Ingredient appreciation — what makes Dal Makhani special

What sets Dal Makhani apart is the handling of whole spices. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the deeply layered result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

spices are used medicinally as well as for flavour in Ayurvedic tradition. The a dhaba roadside restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had chai tea as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Dal Makhani is the place to start.