Complete Guide to Indian Lentils (Dal): Hindi & English Names with Uses
By Ekam Indian Groceries
Indian cooking is incomplete without lentils (dal). They are affordable, nutritious, protein-rich, and form the backbone of everyday Indian meals—from simple home-style dal to festive dishes. At Ekam Indian Groceries, we stock a wide variety of Indian lentils to suit every regional recipe and dietary need.
This blog is your complete guide to Indian lentils, with their Hindi/Punjabi names and English names, along with short usage tips to help you choose the right dal.
What Are Lentils (Dal)?
Lentils are dried pulses obtained from legumes. In Indian cuisine, “dal” refers to both the raw lentil and the cooked dish. Different lentils vary in taste, texture, cooking time, and nutritional value.
Complete List of Indian Lentils – Hindi to English
Most Common Indian Dals
- Toor Dal (Arhar Dal) – Pigeon Pea
- Moong Dal (Split, Yellow) – Split Green Gram (Skinned)
- Moong Dal (Whole) – Whole Green Gram
- Masoor Dal (Red) – Red Lentils
- Masoor Dal (Whole, Brown) – Brown Lentils
- Urad Dal (Split, White) – Split Black Gram (Skinned)
- Urad Dal (Whole) – Whole Black Gram
- Chana Dal – Split Chickpeas
Beans & Whole Pulses Commonly Used as Dal
- Rajma – Red Kidney Beans
- Kabuli Chana – White Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)
- Kala Chana – Black Chickpeas
- Lobia / Chawli – Black-Eyed Peas
- Safed Lobia – White Cowpeas
- Vatana (White/Green) – Dried Peas
Lesser-Known & Traditional Indian Lentils
- Horse Gram (Kulthi / Kulath) – Horse Gram
- Matki – Moth Beans
- Moth Dal – Split Moth Beans
- Masoor Chilka – Split Brown Lentils with Skin
- Moong Chilka – Split Green Gram with Skin
- Urad Chilka – Split Black Gram with Skin
How to Use Different Dals
- Toor Dal – Everyday dal, sambar, Gujarati dal
- Moong Dal – Light, easy to digest; khichdi, soups
- Masoor Dal – Quick cooking; daily meals, curries
- Urad Dal – Dal makhani, idli, dosa batter
- Chana Dal – Dry sabzis, sweets, dal fry
- Rajma & Chole – North Indian curries, meal bowls
Health Benefits of Indian Lentils
- High in plant-based protein
- Rich in fiber for digestion
- Low in fat and cholesterol-free
- Excellent source of iron, folate & minerals
- Ideal for vegetarian and vegan diets
Buy Authentic Indian Lentils at Ekam Indian Groceries
At Ekam Indian Groceries, we offer:
- Premium quality Indian dals & pulses
- Trusted Indian brands
- Fresh stock at competitive prices
- Available in-store and online (coming soon)
Whether you’re cooking a simple dal-chawal or a festive Punjabi rajma, you’ll find everything you need under one roof.