How much of the blend do I use per batch of dal?

Use one teaspoon of the blend for each cup of dry lentils. You can adjust to taste, but that ratio gives balanced flavor without overwhelming the pulses.

Does this work with all types of lentils?

Yes. It's designed to complement red lentils, mung beans, chana dal, urad dal, and other pulses. The flavor profile is versatile enough for any variety you cook regularly.

Do I need to add salt separately?

Yes. This blend is salt-free, so you control the sodium level as you cook. Season the dal to taste once the lentils are soft.

Can I use this blend for anything other than dal?

While it's formulated specifically for lentils and pulses, you can experiment with it on roasted vegetables or grain dishes that would benefit from warm, aromatic spice notes.

Should I bloom the spices in oil or add them directly to the pot?

Both methods work. Blooming the blend in oil after sautéing onions, ginger, and garlic will deepen the flavor. For simpler preparation, you can add it directly to the lentils and water.

Preeti Mistry Dal Blend

The 3-second version

One teaspoon per cup of lentils delivers balanced heat and depth
Works with any pulse: masoor, mung, chana dal, or urad
Salt-free formula lets you season to taste as you cook
No salt included—season separately
Single-purpose blend made for lentils and pulses
Requires basic aromatics for full depth

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Spice blend built specifically for lentils and pulses

Most dal recipes assume you already know which spices to reach for and in what proportions. This blend solves that by baking the formula into a single jar. The mix is calibrated for pulses specifically—not curry in general—so the aromatics support rather than overpower, and the heat unfolds gradually instead of hitting all at once. If you cook lentils more than once a month, it's worth having a dedicated spice mix that actually tastes like dal, not like you dumped garam masala into beans and hoped for the best.

Good gift when

People who cook lentils regularly and want consistent flavor
Anyone building a pantry around simple, repeatable meals
Cooks who want dal without measuring six separate spices
Fans of layered, aromatic dishes that don't need long ingredient lists

Skip it if If you prefer building spice blends yourself or already have a dal formula you're loyal to, this won't replace that habit. It's also salt-free, so you'll need to season separately if you expect a finished blend.

Specs

Net weight: 2.1 oz
Container: Glass jar
Salt content: Salt-free
Use ratio: 1 teaspoon per cup of lentils
Dietary: Kosher

What's included

2.1 oz glass jar of Preeti Mistry Dal Blend

If you're giving it

No sizing to guess
Arrives ready to give

Packaged in a glass jar ready to give; pairs well with dried lentils or a recipe book.

The maker

Chef Preeti Mistry developed this blend to recreate the everyday dal they grew up with—simple, nourishing, and reliably flavorful. The goal wasn't to invent a new spice mix, but to bottle the kind of home-cooked comfort that comes from knowing exactly how much of each spice goes into the pot. The result is a formula that treats lentils as the center of the dish, not an afterthought, with aromatics that support rather than compete.

The details

This is a spice blend designed around one thing: making better dal. Instead of pulling together cumin, coriander, turmeric, and fenugreek every time you cook lentils, you get a pre-measured mix that treats pulses the way they deserve—with layers of warmth, gentle heat, and enough sweetness to balance the earthiness.

The formula comes from Chef Preeti Mistry, who wanted to capture the everyday comfort of the dal they ate growing up. It works with any variety: red lentils, mung beans, chana dal, urad. You add one teaspoon per cup of lentils, simmer until soft, and adjust the consistency with water. For more depth, bloom the blend in oil after softening onions, ginger, and garlic, then add your lentils and liquid.

What you get is a dish that tastes considered without requiring you to measure out six jars. The aromatics are nutty and warm, the heat builds slowly, and there's a hint of sweetness that rounds out sharper notes. It's the kind of seasoning that makes weeknight dal taste like you put in more effort than you did.

Use it over rice, fold it into roasted vegetables, or eat it straight from the pot with flatbread. The blend is salt-free, so you control the seasoning as you go. It's a practical tool for anyone who cooks lentils regularly and wants them to taste like more than just protein.

Burlap & Barrel

Preeti Mistry Dal Blend

Created with Chef Preeti Mistry to deliver slow heat, nutty depth, and subtle sweetness

$11.99at burlapandbarrel.com

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Ships and sold by Burlap & Barrel. About this merchant

The 3-second version

One teaspoon per cup of lentils delivers balanced heat and depth
Works with any pulse: masoor, mung, chana dal, or urad
Salt-free formula lets you season to taste as you cook
No salt included—season separately
Single-purpose blend made for lentils and pulses
Requires basic aromatics for full depth

Questions

How much of the blend do I use per batch of dal?: Use one teaspoon of the blend for each cup of dry lentils. You can adjust to taste, but that ratio gives balanced flavor without overwhelming the pulses.
Does this work with all types of lentils?: Yes. It's designed to complement red lentils, mung beans, chana dal, urad dal, and other pulses. The flavor profile is versatile enough for any variety you cook regularly.
Do I need to add salt separately?: Yes. This blend is salt-free, so you control the sodium level as you cook. Season the dal to taste once the lentils are soft.
Can I use this blend for anything other than dal?: While it's formulated specifically for lentils and pulses, you can experiment with it on roasted vegetables or grain dishes that would benefit from warm, aromatic spice notes.
Should I bloom the spices in oil or add them directly to the pot?: Both methods work. Blooming the blend in oil after sautéing onions, ginger, and garlic will deepen the flavor. For simpler preparation, you can add it directly to the lentils and water.