Dal bhat is a traditional meal from the Indian subcontinent, popular in many areas of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. It consists of steamed rice and a cooked lentil or other pulses stew called dal. It is a staple food in these countries. Bhat or chawal means "boiled rice" in a number of Indo-Aryan languages.
At higher elevations in Nepal, above 6,500 feet (2,000 m), 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, tomatoes, or tamarind, in addition to lentils or beans. It always contains herbs and spices such as coriander, garam masala, cumin, and turmeric. Recipes vary by season, locality, ethnic group and family.
Dal bhat is often served with vegetable tarkari or torkari (तरकारी in Hindi, তরকারি in Bengali) – a mix of available seasonal vegetables. It is also called dal bhat tarkari (दाल भात तरकारी) in Nepali and Bengali (ডাল ভাত তরকারি). A small portion of pickle (called achar or loncha) is sometimes included. In Bengal (West Bengal and Bangladesh) dal bhat may accompany machh bhaja (মাছ ভাজা - fried fish).
- Nepalese-style dal bhat