Gits Dal Makhani

March 11, 2008 | Reviewer: Andrew

Gits Dal Makhani Price: Free from Gits*
Serving: 1/2 pouch, 5.3oz.
Calories: 234 per serving
Fat: 19.4%, 12.6g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 23.1%, 554mg
Protein: 8.6g
Carbohydrates: 7.2%, 21.5g
Fiber: 2.8%, 0.7g
Sugar: 0g
Weight Watchers Points: 6 Per Serving, 12 Per Pouch

Gits says: During the days of British rule in India, Dal Makhani found favor with the connoisseurs of food — the Mughals and the Nawabs. A blend of black gram, Bengal gram and red kidney beans are cooked on a slow charcoal fire for up to 16 hours and then delicately tempered and seasoned with exotic spices and light cream.

Andrew says: I love lentil soups and I love kidney beans and I love Indian food. So here’s an Indian lentil soup with kidney beans. Is there any chance I won’t love this?

Well, if there was a chance, it was a tiny one. This is a fantastic dish executed excellently by Gits. It’s like regular lentil soup if lentil soup had a lot more spice and life to it. There are little strands of ginger, onions, a touch of garlic, chilies, coriander, cumin and Fenugreek leaves all dancing together in a dark reddish, creamy ballroom of flavor.

And it really is surprisingly creamy. The third ingredient listed is cream and it really provides a nice, smooth, almost cheesy base for the spice and beans. It helps bring all the flavors together on the palate rather than having them hit at different times. I really enjoy that effect. The packaging says Dal Makhani is India’s favorite lentil dish and I must say it’s already mine as well.

But because I’m white, I rarely have flatbread on hand to enjoy a soup like this with (not that it NEEDS the bread, but it always helps), so I got out my bag of Santitos white corn tortilla chips and dunked away. It was delightful! The fusion of Mexican and Indian cuisine … sounds like a recipe for a long stay on the toilet, but I think this works anyway. Wait until they hear about this in Mumbai!

*When I sent Andrew food he did not know which items were free from producers and which were ones I’d purchased. -Ed.

comments

10 Responses to “Gits Dal Makhani”

Crow on March 11th, 2008

Does it have the demon weed, cilantro, in it?

You white people, with your cultural ban on flat breads, and periodic episodes of explosive diarrhea…
Liana M. Rendon on March 11th, 2008

I have alwasys heard that Indian food is very flavorful. Besides, its full of protein.
Andrew on March 11th, 2008

Crow: No cilantro, and I’d have more flatbreads on hand if I, you know, cooked. Ever. The diarrhea, though, is my cross to bear.

Liana: With all the beans in this, you get a fair amount of protein, though it comes with a surprisingly low amount of fiber. The flavor is great, though.
rob on March 11th, 2008

Target Supercenter sells a similar brand, similar packaging, Taste of India or something like that. The kidney bean one did have explosive effects but damn it was good. Very good value for the money. I wish regular supermarkets carried these, I’d be a lot thinner.
Crow on March 12th, 2008

You people need to discover fiber pills.
KC on March 12th, 2008

Most Indian food is eaten with either roti (flatbread) or basmati rice. I’ve had this one before and I found the flavours a bit too strong for me when I ate it all by itself. I think its meant to be eaten with roti or rice (more like a curry than a soup). But corn chips do sound interesting! I will have to give that a try!:)
Abi Jones on March 13th, 2008

I don’t even know how to do a comment summary on this product.
Rose on March 13th, 2008

I’ve never in my lifetime eaten indian food, this looks pretty good. but I like a little..something to chew in my meals. most of the time anyway. I may have to drive..you know, a hundred or more miles for indian food, but one day I will. because I now want to taste it.
Abhijit on March 20th, 2008

I am a real live Indian. Well, real live American of Indian descent. I eat these things with tortilla chips myself. I eat a lot of packaged Indian meals with tortilla chips, actually. You have my blessing.
Andrew on March 20th, 2008

Abhijit: That’s wonderful news! Let the cross-cultural meals commence!