It is common for the dal to be left over for dinner. When you open the fridge the next day and see the same dal, you don't know whether to reheat it and eat it or make something new. Many times people throw away leftover pulses, but there is no need to do so.

Leftover dal can be turned into a delicious breakfast with a little creativity. For this you will not need much material. With the help of flour, gram flour, rice flour and some spices available at home, you can prepare many types of dishes from lentils.

Make delicious paratha from leftover lentils

The easiest way to use dal is to prepare parathas from it. For this, add wheat flour, finely chopped onion, green chilli, green coriander, cumin and salt as per taste to the remaining dal.

Mix everything well and knead a soft dough. Keep in mind that the pulses already contain moisture, so add water in very little quantity and use it only as per requirement.

Now make balls of dough and roll them into parathas. Put it on a hot pan, apply ghee or oil on both the sides and cook till it turns golden. It can be served with curd, pickle or green chutney.

Prepare crunchy lentil pakodas.

If you like to eat something crunchy for breakfast, then pakodas can be made from leftover lentils. Add gram flour, finely chopped onion, green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, green coriander and cumin to the dal.

Turmeric and red chili powder can also be added to enhance the taste. If the mixture becomes too thin then add some more gram flour to it.

Now heat oil in a pan and add small portions of the prepared mixture and fry until golden and crisp. Serve hot pakodas with green chutney or tomato sauce. It can also become a great snack with tea.

Make instant dal cheela

Dal cheela can be a good option for those who like breakfast with less oil. To make this, add some rice flour, finely chopped onion, green chilli, green coriander and salt to the remaining dal and mix.

Now add water as per requirement and prepare such a batter which can spread easily on the pan. Pour a ladle of batter on the hot pan, spread it thinly and cook well from both the sides.

When the cheela becomes light golden and crisp from the edges, remove it from the pan. Serve hot with green chutney.

Make crunchy vadas from lentils

Dal vadas can also be prepared from leftover lentils. For this, add finely chopped onion, green chilli, curry leaves, ginger, some fennel and black pepper to the lentils.

Add some rice flour to bind the mixture well. Now shape them into small vadas or tikkis with your hands.

Heat oil in a pan and fry them until they become golden and crisp. Dal vadas can be served with green chutney or coconut chutney.

Prepare delicious khichdi from leftover lentils

If you want to eat something light and comfortable for breakfast or dinner, then you can make Khichdi from leftover lentils.

For this, heat some ghee in the cooker and add cumin, asafoetida and finely chopped onion and fry. After this, add tomato, green chilli and ginger-garlic paste and cook.

Now add washed rice, remaining dal and water as per requirement. Mix salt, turmeric and some garam masala and cook in the cooker. After Khichdi is ready, add some ghee on top and serve with curd, pickle or papad.

Healthy lentil soup is also a good option

If you want to have something light in the morning, then soup can be made from leftover lentils. Heat some oil in a pan and fry onion, garlic and ginger. Add carrots, tomatoes or other vegetables of your choice and cook until soft.

Now add remaining dal and water or vegetable stock as per requirement. Add salt, black pepper and some cumin powder and cook for a few minutes.

If you want, you can make the soup smooth by blending it. Adding green coriander and some lemon juice on top makes its taste even better.

Instead of throwing away pulses, try these easy methods

Next time, if you have leftover pulses from the night, you can use them in these easy recipes instead of throwing them away. Options like paratha, pakoda, cheela, vada, khichdi and soups will not only reduce food wastage but will also help in presenting leftover dal in a completely new and delicious form.

Keep in mind: Before reusing the leftover dal, check that there is no change in its smell, color and taste. If lentils have been left at room temperature for a long time or show signs of spoilage, do not use them.