Name: Sweet-and-Sour Dal Bhat
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 plum tomato, coarsely chopped; 1 cup toor dal (pigeon peas), rinsed, picked over; 5 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 3 Tbsp. Morton kosher salt; 3 serrano chiles, halved; 6 oz. ginger, peeled, coarsely chopped (about ½ cup); 1 cup (lightly packed) grated jaggery; 6 Tbsp. fresh lime juice; 2 tsp. red chile powder, preferably Kashmiri; 1 tsp. ground turmeric; 2 cups basmati rice; 9 Tbsp. vegetable oil, divided; 6 curry leaves; 3 dried Kashmiri, guajillo, or New Mexico chiles, seeds removed; 1 Tbsp. brown mustard seeds; 1 tsp. asafetida; ½ tsp. fenugreek

SweetandSour Dal Bhat with white rice in a white bowl.

Sweet-and-Sour Dal BhatPhoto by Marcus Nilsson

This dish is triply aggressive, with sweet, sour, and spicy tastes strung together in an intense interplay. To make it your own, experiment with the balance of those three elements—you might make it more sour, or very, very spicy, depending on your palate and preferences.

Like this Bon Appétit recipe? There are plenty more where this came from. Subscribe to the magazine here!

Ingredient Info

Jaggery, also called gur or palm sugar, can be found at Asian or Indian markets. Asafetida can be found at Indian markets. Both can be found online at foodsofnations.com.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

59 Diwali Recipes for a Bright, Festive, and Sweet Holiday
Whether you're looking for the classics—such as gulab jamun, carrot halwa, and jalebi—or you're interested in finding some new dishes to add to your Diwali feast, these recipes will satisfy your sweet tooth *and* ensure you get something savory to eat, too.

Green Curry Mussels

The mussels here add their beautiful, briny juices into the curry, which turn this into a stunning and spectacular dish.

Smoky Tofu Shakshuka

This vegan version of the classic North African scramble uses soft silken tofu instead of eggs without any sacrifice of flavor.

Adai (Quick Lentil Dosas)

Savory from chile, ginger, and cumin, these adai are a filling breakfast to power you through the day.

Ta’ameya (Fava Bean Fritters)

Serve these as you would falafel: in a pita, on top of a salad, or as a snack with a dip.

Rotisserie Chicken Congee

Leftover rotisserie chicken finds new purpose in this endlessly comforting dish.

Nankhatai (Semolina Shortbread)

These cookies are gently sweetened and perfect with a cup of tea.

Charred Vegetable Ragù

This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!

Frijoles de la Olla Ramen (Mexican Stewed Beans)

Traditionally, this Mexican staple is simmered for hours in an olla, or clay pot. You can achieve a similar result by using canned beans and instant ramen.

Recipe notes

59 Diwali Recipes for a Bright, Festive, and Sweet Holiday