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A chef’s decision to add chicken stock cubes to dal makhani has divided food lovers, reigniting the debate over culinary innovation versus tradition
Image: Instagram/@gcalombaris)
A seemingly simple tweak to a beloved Indian dish has sparked a major food debate online. Celebrity chef George Calombaris recently found himself at the centre of controversy after sharing his version of dal makhani, a rich and creamy North Indian staple. The ingredient that caught everyone’s attention? Chicken stock.
Traditionally, dal makhani is prepared using whole black lentils, kidney beans, butter, cream, and a blend of spices, all slow-cooked for hours to develop its signature flavour and texture. The dish is widely celebrated for its vegetarian roots and comforting taste. However, Calombaris’s recipe took a different route by incorporating chicken stock, a move that many social media users felt altered the essence of the classic dish.
Food enthusiasts, home cooks, and fans of traditional Indian cuisine flooded comment sections with opinions. Many argued that the addition of chicken stock changed the character of dal makhani and made it difficult to consider the dish authentic. Several users claimed that while experimentation in cooking is welcome, some recipes are so deeply tied to culture and tradition that significant changes can feel disrespectful. Social media users were quick to voice their opinions.
One commenter wrote, “All good as a lentil dish but it’s no dal makhni. Looked delicious but calling it dal makhni wasn’t a good idea.”
“Chicken stock!!!! It’s absolutely a hardcore non-vegetarian person’s recipe. And it’s not black whole lentils, right? You tweaked it far, far too much. I guess you should name this daal something else,” another person commented.
Humour also found its way into the discussion. One user joked, “This is not Dal Makhani but Dal Chikhani,” a comment that quickly resonated with others following the debate.
Another questioned the need to alter a vegetarian staple, saying, “You have a lot of non-vegetarian food already. Why make something authentic vegetarian into a non-vegetarian dish by using chicken stock?”
Not everyone disagreed with the chef, however. Some came to his defence, arguing that viewers were missing the point. “Common people, have some sense and read the title first. He literally said it’s his version of Dal Makhani, not an authentic recipe. You can disagree with it, but at least understand the context before getting offended,” wrote one supporter.
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