Dimer Dalna also commonly referred to as Dim Jhol is a very popular weeknight Bengali egg curry. Boiled eggs are fried and then cooked with onion, potatoes, tomatoes in mustard oil with Bengali five spice. The curry barely takes 30 minutes from start to finish, and it’s a hearty, comforting meal you will enjoy any day!
Every part of India has their own version of Egg Curry and West Bengal itself has quite a few different varieties, like Dimer Kalia and Egg Omelete Jhol
This Dimer Dalna will still hold a very special place for its simplicity!
Ingredients you need for this Dimer Dalna
Egg - Egg is hard boiled and then lightly fried in oil before adding it to the curry or jhol.
Potatoes - The addition of potatoes to this Bengali egg curry makes it unique from the rest of the egg curries you will come across in India.
Onion - I like to use finely chopped red onion. Sometimes I have seen my mom making an onion paste in the blender while making the curry. Both works fine.
Tomato - Tomatoes along with onion and spics creates a jammy like texture to the gravy. Just like onion, you can also blend the tomato.
Ginger garlic and Chili paste - Bengali dishes always uses fresh green chili instead of a lot of chili powder. Fresh green chili adds heat but also a very refreshing flavor.
Spices - Bengali five spice along with bay leaf is used in the beginning of the cooking. And then a spice paste is made with cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powder, fennel powder (not common, but I like to use) and turmeric. Mixing the spice powder with water helps the spices to cook better and avoid it from getting burnt.
Mustard oil - Cooking in mustard oil will create a pungent flavor to the dish which is yet again unique when compared to the rest of egg curries you might come across from different regions in India.
Full Proof method to hard boil eggs and peel perfectly for this Dimer Dalna!
I have been following this method for several years now and it works wonderfully.
- Drop the eggs in cold water and bring the water to a full boil. Then, switch off the gas and cover the pan for 12 minutes.
- Take ice water or cold tap water in a bowl and drop the boiled eggs. Crack the eggs and place it back in the bowl for a few seconds. The water slips in and releases the shell from the egg, making it very easy to peel.
For Dimer Dalna, boiled eggs are fried before adding to the gravy. Don’t fry more than 1 minute, as it would change the texture of the egg, making it hard and rubbery.
Steps to prepare
- Boil the eggs following the steps I mentioned earlier. Slice the boiled eggs and marinate it slightly with turmeric powder and chili powder.
- Heat a heavy bottom pan with mustard oil and then fry the sliced potatoes along with the boiled eggs. Fry for a while and then take it off the pan.
3. To the same pan, add the bay leaves and Bengali five spice. Also add the garlic, ginger and green chili paste. Sauté for a while.
4. Add the onion and season with salt. Cook the onion until softened a little.
5. In a bowl, add the spice powder and some water. Then mix it to make a spice paste.
6. Once the onions are cooked, add the tomato and cook for a while along with the spice paste.
7. Cook the onion, tomato along with the spices until it softens and looks jammy.
8. Add the fried potatoes and egg along with water. Bring the water to boil and then simmer for a while. Add a couple of fresh green chili for extra heat as you simmer the curry.
The Bengali egg curry tastes best with steamed white rice. Enjoy it warm and every bite will feel so satisfying.
Here are a few other Egg Curries you will love to try!
Dimer Kalia – Sweet Savory Bengali Egg Curry
Dim Shorshe (Creamy Mustard Egg Curry)
FAQs
Dim Jhol or Bengali Egg Curry is prepared in mustard oil, with Bengali five spice which adds a lovely pungent aroma to the dish. Also, the dish uses potatoes which are not typically used in other egg curries
Absolutely! Try the same curry by using big florets of cauliflower. It will taste very good.
Bengali five spice is a blend of few common whole spices that you can mix and make at home. But if you absolutely cannot find it, you can use just cumin seeds too.
Bengali Egg Curry (Dimer Dalna)
Ingredients
- 1 large potato
- 1 red onion
- 1 tomato
- 6 hard-boiled eggs
- ½ inch Fresh ginger
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 Green Chili
- 1 tablespoon Bengali Five Spice
- salt to taste
- 3 tablespoon Mustard oil
Spice Paste
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon kashmiri chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon fennel powder
Instructions
- Boil the eggs and peel it. Then make multiple scores all around and leave it in a bowl marinated with very little turmeric, salt and chili powder
- Finely dice the onion. Peel and dice the potato into thin wedges. Roughly chop the tomato
- Pound the garlic and ginger with green chili.
- In a bowl mix cumin powder, chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and fennel powder with 2 tablespoons water.
- Place a pan at medium heat and pour the oil. Drop the potatoes along with the eggs and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, tossing it around. Then take it off once done.
- To the same pan, add the bay leaves, Bengali five spice and ginger garlic chili paste. Toss it around for 1 minute.
- Scatter the onion, season with salt and cook for 2 minutes to soften the onion.
- Scatter the tomato and mix it around. Pour the spice paste and cook for 5 minutes by tossing occasionally.
- Add the fried potato and egg and pour the water. Bring the water to full boil and then low the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for salt and add more if needed.
- Serve Dim Jhol warm with rice or bread.
Veronica
The spiciness of the curry is complemented with the plain rice perfectly and the eggs in this makes it really healthy, this bengali egg curry is simply scrumptious!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks a lot Veronica 🙂
Arpita
Dim fan here.. Dalna looks absolutely scrumptious. Can polish off my whole bowl of rice with this curry.
Kankana Saxena
Dim fan here too 🙂 And nothing beats bongo style egg curry!
angiesrecipes
I love curry, but still haven't tried one with whole eggs. This looks so flavourful and moreish.
Kankana Saxena
Oh it's quite a treat with the whole eggs 🙂 I hope you will try it Angie!
lisaiscooking
I've never made an egg curry, and now I can't wait to try. Looks so good!
Kankana Saxena
Oh really! Than you definitely need to try making soon. It's a delicious easy curry to make.
jeff the Chef
Thanks for this delicious-looking recipe. And thanks also for the egg peeling tip. I always have a hard time with that, and could use any new ideas!
Kankana Saxena
The egg peeling tip always works for me, glad you find it useful too 🙂
Balvinder
Absolutely gorgeous!! I love the the bengali way of frying the eggs before adding to the curry , the recipe is amazing and the pictures are beautiful!! Excellent!!!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks a lot Balvinder 🙂
Marissa
This curry is new to me and looks absolutely wonderful!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks so much Marissa! I hope you will try 🙂
Easyfoodsmith
It was at my in-laws that I saw for the first time, eggs being fried for making the egg curry. My mother used to add them straight away to the curry. My mother-in-law makes it similar to yours sans potatoes.
Kankana Saxena
Ahh! Yes not many egg curries calls for frying the boiled eggs. My Mom always did that and so I kept following the same. It does help the sauce sticking to the eggs instead of sliding off when you add just boiled eggs.
Kelly | Foodtasia
Kankana, my family would love this egg curry! It looks so delicious! I really like the addition of the potatoes. Great tips on boiling and peeling eggs - I definitely need that!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Kelly! It's quite a balanced meal too with protein and carb. Kids love egg curries 🙂 Glad the peeling tip helped.
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
I've never had this dish but boy does it look flavorful and delicious! The photos are gorgeous as well. Yum!
Kankana Saxena
That means so much Haylie, Thanks a lot 🙂
David @ Spiced
Duck eggs would be a challenge to find around here, so I'm glad chicken eggs work as well. Egg curry sounds super interesting and super delicious! I totally want to try this one out...excellent comfort food!
Kankana Saxena
I can't even remember when was the last time I had duck eggs LOL! Chicken eggs are just fine for any egg curries 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
This egg curry looks so flavorful and delicious!! I absolutely love that it's quick and easy to prepare!! This is a 30 minute meal I can totally get behind! Yummy!
Kankana Saxena
I am all about quick meals 🙂 I hope you will give this a try Cheyanne!
John @ Kitchen Riffs
I love eggs in curries! This look excellent -- wonderful flavor, and look great. Thanks!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks a lot John!
Neil
I've never had an egg curry before and this looks delicious. As a big curry fan I really should give an egg curry a go. So. I hope to make this one Sunday (which is our curry day). Thanks for sharing this recipe with us Kankana.
Kankana Saxena
I am sure you will love this curry Neil. It's easy and I find it quite balanced too with protein and carb.