Moong dal promotes weight loss: 5 ways to include it in your diet (2024)

Manasvi Jain Published: 26 May 2022, 12:15 pm IST

At the outset, moong dal may seem like one of the most boring things in the kitchen, you may just find yourself running to add it to your daily diet after reading about its benefits here. Many people may consider the whole list of lentils boring and one that doesn’t make them salivate, these are the richest source of protein, especially for the vegetarians.

Moong dal comes in three varieties – sabut moong, chhilka moong and dhuli moong. And according to well-known nutritionist Kavita Devgan, sabut moong or green moong dal is particularly high on fibre.

As a variety, moong daal has many health benefits. Aside from being good for heart, blood circulation and for diabetic people, these are also great for promoting weight loss. Devgan tells Health Shots that moong dal has high content of protein which keeps our metabolism up. As a result, it can promote continued weight loss. She adds that moong dal can also keep you full for a longer period of time which curbs your cravings and reduces your calorie intake.

Still hesitant to include moong dal in your diet? Here are some healthy and delicious recipes that won’t allow you to second guess this superfood.

5 healthy moong dal recipes to help you with your weight loss journey

1. Moong Dal Cheela

You need to soak a cup of moong dal (yellow or green) in water overnight or for at least 3 to 4 hours. After moong dal swells up, strain the water and blend the dal by adding a little water. Blend it till a smooth batter is ready. Add some spices and salt according to your taste. Add chopped ginger, onions, coriander and green chillies to the batter and mix well. Keep the batter aside for 15 to 20 minutes and your moong dal cheela is ready to be cooked on the tawa!

2. Moong Dal Tadka

Rinse a cup of yellow moong dal and put them in a pressure cooker. To the cooker add two cups of water, turmeric powder, a pinch of salt and cook for 5-6 whistles on medium heat. In another pan prepare the tadka by adding a spoonful of ghee, jeera, red chili powder, chopped onions and cook them well. Then add the tomato puree, a pinch of salt and cook till oil leaves the side of the pan. Put the tadka in the boiled daal and your moong dal tadka is ready to savour!

3. Moong Dal Sprouts

Take two cups of green moong dal and soak them overnight. The next day, rinse them well and put them in a strainer. After a day, moong dal will sprout. Boil the moong dal sprouts a little and add chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumber, green chilies, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. Mix them well and garnish with chopped coriander.

4. Moong Dal Masala Khichdi

Take half and half rice and yellow moong dal in a bowl and rinse them well. Take a pan, add ghee, jeera (cumin seeds), tej patta (bay leaf), cinnamon, cardamom and ginger garlic paste to it and cook till they crackle. Add chopped onions and saute them. Add some chopped tomatoes and green chilies and cook for a minute. Add some chopped vegetables of your choice (potato, beans, capsicum, etc.) along with some spices and saute for a minute or two. Add rice and moong dal to the pan and mix them well. Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Drizzle it with some ghee and serve!

5. Moong Dal Dhokla

Rinse and soak green moong dal overnight. Next day, blend the moong dal and some chopped coriander with a little bit of water until it becomes a semi-fine paste. Take a large pan, fill it with 2-3 cups of water and keep a metal stand in the center and bring the water to a boil. To the moong dal paste, add 1 tbsp of ginger-green chili paste, oil, lemon juice and salt. You can also add some sugar if you like. Mix very well and add Eno to the batter. Quickly pour this mixture in a greased steaming pan. Place this pan on the metal stand with the boiling water. Cover the pan and steam for 15 minutes or until cooked.

Moong dal is one of our staple foods and you won’t find it difficult to make it a part of your weight loss journey! So, try it ladies.