Instant Pot Coconut Masoor Dal Tadka ( Vegan )

Name: Instant Pot Coconut Masoor Dal Tadka ( Vegan )
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dried whole red lentils; 1 small red onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 small tomatoes (( about 200g )); 200 ml coconut milk* (( or 1/2 can , about 3/4 cup )); 2 cups water; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds**; 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder; 3/4 - 1 teaspoon salt

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Masoor dal tadka, aka red lentil curry is super high in protein & naturally vegan. Made in the instant pot & only requires 9 simple ingredients !

Dal served with some chapati and broccoli on a white plate. There is a bowl of brown rice, some cumin seeds and stacks of chapati on the background

Dal is simply one of those things that I cant get enough of. When I was a child, my parents will sometimes surprise us by " planning " a trip to a nearby mamak stall ( Open aired restaurants selling Indian food ) to enjoy supper. And I always, without fail order roti cannai ( Indian flatbread similar to chapati ) with dal.

After many attempts to recreate my childhood favourite dish, I successfully veganize it hence have to share it ! If you had never tried dal, I urge you to try making this recipe. You definitely be hooked. 😁

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What is dal tadka ?
🍅 What you will need
🔪 How to make
✅ Top tips
❄ Storing + Freezing
How to serve
❔ Commonly asked questions
🍽 Other Asian recipes to check out
📖 Recipe

What is dal tadka ?

Dal , sometimes also being known as " daal ", " dahl " or " dhal " , can both be referred to the lentil itself , or a spicy creamy stew made from lentils. It is a really popular Indian dish and is gaining popularity all around the world.

Dal can be made with any kinds of lentils, and the thickness of it all comes down to personal preference. In this recipe, we are using whole masoor dal, which is directly translated as whole red lentils. Red lentils is one of the most common lentils you can find across the world, when compared to other variety like the yellow or black ones ( yes, there are black lentils ! )

On the other hand, tadka is known as " tempering " . This cooking method involves cooking whole or ground spices in oil or animal fats to really bring out the flavour of them.

Close up shot of dal served with folded chapati and brown rice.

🍅 What you will need

Ingredients needed for dal like tomatoes, red lentils, coconut milk, red onion, garlic, cumin seeds, chili powder, ginger powder and turmeric powder.

Yellow lentils can be used in place of red lentils.
Both skimmed or whole fat c o conut milk can be used.
Whole cumin can be substituted with ground cumin, but you will need about ¾ teaspoon.

🔪 How to make

Set the instant pot to the saute mode. Place about 1 tablespoon of oil in the pot and let it heat up.

Saute the onion first for 4-5 minutes, until they are browned and caramelized. Then, add in the garlic, cumin, chili powder, ginger powder, turmeric powder and tomato. Saute for another 4-5 minutes, or until the spices are fragrant and tomatoes has softened. Press the cancel button.

Place in the lentils, salt and coconut milk together with 2 cups of water. Place the lid on and set it to the pressure cook settings at high pressure. Set the timer for 10 minutes.

After the lentils are done cooking or a beep can be heard, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before manually releasing remaining pressure.

Open the lid and give it a taste, adding extra salt if needed. Serve and enjoy !

Process shot of the making of red lentil soup - sauteing onion, adding in garlic, cooking tomatoes until soften, placing all ingredients into the instant pot.

✅ Top tips

If you prefer your dal less mushy and has more texture, reduce the cooking time to about 7-8 minutes.
For a thinner and more soup like dal use 2 ½ cups of water instead.
Feel free to add in some additional veggies. If you are using tougher and harder vegetables like carrot, add it along with the lentils. But if you are using softer vegetables like spinach or peas, add them in after the lentils are done cooking.
Feel free to omit the chili powder if heat is not your thing. Or, add more if you want them to be extra spicy !
You can make this recipe oil-free by using vegetable broth to saute instead of oil.
The lentils may not look well mixed when you first open the lid, but dont worry ! Give it a quick stir and this should fix it.

Dal served with rice and chapati in a white bowl with a spoon on the side

❄ Storing + Freezing

Let it cool down completely. Portion it out and store them into sealed, freezable containers ( this is the container I am using ) . Dal can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for 3 months.

To reheat, let the frozen dal thaw. You can choose to reheat it in the microwave, or on the stove.

How to serve

Pair them with some naan, chapati or roti ( my favourite way to eat them ! )
Serve it over a bed of rice
Use it as a salad dressing by thinning them out with some water and add more salt, if needed
Eat it as a warm, comforting bowl of soup

Close up shot of dal served with chapati and broccoli

❔ Commonly asked questions

Can I temper / saute the spices without oil to make it oil-free ?

You definitely can. Use some vegetable broth/water in place of oil. Add in a tablespoon of broth/water at a time if the spices starts sticking to the pot. I recommend getting an non-stick inner pot to make things easier.

Can I freeze this recipe ?

Yes, this recipe is freezable.

🍽 Other Asian recipes to check out

📖 Recipe