An honest review of Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm at ৳79 in Bangladesh — what it is, how to cook it, how it compares with moshur dal, and how to judge value before you order online.
If you are pricing dal before your weekly grocery order, the Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm price in Bangladesh is one of the numbers worth knowing. At Gravity Bazar it is listed at ৳79.00 for a 500 gm pack. That is a small, low-risk pack — enough for two or three family meals — which makes it a sensible first buy if you have never cooked motor dal or you simply want to compare it with the moshur dal you already use.
This guide explains what motor dal actually is, how it behaves in the pot, where it fits in a Bangladeshi kitchen, and how it stacks up against the moshur dal options on the same shelf. We will not dress it up. Split pea is not a substitute for every dal, and it is not the cheapest per gram on our list. Here is the plain version.
What Split Pea (Motor Dal) Actually Is
Motor dal is split field pea — the same pulse that becomes yellow split pea in other markets, dried and split so it cooks faster than a whole legume. In Bangladesh it is a familiar, everyday dal, often cooked thin with turmeric and a simple phoron, or cooked thick as a bhuna-style side.
Because it is split, it does not need hours of soaking. A short rinse and a 20–30 minute simmer usually gets it soft, depending on how old the stock is and how hard your water is. That convenience is the main reason people keep a pack in the cupboard.
How it differs from moshur dal
Moshur dal (red lentil) breaks down quickly into a smooth, sweet-bodied dal and is the default in most Bangladeshi homes. Motor dal holds its shape a little longer and has a more savoury, slightly earthy flavour. It also thickens differently — a motor dal left on the heat can turn quite dense, so add water as you go rather than all at once.
Neither is “better.” Moshur is faster and more forgiving; motor gives you a different texture and a break from the same bowl every week.
Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm Price in Bangladesh: What ৳79 Buys You
At ৳79.00 for 500 gm, the Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm sits in the middle of the dal shelf rather than at the bottom. That is worth saying clearly, because shoppers often assume split pea is always the budget pick. It is not automatically.
What you are paying for here is a clean, split, ready-to-cook pack in a manageable size. If you cook dal three or four times a week, a 500 gm pack will not last long in a large household — you may find yourself reordering within a fortnight. That is the honest trade-off of buying small.
Price per gram, in plain terms
Do the arithmetic before you decide, because pack size changes the picture. A 500 gm pack at ৳79 works out to roughly ৳15.8 per 100 gm. Compare that against the larger packs on the same category page and you will quickly see where the value sits for your household size.
Small packs cost more per gram but waste less. Large packs cost less per gram but only save money if you actually finish them before they sit in the cupboard for a year. Old dal cooks unevenly — that is a real cost, not a theoretical one.
How Motor Dal Compares With the Other Dals on Our Shelf
Gravity Bazar stocks several dal options, and the right one depends on what you are cooking this week. Here is how the featured picks compare, with the trade-offs stated plainly.
- Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm — ৳79.00. Best for a different texture and a savoury, everyday dal. Trade-off: costs more per gram than the imported moshur options and needs a slightly longer cook.
- Pran Moshur Dal (Deshi) 1 kg — ৳185.00. Best for families who cook moshur dal most days and want a branded deshi option in a larger pack. Trade-off: the highest upfront spend of the four, so it only pays off if you cook often.
- Moshur Dal (Imported) 500 gm — ৳55.00. Best for a straightforward, low-cost moshur dal for a small household. Trade-off: it is imported, so flavour and cook time can vary slightly between lots.
- Moshur Dal (Imported) 250 gm — ৳29.00. Best for a trial pack, a single person, or a quick top-up before a bigger order. Trade-off: the highest cost per gram of the four, so it is a convenience buy, not a value buy.
Notice the pattern: the cheapest sticker price is not the cheapest dal. The 250 gm pack at ৳29 looks like a bargain until you work out that you would need two of them to match the 500 gm pack — and you would pay more for the same weight.
Who Each Pack Suits
Choose the split pea if…
You want variety, you like a dal with a bit more body, or you are cooking something where a firmer pulse works better — a thick dal with onions, or a mixed vegetable dish where you do not want the lentil to dissolve completely. The 500 gm size is also a fair way to test whether your family actually likes motor dal before committing to a bigger bag.
The honest trade-off: if your household eats dal twice a day, this pack is a top-up, not a staple.
Choose deshi moshur if…
Moshur dal is the default in your kitchen and you want a branded deshi product in a 1 kg pack. At ৳185.00, Pran Moshur Dal (Deshi) 1 kg is the sensible choice for a family that cooks dal most days. The trade-off is upfront cost — you are committing more money in one go than you would with any 500 gm pack.
Choose imported moshur if…
You want the lowest spend per pack. Moshur Dal (Imported) 500 gm at ৳55.00 is the practical everyday pick for a small family, and Moshur Dal (Imported) 250 gm at ৳29.00 is the right size when you only need a little. The trade-off is consistency: imported lots can differ slightly in colour and cooking time, so taste before you cook a big batch.
Cooking Motor Dal Without Guesswork
Rinse the dal in two or three changes of water until it runs mostly clear. Soak for 20–30 minutes if you have time — it shortens the boil and gives a more even result. Then simmer with turmeric and salt until it presses easily between your fingers.
Keep the water level generous. Motor dal thickens noticeably as it cools, and a dal that looks right off the heat can be stiff by the time it reaches the table. If you are serving it thin, add hot water at the end rather than cold.
For the phoron, heat oil, add panch phoron or just cumin and dried chilli, let it sizzle for a few seconds, and pour it over the dal. Do not walk away — whole spices burn fast and a burnt phoron will dominate the whole pot.
A Practical Checklist Before You Order Dal Online
Use this before you check out, whether you are buying motor dal or moshur dal:
- Check the pack size against how often your household cooks dal — small packs cost more per gram.
- Work out price per 100 gm, not just the sticker price, when comparing two packs.
- Buy only what you will finish in a few months; old dal cooks unevenly.
- Confirm the delivery charge and whether cash on delivery is available in your area.
- Keep the pack sealed and dry after opening — moisture is the main enemy of any dal.
- Check the returns window before ordering, in case a pack arrives damaged.
You can browse the full range on our Dal or Lentil category page to compare pack sizes side by side.
Quality, Storage and What to Check on Arrival
Good split pea should look fairly uniform in colour, with no musty smell and no clumping. A few broken pieces are normal for a split pulse; a lot of fine dust at the bottom of the pack suggests rough handling or an older stock.
Store dal in an airtight container away from sunlight and damp. In Bangladesh's humidity, a loose packet left open will absorb moisture and cook badly within weeks. If you buy a 1 kg pack and cook slowly, split it into smaller jars.
For broader guidance on handling and storing pulses safely, the World Health Organization publishes food safety information that applies to dry staples as much as to fresh food.
The Verdict on Value
The Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm price in Bangladesh — ৳79.00 at Gravity Bazar — is fair for a clean, split, ready-to-cook pack in a size that suits small households and first-time buyers. It is not the cheapest dal per gram on our shelf, and we would rather say that than pretend otherwise.
If you want variety and a firmer dal, buy it. If you want the lowest cost per gram and you cook dal daily, the larger deshi moshur pack will serve you better over a month. Many shoppers end up buying both — one for everyday cooking, one for a change.
Shop the picks on Gravity Bazar with home delivery and cash on delivery.
Top picks at a glance
Here is the shortlist used in this guide. Each product links to its live price and availability.
Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm
Split field pea in a 500 gm pack at ৳79.00 — a fair size for testing motor dal before buying larger. Check the current price.
Pran Moshur Dal (Deshi) 1 kg
Branded deshi moshur dal in a 1 kg pack at ৳185.00, suited to families cooking dal most days. Check the current price.
Moshur Dal (Imported) 500 gm
Imported moshur dal, 500 gm at ৳55.00 — a practical everyday pick for a small household. Check the current price.
Moshur Dal (Imported) 250 gm
A 250 gm imported moshur dal pack at ৳29.00, useful for a trial or a quick top-up. Check the current price.
Price and value at a glance
Prices are shown in BDT and may change with offers. Open a product for the live price and stock.
| Product | Best for | Price | Details |
|---|
| Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm | Best overall | ৳79.00 | View product |
| Pran Moshur Dal (Deshi) 1 kg | Best value | ৳185.00 | View product |
| Moshur Dal (Imported) 500 gm | Most popular | ৳55.00 | View product |
| Moshur Dal (Imported) 250 gm | Everyday pick | ৳29.00 | View product |
At Gravity Bazar, Split Pea (Motor Dal) 500 gm is priced at ৳79.00 for a 500 gm pack. That works out to roughly ৳15.8 per 100 gm, which is useful to know when comparing it with larger dal packs.
No. Motor dal is split field pea, while moshur dal is red lentil. Motor dal holds its shape a little longer and has a more savoury flavour, while moshur dal breaks down faster into a smooth, sweet-bodied dal.
Usually 20–30 minutes of simmering after a rinse, or a bit less if you soak it for 20–30 minutes first. Older stock takes longer, so taste a grain before you take the pot off the heat.
Generally the larger packs cost less per gram. The 1 kg deshi moshur pack at ৳185.00 and the 500 gm imported moshur pack at ৳55.00 both cost less per gram than the 250 gm pack at ৳29.00.
Gravity Bazar offers nationwide delivery in Bangladesh with cash on delivery and easy returns. Confirm the delivery charge and coverage for your area at checkout before you place the order.