Dal bhat

Dal bhat or dal chawal refers to a traditional meal which is popular in many areas of Nepal, Bangladesh and India . It consists of steamed rice and a cooked lentil soup called dal. It is a staple food in these countries.Bhat means boiled rice in languages such as Nepali, Bengali, Marathi, and Gujarati. Chawal means boiled rice in Hindi. At higher elevations in Nepal where rice does not grow well, other grain such as maize, buckwheat, barley or millet may be substituted in a cooked preparation called dhido 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 a mix of available seasonal vegetables. It is also called Dal Bhat Tarkari in Nepali. There may also be yogurt or curry made of chicken, goat meat or fish. A small portion of pickle (called achar) is sometimes included.