Question: are lentils and dal the same thing?
Answer: Dal is often translated as “lentils” but actually refers to a split version of a number of lentils, peas, chickpeas (chana), kidney beans and so on. If a pulse is split into half, it is a dal. For example, split mung beans are mung dal. A stew or soup made with any kind of pulses, whole or split, is known as dal.