dal?
- Soak chana daal for 2-3 hours.
- Add chana dal to boiling water. Let it cook until it comes to a boil. Take it off the flame and keep it aside for 20 mins.
- Pass the dal through a sieve to remove excess water.
- Preheat the air fryer at 210 deg C for 10 mins.Spread half the channa dal on crisping tray / parchment and cook for 2 mins.
- Add 2 teaspoon oil or ghee and mix it.
- Air fry lentils for 8-10 mins at 210 deg C and mix 2-3 times ,spray oil once in between. Repeat for remaining channa dhal.Do not overcook as the dal will turn more hard once it cools down.
- Add the spices ,mix well. Store it in air tight container once it cools.
Related links
Variations
You can make any roasted lentils in air fryer like moong dal. For moong dal namkeen in air fryer, refer to our moong dal air fryer recipe. You can also make it as spicy or as bland as you like.
Storage
Store it in an air tight container once it completely cools down.
Air fried chana dal recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer crisper tray or parchment paper
- sauce pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup chana dal
- 4 tsp. oil or ghee
- Salt as per taste
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder or as per taste
- 1 teaspoon dry mango powder add more as per taste
Instructions
- Soak chana dal for 2-3 hours.
- Add dal to boiling water. Let it cook until it comes to a boil.
- Turn off the gas,Keep it aside for 10 minutes.
- Pass the dhal through a sieve to remove excess water.
- Preheat the air fryer at 210 deg C for 10 mins.
- Spread half the dahl on crisping tray / parchment paper and cook for 2 mins.
- Add 2 tsp. oil or ghee and mix it.
- Cook for 8-10 mins at 210 deg C and mix 2-3 times in between. Do not overcook as the dal will turn more hard once it cools down.
- Once done, take it outside,keep it aside.
- Repeat for remaining chana dhal.
- Add the spices ,mix well. Store it in air tight container once it cools.
Notes
- You can also deep fry the dal if you do not have air fryer.
- If you chana dal is hard - Few things you need to check -
- Is the dal soft when you cook in hot water
- Cook for less time in the airfryer (2-3 minutes less)
- Oil is mixed well with the dal in the airfryer.
Nutrition
FAQs
Yes it is full of protein and high in fibre too.
Akshay says
Hi! I have a question 🙂 Why do you first air-fry half of the dal for 2 mins and then take it out and mix it with the rest of the dal? Or is the point to only do half of the dal at a time (depending on the size of the airfryer) so that there's space for the dal to proper air-fry? Thanks!
bhavana bhatia says
hi Akshay
we have air fried the dal first so that any moisture/water is dried up, then tossed with oil and cooked further.
You are right with the point on air frying half dal at a time due to the size constraints.
Thanks