Indian dish for children's author (4)

I believe the answer is:

dahl

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'children's author' is the definition.
(Roald Dahl)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for dahl that I've seen before include "Roald -, British writer" , "Willy Wonka's creator" , "Roald -, Br. author" , "Roald - - (deviser of Willy-Wonka)" , "James and the Giant Peach author" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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