Instant Pot Basic Dhal

Srilatha Leave a Comment

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 Instant Pot Basic Dhal
This is a basic, beginner recipe. No frills, no fancy, just a simple dal. Only, you don't need 2 pots - one to cook the dal in, one to add the seasonings. It's all one pot, turn it on, set the timer and forget it. When done, add tempering, and salt. Total comfort food, ready in about 25 mins (including pressure release time).
Course Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine South Indian
Servings
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup toor or moong dal
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 or 2 medium Tomatoes
  • 2-3 green chilies
  • 1 tsp chili powder I didn't use, optional
  • 1 tsp coriander powder didn't use, optional
  • handful of spinach optional, I had some amaranth from my backyard that I threw in
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1 tsp oil for sautéing
For Tempering
  • 1 tbsp oil/ghee if not vegan
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin/jeera
  • 1 pinch Hing
  • 1 red chili optional
Course Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine South Indian
Servings
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup toor or moong dal
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 or 2 medium Tomatoes
  • 2-3 green chilies
  • 1 tsp chili powder I didn't use, optional
  • 1 tsp coriander powder didn't use, optional
  • handful of spinach optional, I had some amaranth from my backyard that I threw in
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1 tsp oil for sautéing
For Tempering
  • 1 tbsp oil/ghee if not vegan
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin/jeera
  • 1 pinch Hing
  • 1 red chili optional
Instructions
  1. Chop onions, tomatoes into small pieces; slit green chilies Wash and keep dal ready
  2. Turn on the Instant pot and set on saute mode
  3. Add ghee/oil, when hot, add onions and saute for a couple of minutes
  4. Add tomatoes and green chilies and continue to saute for a few minutes until tomatoes become pulpy; add chili powder and dhania powder if using and mix
  5. Add the dal, 3 times water (if dal is one cup, add 3 cups water), turmeric, spinach if using
  6. Lock the instant pot turn the lever in "Seal" position, set the timer to 15, and manual/pressure cook mode. If using moong dal it'll cook in roughly 8-10 minutes.
  7. When it beeps, i usually unplug it and let the pressure release naturally. If I'm in a hurry, I let it sit for at least 5 minutes and manually release pressure (carefully).
  8. Open lid, mash the dal well, add required salt (dal may not cook well if added during cooking).
  9. Do the tempering in a small pan - heat oil/ghee, temper with mustard and cumin seeds and hing, and pour over dal.
  10. Enjoy as soup, or over rice!
Recipe Notes

This is the ultimate comfort food. Optional ingredients are garlic, chili powder, and coriander powder added at the time of sauteing. 

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