Overcooked dal is gross: Don't overcook your dal. ... Overcooked dal is a mushy mess. Similarly, undercooked dal tastes like bird food; the lentils should be tender but still have some substance.

Is Daal supposed to be mushy?

You want to cook the dal until it is completely soft and thick and collapses into a rough purée. For a velvety, creamy texture, whirl it in the blender. If you prefer a bit more texture, beat it with a whisk for a minute to a porridge-like consistency. At this point, the dal is edible but bland.

Is dal supposed to be soupy?

Dals are soupy by nature, you don't evaporate off or drain all the water, you keep it in the dal. This means either using a pressure cooker, or else adding water during cooking to make up for evaporative losses. This is on top of the 3:1 water:dal ratio that you start with.