Anupy Singla

Dal with makhan (butter) is a more decadent version of Indian dal that has become a standard, go-to dish on Indian-restaurant menus. This slow cooker recipe makes it that much easier to make at home.

The sweet-and-sour components of this dal reflect the importance of sweet notes in food from the region, while nuts add a comforting crunch.

This is a common dal in North Indian Punjabi households.

Cookbook author Anupy Singla uses a split and skinned chickpea, called chana dal, for her kids as an afterschool treat to or on the way to soccer practice.