Bihari

Dal Pithi

Recipe: Guide To Make Spiced Dumplings In Lentil Broth

Quick Summary

Somewhere between soup and stew lies dal pithi –a Bihari comfort food that doesn't mess around. Made with simple ingredients and minimal spices in one pot, it’s a humble but clever dish. The dumplings are almost ornate and cooked right in the dal till they soak up all the flavour. It's like if your mom’s best meal and your go-to takeout order found common ground.

Deep Dive

Easily found in Bihari homes, dal pithi is a no-fuss, hearty meal where shapely flour dumplings, often shaped like flowers, are cooked in a spiced masoor dal broth. It’s a rustic meal, which is filling, balanced, and quietly clever – built for everyday life. At its core, it’s a one-pot meal that requires no frying, no stuffing, or extra sides. Originally made in rural kitchens where meals had to be filling, portable, and made from what was on hand, it continues to be a go-to dish across Bihar and neighbouring regions. 

What Is Dal Pithi? A Glimpse Into Bihar’s Comfort Food

Dal pithi is a traditional and beloved soupy dish popular in  Bihar, Jharkhand, parts of Chhattisgarh, and the eastern Uttar Pradesh (Bhojpuri) region. It features delicate handmade flour dumplings stuffed with a spiced lentil filling and folded in half-moon shapes (like a gujiya) before getting steamed or boiled. 

Rooted in agrarian traditions, this dish was ideal for long workdays because they are energy-packed and easy to pack. While the typical version is savoury, there's also a sweet variant prevalent in parts of Jharkhand and Northern Bengal. The fillings for these include coconut and jaggery along with dal.

Ingredients You’ll Need For Dal Pithi

The recipe is split it two parts – the first dedicated to the rice flour dumplings with their sweet or savoury filling, and the other to the broth. Combined, they make the perfect filling meal, no sides needed. The recipe needs: 

• Whole wheat flour forms the base of the dumpling dough. It’s mixed with water to create a smooth, pliable dough that's rolled into small, thin rounds and folded into dumplings.

• Masoor dal (whole red lentils) is the main ingredient for the broth. When cooked, it creates a thick, hearty base that’s mild but flavorful, perfect for simmering the dumplings.

• Spices like cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric, and red chilli powder, along with ginger garlic paste, go into the broth to pack a punch.

• The tempering is made with onions, garlic, green chillies, and cumin seeds,  sautéed in ghee or oil.

• Fresh coriander leaves are sprinkled on top just before serving.

How To Make The Perfect Dumplings (Pithi)

• To make soft and sturdy dumplings, start by kneading whole wheat flour with water until you get a smooth, elastic dough that’s neither too sticky nor too dry.

• Roll the dough into thin, small circles, then fold and shape them into dumplings carefully to avoid cracks. 

• The thickness should be just right – too thin and they’ll break during cooking, too thick and they won’t cook through properly. 

• The key is to work quickly and keep the dough covered to prevent drying out. 

• These dumplings form the hearty base of the dish and should hold their shape during simmering.

How To Make The Flavourful Lentil Base

• The broth is made by cooking whole masoor dal with turmeric and salt until soft, in a pressure cooker.

• Then cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chilli powder, and ginger‑garlic paste are added to it. It’s boiled for 10-15 minutes to infuse the dal.

• The prepared dumplings are dropped in the pressure cooker with the bubbling dal. Wait for the steam to escape, ideally for two whistles of the cooker, before opening the lid. 

• Then comes the tempering of onions, garlic, green chillies, and cumin seeds in ghee. This tadka is added to the bubbling lentil soup.

• Turn off the stove, transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with coriander. 

Serving Suggestions And Pairings For Dal Pithi

Dal pithi is typically served hot as a wholesome, one-pot meal. Since it contains both lentils and wheat dumplings, it doesn’t need rice or roti. It’s like the eastern cousin of the western Gujarati dish dal dhokli. You can add it to a meal platter or pair it with a side of plain curd or raita, and even some fresh kachumber salad. It’s comforting, filling, and balanced enough to serve on its own, especially during colder months or rainy days, or even busy workdays. 

Simple, Practical, And Worth Repeating

There’s a reason dal pithi has stuck around for generations – it doesn’t rely on hard-to-find ingredients or complicated prep. The dumplings cook right in the dal, soaking up flavour while thickening the broth, and the final tadka pulls everything together. It’s the kind of recipe that works for solo meals, family dinners, or even next-day leftovers. Once you’ve made it a couple of times, you won’t need to look up the steps again – it’ll just become one of those reliable, go-to dishes.