Put everything in the large soup pot over medium-high heat. Cover and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to a strong simmer. Let the soup cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Then taste the daal. You may want to let it cook longer depending on how tender you like the beans.
When the daal is ready, remove the bay leaves. Ladle into individual bowls and garnish with cilantro.
