This Instant Pot dal is creamy, rich, and bursting with flavors! A quick 30-minute recipe that makes a satisfying weeknight dinner.
As we head into the rainy season, I am drawn towards heartier soups and stews, like my lentil carrot soup, pumpkin potato soup, and dump-and-go recipes like this Instant Pot dal! I love pairing it with homemade roti or chickpea pulao for a satisfying and comforting meal.
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🌶What you will need
📓Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Lentils - I am using moong dal, but feel free to substitute with other lentils, such as masoor dal (split brown/red lentils) or toor dal (split pigeon peas). You could also use a combination of lentils!
- Spices - I highly recommend using all spices in this recipe for the optimal flavor. Another alternative to individually purchasing different spices is to get a dal spice blend.
🔪How to make
- Step 1: Turn the pot to the "saute" mode, and heat some oil. Add in cumin and mustard seeds and let them sizzle for 30 seconds.
- Step 2: Add onion and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until onion is translucent.
- Step 3: Now, stir in tomato and the rest of the spices. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until tomato has softened.
- Step 4: Add the remaining ingredients into the pot, including the rinse lentils. Place the lid on and set the pot to cook at high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Step 5: Allow pressure to release naturally. Stir it, adjusting the taste by adding more salt or consistency with hot water.
- Step 6: Serve and enjoy your dal with a side of naan or roti.
💡Tip
If your dal appears dry after cooking, add hot water until it reaches the desired consistency. As seen in the pictures, I like mine fairly thick.
✅Helpful tips and recipe variations
Adjust spice levels - This recipe for Instant Pot dal is relatively mild and tolerable by most. You can increase the spiciness by adding more chili powder, 1-2 chopped green chilies, or a generous pinch of cayenne pepper.
Steaming rice while cooking dal - You can use the “pot-in-pot” method to cook Basmati rice alongside dal in the Instant Pot. Firstly, prep rice by rinsing it a few times. Place rice in a stainless steel bowl, and add water in the ratio of 1 part rice: 1.25 part water.
Before setting the Instant Pot to pressure cook, insert a long-legged trivet. Place the rice mixture on the trivet, then set it to cook as per instructions.
Adding vegetables - You could also add some vegetables to your dal to bulk up your meal! Sturdier vegetables like carrot and pumpkin can be cooked alongside lentils. I also like stirring in baby spinach once the dal is done cooking.
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🍚Serving suggestions
- Rice - Plain Jasmine/basmati rice or biryani like my rice cooker biryani.
- Breads and flatbreads - I love making Indian flatbreads from scratch, like this plain paratha!
- Toppings - Some great toppings for dal include chopped cilantro, lemon juice, and raita.
❄️Meal prep and storing suggestions
This recipe keeps well and is freezable, making it great for meal prep! You can also easily make a larger batch by doubling this recipe.
Fridge - Dal can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer - Before freezing, portion dal using souper cubes of containers so you will only heat up what you need. You can freeze dal for 3 months.
Reheating - Allow the frozen dal to thaw overnight in the fridge. Then, proceed to reheat in the microwave or on the stove. You will likely need to add water, as the dal will thicken after being stored.
💚Why you will love to recipe
- A 30-minute, dump-and-go recipe that requires minimal prep
- Hearty, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying to have
- Freeze beautifully - a great meal prep recipe
- A great source of plant-based protein!
❔Commonly asked questions
If lentils are unsoaked, they should be cooked for 7-8 minutes or up to 10 minutes if you prefer a softer and creamier dal.
As for lentils that have been soaked for at least 2 hours, reduce cooking time to 4 minutes or 6 minutes for a softer dal.
🍽More quick vegan dinners
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Instant Pot Dal
Ingredients
- 1 cup moong dal split yellow lentils*
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds optional
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium tomato diced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder **
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- 3 cups water
- ¾-1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Turn the pot to the "saute" mode, and heat ½ tablespoon of oil. Add in cumin and mustard seeds and let them sizzle for 30 seconds.
- Add onion and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until onion is translucent.
- Now, stir in tomato and the rest of the spices. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until tomato has softened.
- Add the remaining ingredients into the pot, including the rinse lentils. Place the lid on and set the pot to cook at high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Allow pressure to release naturally. Stir it, adjusting the taste by adding more salt or consistency with hot water.
- Serve and enjoy your dal with a side of naan or roti.
Notes
- Adjust spice levels - This Instant Pot dal recipe is relatively mild and tolerable by most. You can increase the spiciness by adding more chili powder, 1-2 chopped green chilies, or a generous pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Steam rice while cooking dal - This is a time saver if you love serving dal with rice! Check the "helpful tips and recipe variations" section in the post for full instructions.
- Storing suggestions - Instant Pot dal can be refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3 months.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
NanH says
Great recipe. I especially love the way the recipe is written with the ingredients needed in each step listed right below the directions. Soooooo easy to follow! I bought a ton of yellow lentils at Costco so always looking for more recipes for them. 🙂
Norma says
I don’t have an Instapot. Can this be made on the stove or in a slow cooker?
meesha says
Yes, this can be made on stovetop ! Saute the spices per instruction on a skillet. Then, add in the water, coconut milk and lentils. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, with the lid on, stirring occasionally. You might need to add more water. Hope this helps !
Chef Dennis says
Wow, that looks ah-mazingly delicious!
meesha says
Thanks !
Amanda Marie Boyle says
So good, one of the few instapot recipes I make over and over.
meesha says
Glad you like it !
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
It looks delicious. I wish this Instant Pot Coconut Masoor Dal Tadka is in front of me right now!
meesha says
Thanks ! Give it a try it is really good 🙂
Swathi says
Dal Thadka looks delicious I llike that you made with coconut milk.
meesha says
Thanks a bunch ! Coconut milk makes it really creamy 🙂
Christine says
I do not see coconut milk anywhere in this recipe 🙁
Meesha says
You actually do not need coconut milk for this recipe. 😊
Christine says
I really thought coconut milk would help it be even more delicious! I made it as the recipe states but wanted to inquire how you could include that in the instant pot 🙂
Meesha says
You can try substituting half the amount of water with coconut milk if you like! The instructions for making it in the Instant pot are also provided in the recipe card. Hopes this helps!
Deanna says
Such amazing flavours in this dish and so easy to make in the instant pot. Definitely a keeper.
meesha says
Thanks !
Emily says
I love dal! I am just getting familiar with my insta pot so I am excited to try making dal this way. Thanks!
meesha says
Welcome ! Enjoy.
Emily Flint says
The flavor combinationsounds amazing and like others, I can't wait to try this in the Instant Pot!
meesha says
Yay ! Hope you like it !
Sue says
I love that this can be made in the Instant pot!
Angela says
It looks so good and so healthy this recipe! I like it I will try it soon
meesha says
Yayy ! I am sure you will love it 😁
Alexandra says
Love the delicious spices in this dish, and great to make in the IP.
meesha says
Thanks for your kind words !
Karen says
Very tasty and quick! Just what I needed on a cold winter day thank you!
meesha says
I am really glad you like it ! 😃