Yellow Split Peas Dhal With Salted Pigtail.

May 27, 2025May 8, 2024Leave a Comment

Traditional Caribbean Dhal is something that’s close and dear to me, a dish which takes me back to being a lil fella on the islands. While mommy didn’t cook curry very often, the days after school when we’d come home to Rice, Dhal and Curry (you may say curried) Chicken, was something we (brother and sisters) all looked forward to. This is not that recipe, however it’s just as comforting and with pieces of leftover Sada Roti soaked in it – BOOM! My childhood right there.

You’ll Need…

12-15 cups water
2 1/2 cups yellow split peas (washed)
1 tablespoon turmeric (sorfran)
1 1/2 lbs salted pig tail (prepared)
1 medium onion (sliced)
10-12 cloves garlic (divided)
3 Bird’s Eye Peppers (optional)
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt (adjust)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon geera seeds (cumin)

Notes! May I recommend that you follow along with the video below as much more about the recipe is discussed there, including why you must pre-boil the salted pig tail pieces prior to adding it to the dhal. If making this recipe gluten free, please go through the full list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your gluten free dietary requirements.

Prepare the Salted Pigtail Pieces. Basically get your butcher to cut the tails into 1 inch pieces, then after a good rinse you’ll place them in a deep pot covered with water and bring to a boil. Cook on a rolling boil for 40-50 minutes. Drian, rinse and set aside. This step will help to remove most of the salt it was cured in and to tenderize them a bit (they will be tough).

Add 12 cups of water in a soup pot on a high flame. As it comes to a boil add the washed yellow split peas along with the turmeric and stir well. Bring back to a boil.

On a rolling boil you will see foam accumulate at the top. Skim and remove. Then add the onion, 1/2 of the garlic, Bird’s Eye peppers (use any pepper you like or can source and in the amount you can handle) and black pepper. Do not add the salt yet (explained in the video).

When it comes to a boil reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the pieces of prepared salted pigtail and cook for 70 minutes or until the peas and pigtail pieces are tender. Stir every 15 minutes or so.

Along the way you will need to add more water. In my case it was a further 3-4 cups. Do keep in mind that this will yield a huge quantity of Dhal. I purposely make a big batch with the intention of freezing the leftovers. For those days I get a Dhal craving but don’t want to spend hours cooking.

At this point you’ll need to taste and add salt as needed (to your liking), then remove the pieces of salted pig tails (hopefully they are tender).

If you watch the video you’ll see me use a traditional wooden swizzle stick to break down the cooked peas to a smooth finish. If using a stick blender may I recommend you hit the pulse a few times to avoid creating foam, from going continuous. Add back the pieces of salted pig tail to the pot.

Heat the oil in a frying pan along with the remaining garlic (smashed) and geera (cumin) seeds. Yes you want the garlic to slightly burn and the oil to be smoking hot.

Being VERY careful, pour this mixture into the pot of dhal and stir well. In the video I explained the proper technique for this step, which is called “Chunkay”.

As a soup or a side to curry dishes, this Dhal is insanely delicious.

If you were to search Dhal in the search box above or visit the Recipe Index you’ll find 4-5 other versions of Caribbean style Dhal recipes… if pork is not your thing. If you wanted to add some Green Seasoning as it cooks, feel free to do so. A tablespoon will give it a lovely herbal undertone.

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Trini-Style Salted Beef Yellow Split Peas Dhal

May 28, 2025April 17, 2023Leave a Comment

Growing up in Trinidad, dhal was always bubbling on the stovetop, simple, nourishing, and perfect for soaking up with rice or roti. But when salted beef got tossed into the pot? Oh gosh, now yuh talking! The smoky, salty richness of the beef adds a whole new dimension to this classic yellow split pea dish. Whether it was a rainy Sunday lunch or a make-ahead meal for the week, this kind of dhal took comfort food to a next level. Here’s how to bring that authentic Trini flavor to your kitchen.

Ingredient Guide

Yellow Split Peas: These little dried peas cook down to a soft, creamy texture, perfect for dhal.
Salted Beef: Adds that unmistakable island umami; boil it first to mellow out the salt.
Turmeric: Brings a sunny color and gentle, earthy bitterness to the pot.
Garlic: Doubles up—some for the boil and some for the smoky tempering (chunkay).
Onion: Helps round out the flavor base with sweet-savory depth.
Scotch Bonnet Pepper: A little fire and fragrance, use whole or sliced depending on your heat tolerance.
Pimento Peppers: Optional but sweet and aromatic, a true Caribbean boost.
Cumin Seeds (Jeera): Slightly toasted in hot oil to add nutty goodness to the dhal.
Olive Oil: For frying the tempering spices until they sizzle.

Shopping Made Easy

Yellow Split Peas: You’ll find these in the dried beans aisle; grab a bag, as they last a long time.
Salted Beef: Check the Caribbean or international section, or ask your butcher for options of cured beef.
Turmeric: Ground turmeric is common, just look in the spice rack.
Scotch Bonnet & Pimento Peppers: Look for fresh ones in Caribbean groceries; substitute habanero or bell peppers if needed.
Cumin Seeds: Don’t mix up ground cumin with the seeds. Whole seeds are what you need for chunkay.

Cooking Notes from the Kitchen

Salted Beef Tip: Always pre-boil to tenderize and reduce the salty punch.
Dhal Texture: Swizzle it or blend it. Smooth is the way to go.
The Chunkay Technique: Roast garlic with cumin seeds to perfection for maximum flavor. Careful when adding to hot dhal—stand back, it will sizzle!
Batch Cooking Bonus: This dhal freezes like a dream. Perfect for busy weeknights.
Dhal Texture: Swizzle it or blend it—smooth is the way to go.
Big Batch Alert: This recipe yields a massive pot of dhal, as when I make it, I purposely cook a large batch to divide and freeze it for days when I get a dhal craving. When thawing, add 1/2 cup of water and place the mixture on very low heat. Divide the recipe to make smaller amounts.
Make It Gluten-Free: If you’re making this recipe gluten-free, be sure to review the full list of ingredients to ensure they meet your specific gluten-free dietary needs.

Can I make this dhal vegetarian?

Absolutely! Just skip the salted beef and go heavy on the garlic and cumin for depth. Still real tasty.

What can I serve with this dhal?

Traditionally, we enjoy it with rice or sada roti. But it’s also wicked with buss up shut or even just some crusty bread.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Cool it down, portion it out, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water.

Is there a substitute for Scotch bonnet peppers?

Habanero peppers come close. Or go mild with jalapeños, or leave it out if spice isn’t your thing.

Gluten Free Side Dishes Vegetarian

25 Minutes Red Lentil Dhal.

May 28, 2025February 9, 20213 Comments

I LOVE Dhal.. that rich and thick yellow split peas soup we make in the Caribbean, based on recipes brought to our shores by Indentured Laborer’s from India almost 200 years ago. However, since I dislike using a pressure cooker, I find that I don’t have the patience to wait the 1.5 hours needed. This brings us to Red Lentils, if you enjoy the taste and texture of yellow split peas Dhal, but want in in under 30 minutes.. stay tuned.

You’ll Need…

3 cups red lentils
1 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
9 -11 cups water
2 small scallion (chopped)
3/4 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8-10 cloves garlic (smashed – divided)
1/2 medium onion (diced)
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon geera (cumin) seeds

Important! If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the full list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Bring the water to a boil in a deep pot on a high heat.

In the meantime wash the lentils by rinsing in cool water, drain and repeat until the water runs clear.

As the water comes to a boil, add the washed lentils, followed by the tumeric and bring back to a boil.

When you got that bubble going, skim off that froth at the top and discard.

Reduce to a rolling boil and add the black pepper, scallions (adds a lovely touch), salt, onion, scotch bonnet pepper (optional or any spicy pepper you like or have access to) and 5 cloves of the garlic.

It will cook on that rolling boil for 20 minutes with the lid slightly ajar… or until the lentils are falling apart.

I used a traditional swizzle stick (see image), but you can use a whisk or stick blender and get it smooth and silky. If using a stick blender, I’d recommend that you pulse or if you go continuous it will go frothy. BTW, I turned off the stove at this point as it was fully cooked.

Once smooth, taste for salt and adjust to your liking, then it’s time to chunkay (temper) the dhal to give it that finishing layer of flavor.

Heat the oil in a small pan on a medium flame, add the garlic and cumin seeds. Heat until the garlic burns (yes the only time I’ll recommend burning garlic) and you see smoke from the hot oil

All you have to do now is pour that oily mixture into the pot with the dhal, then stir. You’re done. Quick right?

An amazing side to rice and curry dishes or as I normally do.. as a cup of soup that warms my soul. I always make a big batch and freeze into containers for those nights I get my Dhal craving.

Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Gluten Free Vegetarian

Classic Caribbean 3 Peas Dhal (pea soup).

February 15, 2020February 15, 2020Leave a Comment

There’s something so comforting about a hot cup of Dhal on a cool (Caribbean people say COLD) rainy Caribbean evening (or cold wintry night in Canada).. when all you want is something to warm your soul like your moms voice! The very same appreciation we have for this humble Dhal, when accompanied with rice and a curry dish of some sort. COMFORTING!

You’ll Need…

1 cup green split peas
1 cup lentils
2 cups yellow split peas
8 cloves garlic (divided)
2 pimento peppers (sliced)
2 shallots (sliced)
10-12 cups water
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 teaspoon Geera seeds (cumin)
6 Wiri Wiri peppers (optional)
1 scallion (chopped)
3/4 tablespoon salt (adjust)
2-3 tablespoon olive oil

Important! If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Additionally, I have this listed under the Vegan / Vegetarian category, but you will see curry chicken on the plate. Rest assured the 3 Peas Dhal itself is 100% vegan.

Go though the peas/lentils to make sure there’s no debris (sticks, pebbles etc) then wash and drain. In the meantime bring the water to a boil in a deep pot.

Pour the washed peas into the pot with the boiling water and bring back to a boil. Stir and let it go on a medium flame for 2- 3 minutes.

Skim off any froth/impurities at the top and discard. During this time you can prep the other ingredients.

With all the impurities skimmed off, add the salt, turmeric, 4 cloves garlic, shallots (add regular onion if you want), pimento peppers (optional as I know they will be hard to source), scallions and the WHOLE Wiri Wiri peppers. If you don’t have the Wiri Wiri (I’m lucky as I grow them in my garden)peppers , you can use an spicy pepper you have or like using. Or leave out the heat if you wish.

Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer (no need to cover). 1 hr and 15 minutes later, you can taste for salt (adjust if necessary). I used my traditional wooden swizzle stick and worked it a bit to get it somewhat smooth texture (watch the video below). An electric stick blender will work, But pulse or risk it becoming frothy. IMPORTANT! Remove the Wiri Wiri peppers before you swizzle, whisk or blend the dhal. If they break you will release the heat. You can discard then or remove and place back after the swizzle action. Nice little prizes for the heat lovers you may enjoy a plate or cup of this dhal.

NO! We’re not done. It’s time for the final step where we add that lovely finishing note as our ancestors did. Add the olive oil (vegetable oil will work) to a small pan, add the remaining garlic and cumin seeds and on to the med/high heat. Get to smoking (give the garlic some color), then pour directly onto the soup. This action is called Chunkay. We’re basically tempering the dhal with the cumin, garlic flavor. Do NOT skip this step!

Should the garlic burn during this step, that’s ok. We kinda want that actually.

Note: I forgot to mention above. When it was time to swizzle the dhal, I turned off the stove. But make sure the peas are tender and falling apart first.

Goes well with rice and curry, as a soup on it’s own, add flour dumplings near the end for a dhal + dumpling soup and you can certainly freeze the rest. It usually lasts about 1-2 months in my freezer before I get the craving again or one of my daughters gets to it.

If you can, please support. And should you have questions about this recipe or anything food related, be sure to Ask Chris.

Gluten Free Vegan

The Ultimate Split Peas Dhal (kale & spinach) #Vegan

May 28, 2025June 29, 2019Leave a Comment

This island boy luv me some dhal.. that rich thick soup packed with tropical flavors, but made with very simple and cheap ingredients. Great on it’s own (cup of dhal) or as a side to rice and curry dishes. Dhal is very comforting and so simple to make. Here’s my take on this iconic dish with added spinach and kale, instead of the traditional use of “poi bhagi’ aka Malabar Spinach. Basically I’m using ingredients which are readily available to me here in Canada.

You’ll Need…

4 cups yellow split peas
1 tablespoon turmeric
12-14 cups water
3/4 tablespoon salt (adjust)
1/2 medium onion (diced)
8-10 cloves garlic (divided)
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2-3 cups baby spinach
2-3 cups baby kale
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

Important! Please go though the full list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your #Vegan #GlutenFree and/or Vegetarian dietary requirements. If you find that it gets too thick, feel free to add a bit more water. No, don’t use stock as it will ruin (IMHO) the flavor.

Bring the water to a boil in a LARGE pot. As this happens, it would be a great time to wash the split peas (watch the video below). Basically all you’re doing is rinsing the peas in cool water, while using your hands/fingers to massage the grains. This will create cloudy water.. drain and repeat until this water runs clear.

As the water comes to a full boil, add the washed split peas and turmeric and bring back up to a boil. Then skim off any frothy stuff at the top and discard. After-which you can add the onion, 1/2 the garlic, black pepper, salt and scotch bonnet pepper. (use as much spicy pepper as you can handle and remember to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after)

Reduce to a simmer and let that cook for about an hour and twenty minutes or until the peas are tender and start falling apart. It’s now time to make sure the dhal is smooth. I used a wooden swizzle stick to achieve this. Feel free to use a wire whisk or electric immersion blender. If using the blender may I suggest that you “pulse” as if it goes continuous it will add too much air to the dhal and it will take on a frothy texture.

Now ad the washed (and drained) baby kale and spinach to the pot and stir well. The residual heat in the pot will be enough to fully cook the greens. Take the pot of the stove and set aside.

In a small frying pan, heat the olive oil (high heat) then go in with the remaining garlic and the cumin seeds. Cook until almost burnt.. then pour over the dhal (this is called “chunkay). This step will add a lovely layer of further flavor. You MUST do this or your dhal will be lame. Stir well to incorporate everything.

Taste for salt and adjust… ENJOY!

I forgot to mention, this is a HUGE pot of Dhal, so I usually freeze the rest for use later in the week when I need my next hit of Split Peas Dhal. If you do freeze, reheat on a very low heat on the stove top.. add a bit of water to the pot.

Do you own a copy of my cookbook ?- The Vibrant Caribbean Pot 100 Traditional And Fusion recipes Vol 2

Meat & Poultry

Split Peas Dhal With Salted Pigtail.

May 27, 2025April 14, 201211 Comments

Dhal is one of those thick soup-like dishes we make in the Caribbean, especially those islands where there’s an East Indian influence. Basically split peas soup, enhanced with turmeric and in some cases… salted meats, as we’ll be using today. Very similar to the traditional dhal recipe and the lentil peas mixed dhal recipe I shared a while back, this one is just as tasty but not vegetarian as those two earlier versions.

Though nothing beats a good serving of dhal, rice and tomato choka, I do enjoy a hot bowl of dhal, cooked with pieces of salted pig tail… especially when I’m home sick and miss my boyhood days on the islands.

You’ll Need…

1lb salted pigtail
2 cups yellow split peas
4 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon turmeric (saffron)
8 cups water
1/2 small onion
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (I used 2 bird peppers)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon toasted geera seeds (cumin) * See notes below
2 tablespoon vegetable oil

* Notes: You can soak the split peas overnight in cool water for faster cooking time. Traditionally at the end of cooking toasted geera (cumin) seeds are added to the dhal for an enhanced flavor. I’m not a fan of geera, so you’ll notice that I didn’t add any to my pot of dhal. The salted pigtial should be enough to ‘salt’ this dish, but do taste near the end of cooking and adjust accordingly.

The first thing we’ve got to do is to remove some of the salt from the pieces of pig tail (trust me, salted pig tails are very salty). BTW I cut the pieces of pig tail into 1-1.5 inch pieces, then placed them in a pot with water. As it came to a boil I reduced the heat and allowed it to go on a rolling boil for about 20-25 minutes. The idea is to get the pieces a bit tender and remove some of the salt it’s been cured with. Drain, rinse under cool water a couple times and get ready to add to the main pot with the other ingredients.

Now it’s time to prep everything else and get the dhal cooking as it will take a while to simmer and get tender.. unless you’re using a pressure cooker (I don’t own one).

In a deep pot, put the 8 cups of water to boil. As this comes to a boil, place the split peas in a bowl and rinse with cool water.. drain and repeat. Try to work the peas between your fingers (massage), as to remove any sort of grit.

The water should be boiling at this point, so gently add the washed split peas, pieces of salted pig tail which be pre-boiled earlier, turmeric, the sliced onion, black pepper, scotch bonnet pepper and 2 cloves of the garlic (sliced thin). Bring that to a boil.. as it boils you will notice some frothy residue form at the top of the pot. Skim that off and discard. Now reduce to a very gentle simmer, cover the pot (leave a small crack open) and allow to cook for at least 1.5 hrs. Be sure to stir every 10 minutes or so.

After 1.5 hrs you should have peas which are starting to melt away and create that thick goodness dhal is famous for. You can now use a whisk or as I did.. a swizzle stick and break down the full peas a bit (refer to the video below). I’m sure you can use one of those electric immersion blenders, but try not to over do it or risk the dhal going foamy/frothy. Additionally, you’ll have to remove the pieces of slated pig tail from the pot before using the electric blender.

You should now have a thick soup-like consistency, that’s ready for the final step. Turn off the burner as it’s done cooking now.

In a small frying pan, heat the oil until it’s about to smoke, then add the other 2 cloves of garlic (sliced) and allow to cook for a couple minutes. The garlic will go golden, then proceed to go a bit black.. that’s what were looking for. Here is where you would also add the cumin seeds if you want to give it that unique (traditional) flavor. Now (be careful as you’re adding hot oil to liquid) add the heated oil with the cooked garlic slices to the pot with the cooked split peas (should be off the burner now). I use the lid of the pot as a shield with one hand and pour the heated oil with the other.

This step of adding the hot oil with cooked garlic to the pot with the cooked split peas is called “chunkay”. Now you can tell your friends that you’ve chunkayed dhal (smile). Stir the pot good and pour yourself a big bowl.. you deserve it! Remember we didn’t add any salt to this dhal as the pieces of salted pig tail should have been enough to give it enough flavor. However your tolerance for salt will be different than mine.. so taste and adjust accordingly.

The pieces of burnt garlic will look a bit weird (if you’ve never had dhal before) floating on the surface of the pot, but I assure you that this is normal and you’ll love the extra roasted/smokey sort of garlic flavor for it all.

Before you go, don’t forget to check out the latest cooking videos, connect with me on twitter and join our community on facebook. oh yea! leave me a comment below – it’s appreciated.

dhal

Yellow Split Peas Dhal With Salted Pigtail.

Trini-Style Salted Beef Yellow Split Peas Dhal

Ingredient Guide

Shopping Made Easy

Cooking Notes from the Kitchen

Can I make this dhal vegetarian?

What can I serve with this dhal?

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Is there a substitute for Scotch bonnet peppers?

Trini-Style Salted Beef Yellow Split Peas Dhal

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

25 Minutes Red Lentil Dhal.

Classic Caribbean 3 Peas Dhal (pea soup).

The Ultimate Split Peas Dhal (kale & spinach) #Vegan

Split Peas Dhal With Salted Pigtail.

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