Ab2030 at 03:46, 13 April 2026

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{{Short description|Lentil & rice dish from South Asia}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Dal bhat
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| alternate_name = Dal chawal<br>Dhal bhaat (Caribbean)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Naidu |first1=Surya |title=Cooking up the 'Calaloo' Nation: Gender, Race and National Cuisine in the Imagining of Trinidad and Tobago |date=August 1998 |publisher=University of British Columbia |page=30 |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/download/pdf/831/1.0088481/2 |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
| country = [[Nepal]], [[Indian subcontinent]]
| region = [[Terai]], [[Bihar]]
| national_cuisine = [[Nepali cuisine|Nepal]], [[Indian cuisine|India]], [[Pakistani cuisine|Pakistan]], [[Bangladeshi cuisine|Bangladesh]], [[Bhutanese cuisine|Bhutan]], [[Sri Lankan cuisine|Sri Lanka]], [[Trinidad and Tobago cuisine|Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Culture of Guyana#Cuisine|Guyana]], [[Surinamese cuisine|Suriname]], [[Jamaican cuisine|Jamaica]], [[Mauritian cuisine|Mauritius]], [[Fijian food|Fiji]]
| creator =
| course = Meal
| served =
| main_ingredient = Rice, vegetable, lentils, chutney or achar
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}

'''Dāl bhāt''' ( {{langx|ne|दाल भात}}, [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]: 𑂠𑂰𑂪 𑂦𑂰𑂞, {{langx|hi|दाल भात}}, {{langx|bn|ডাল ভাত}}, {{langx|gu|દાળ ભાત}}, {{langx|mr|डाळ भात}}, {{langx|as|দাইল ভাত}} ''dāil bhat'' / দালি ভাত ''dāli bhāt'') is a traditional meal from Nepal, as well as the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Bihar]] and other Northern Indian states. It consists of [[steamed rice]] and a [[stew]] of [[legume|pulses]] called ''[[dal]]''. It is a [[staple food]] in these countries. ''Bhāt'' or ''chāwal'' means "boiled rice" in a number of [[Indo-Aryan languages]].

At higher elevations in Nepal, above {{convert|6500|ft}}, where rice does not grow well, other grains such as [[maize]], [[buckwheat]], [[barley]] or [[millet]] may be substituted in a cooked preparation called [[dhindo]] or ''atho'' in Nepal. Bhat may be supplemented with [[roti]] in Nepal (rounds of unleavened bread).

Dal may be cooked with [[onion]], [[garlic]], [[ginger]], [[chili pepper|chili]], [[tomato]]es, or [[tamarind]], in addition to lentils or [[bean]]s. It always contains herbs and spices such as [[coriander]], [[garam masala]], [[cumin]], and [[turmeric]]. Recipes vary by season, locality, ethnic group and family. In Nepal, for example, dal is often tempered with '''[[jimbu]]''' (Himalayan aromatic leaf) and '''ghee'''.

Dal bhat is often served with [[tarkari|vegetable tarkari or torkari]] ({{lang|ne|तरकारी}} in Nepali, তরকারি in Bengali), a mix of available seasonal vegetables. It is also called '''dal bhat tarkari''' (दाल भात तरकारी) in [[Nepali language|Nepali]] and Bengali (ডাল ভাত তরকারি). A small portion of [[pickling|pickle]] (called ''achar'' or ''loncha'') is sometimes included. In Bengal (West Bengal and Bangladesh) dal bhat may accompany machh bhaja (মাছ ভাজা - fried fish).

Dal bhat bhujiya is a traditional dish eaten in [[Bihar]] along with chokha.

Dal bhat, consisting of lentil soup (dal) and steamed rice (bhat), has been a key part of Nepali meals for many centuries. Its exact origin is unclear, but the combination of rice and lentils comes from ancient South Asian farming traditions, where both crops were staple foods. As communities settled in fertile areas like the Terai and Kathmandu Valley, rice and lentils became a regular part of the diet.

Over time, rice farming expanded through improved agricultural techniques and terraced farming, making rice more widely available. Dal bhat gradually became a daily meal for people across Nepal, providing nutrition and reflecting the country’s culture, hospitality, and sense of community.

In the past, rice was less common in hilly and mountainous regions, where grains like millet, barley, and buckwheat were preferred. With better farming and trade, Dal bhat spread to all parts of Nepal. Today, it remains a traditional and beloved dish, with regional variations in preparation and side dishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://highrouteadventure.com/nepalese-food-that-you-must-try/|title=Nepalese Food That You Must Try|publisher=High Route Adventure|website=High Route Adventure|access-date=29 March 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Nepali Khana.jpg|Nepali khana—dal bhat tarkari
Dal bhat Birethani.jpg|Nepalese-style dal bhat
Nepali dal-bhat-tarkari.jpg|Traditional dal bhat thali
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Bangladesh|Caribbean|Food|India|Nepal}}
* [[Assamese cuisine]]
* [[Awadhi cuisine]]
* [[Bengali cuisine]]
* [[Bhojpuri cuisine]]
* [[Bihari cuisine]]
* [[Caribbean cuisine]]
* [[Fijian cuisine]]
* [[Gujarati cuisine]]
* [[Indian cuisine]]
* [[Marathi cuisine]]
* [[Nepalese cuisine]]
* [[Odia cuisine]]
* [[Sikkimese cuisine]]
* [[Trinidad and Tobago cuisine]]
* [[Thali]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite web|title=Dal Bhat|date=25 April 2012 |url=http://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/food-around-the-world/nepalese/food-from-nepal-dal-bhat-tourist-version/}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.himalayanlearning.org.uk/where-we-work/culture-and-history/food/dhal-bhat-recipe/ Dal Bhat recipe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602184704/http://www.himalayanlearning.org.uk/where-we-work/culture-and-history/food/dhal-bhat-recipe/ |date=2019-06-02 }}
* [https://www.indiatoday.in/food-drink/food/story/dishes-you-thought-were-indian-but-are-not-rajma-dal-chawal-gulab-jamun-jalebi-samosa-biryani-lifefd-350244-2016-11-04 5 dishes that you thought were Indian-origin, but actually aren't] – article in India Today
* [https://listnepal.com/list-of-traditional-nepali-foods/ From Momos to Dal Bhat: Discovering 12 Must-Try Nepali Dishes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110223011/https://listnepal.com/list-of-traditional-nepali-foods/ |date=2024-11-10 }} – online article

{{Legume dishes}}
{{Rice dishes}}

[[Category:Nepalese cuisine]]
[[Category:Indian rice dishes]]
[[Category:Indian legume dishes]]
[[Category:Gujarati cuisine]]
[[Category:Bengali cuisine]]
[[Category:Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Kutchi cuisine]]
[[Category:Indo-Caribbean cuisine]]
[[Category:Fijian cuisine]]
[[Category:Guyanese cuisine]]

Dal bhat - Revision history

Ab2030 at 03:46, 13 April 2026