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).
Ingredients
  • 1/2cup toor or moong dal
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 or 2medium Tomatoes
  • 2-3green chilies
  • 1tsp chili powderI didn’t use, optional
  • 1tsp coriander powderdidn’t use, optional
  • handfulof spinachoptional, I had some amaranth from my backyard that I threw in
  • 1/2tsp turmeric
  • 2tsp Saltor to taste
  • 1tsp oilfor sautéing
For Tempering
  • 1tbsp oil/ghee if not vegan
  • 1tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1tsp cumin/jeera
  • 1pinch Hing
  • 1red chilioptional
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.