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Dal Bhat in Australia

Name: Dal Bhat
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Nepali
Ingredients: 1 cup masoor or black lentils (dal); 2 cups basmati rice (bhat); 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, 4 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp ginger; 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander powder; 2 tbsp ghee or mustard oil; Fresh spinach or saag, and potatoes for tarkari; Achar (pickle) and papad to serve

Nepal's national dish - lentil soup with rice

189 restaurants serving Dal Bhat across Australia

About Dal Bhat

Dal Bhat is the staple meal of Nepal, consisting of steamed rice (bhat) served with lentil soup (dal) and accompanied by vegetable curries, pickles (achar), and sometimes meat curry. It's the everyday meal for most Nepalis and is traditionally eaten with the hands. In Nepali restaurants across Australia, dal bhat is served as a generous platter that includes rice, dal, seasonal vegetables, papad, and chutney - often with unlimited refills, following the Nepali tradition of hospitality.

How to Make Dal Bhat

Prep: 15 min Cook: 35 min 4 servings ≈ 620 kcal/serving

Ingredients

1 cup masoor or black lentils (dal)
2 cups basmati rice (bhat)
1 onion, 2 tomatoes, 4 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp ginger
1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander powder
2 tbsp ghee or mustard oil
Fresh spinach or saag, and potatoes for tarkari
Achar (pickle) and papad to serve

Instructions

1Pressure-cook the lentils with turmeric and salt until soft (3–4 whistles); whisk smooth.
2Temper ghee with cumin seeds, garlic, onion and tomato; pour into the dal and simmer 10 minutes.
3Cook the rice until fluffy.
4Make a quick tarkari: sauté potato and spinach with garlic, turmeric and chilli.
5Serve the dal and tarkari alongside rice with achar and papad — mix the dal through the rice to eat.

Recipes vary between households and restaurants — use the listings below to find Dal Bhat made by Nepali cooks near you.

Dal Bhat for Your Event

Planning a wedding, birthday or community function? Nepali caterers across Australia prepare dal bhat and full menus for events of any size.

Browse Nepali caterers →

Cook Dal Bhat at Home

Find Nepali spices, lentils, beaten rice and specialty ingredients at grocery stores across Australia — everything in the recipe above is stocked.

Find Nepali grocery stores →

Dishes That Go With Dal Bhat

Dal Bhat in Adelaide

14 restaurants

Bhoye Chhen

Edwardstown, QLD

Dal Bhat in Australia

About Dal Bhat

How to Make Dal Bhat

Ingredients

Instructions

Dal Bhat for Your Event

Cook Dal Bhat at Home

Dishes That Go With Dal Bhat

Dal Bhat in Adelaide

Bhoye Chhen

Everest Restaurant & Event Centre

Everest Tea House

Fresh Chulo

Himalayan Kitchen

Kathmandu Palace Restaurant

Khukuri Nepali Restaurant

KUTUMBA LOUNGE

Namaste Nepalese Restaurant

Nepal House Restaurant

Sunrise Indian and Nepalese Restaurant

Taste of Nepal

Taste of the Himalayas

Yeti Nepalese Restaurant

Dal Bhat in Brisbane

8848 Momo House Cleveland

8848 Momo House Forest Lake

8848 Momo House Fortitude Valley

8848 Momo House Mango Hill

8848 Momo House Mount Gravatt

8848 Momo House Nundah

8848 Momo House Springfield Lakes

A Spoonful of Sauce

Durbar Cafe & Restaurant

Hello Himalayan

Kathmandu Newa Chhe'n Restaurant

Khwopa Food And Catering

Light Of Asia Bundaberg

Lumbini Nepalese Restaurant

spicyheaven

Sunshine Moonshine Indian and Nepalese Restaurant

The Bhatti Lounge

Dal Bhat in Cairns

8848 Momo House Cairns

Dal Bhat in Canberra

8848 Momo House Kingston

Bhok Laagyo Franklin

Canberra Momo House

Chomolungma Nepalese Cuisine

Early Bird Nepalese Restaurant

Friends & Momos Gungahlin

Hoodie and Foodie

Kathmandu Mo:Mo House

Lakeside Gurkhas

Losaa On Wheels

Mul Chowk Kitchen

Nepalese Momo House / Gemini

Nepalese Nomad & Co

The Chimney Nepalese Restaurant & Bar

The Druk Family Restaurant

The Hungry Buddha

The Kathmandu Momo House

THE MOMO POT

The Monkey Temple

The Mustang Nepalese Restaurant & Bar

The Thakali Lounge and Bar

Tusa Canberra

Dal Bhat in Darwin

Mo:Mo King

Timmur Symphony

YAK & YETI Cullen Bay

Dal Bhat in Gold Coast

8848 Momo House Gold Coast

Kathmandu Momo House

Rai Sekuwa Corner

Dal Bhat in Hobart

Chillies Indian and Nepalese Restaurant

Chulesi Nepalese Resturant

Chulo on Wheels

Danphe Nepalese and Indian Food

Himalayan Hub