Panchratna Dal is a Dal very popular in India. As the name suggests, it is made by combining five kinds of dal common to Indian households. It is also known as Panchmel dal. The word "Panchratna" means Five Jewels. Lentils are an integral part of Indian cuisine and this is a dish best served at special occasions. It is usually accompanied by an Indian flat-bread or Roti.
Composition of a Pachratna Dal
Traditionally, a Panchratna Dal mixture contains equal quantities of Toor, Urad, Moong, Chana and Moath Dal. The dal mixture is first soaked in water to soften the lentils. This mixture is then pressure-cooked for 15 minutes till the dal is cooked. The cooked dal is then flavoured with Butter, chillies, Cumin, Cloves, Cardamom, Ginger and Garam Masala.
References
Panchratna Dal Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA