This wonderful spiced Instant Pot red lentil dal is satisfying and loaded with flavor. Serve dal along with rice if you like, and add naan or another Indian-style flatbread to the menu.
Use red or yellow lentils in the dish; they break down, making it a thick and colorful dish. If you like a very thick dish, omit about 1/2 to 1 cup of the liquid. You can always add more later if it is too thick.
This Instant Pot chorizo and lentil soup is another tasty lentil dish for the pressure cooker, or try this Instant Pot Mulligatawny soup with lentils and chicken.
PrintInstant Pot Red Lentil Dal
This Instant Pot red lentil dal is made with a combination of Indian seasonings and cooked to perfection in the electric pressure cooker.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Pressure Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 52 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or ghee or vegetable oil)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 3 teaspoons minced ginger
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or chicken stock, low sodium)
- 1 cup dried red lentils
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table salt)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Optional: rice
- Optional: naan bread
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on sauté; heat the coconut oil or ghee until hot. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and ginger and continue to sauté for 1 to 2 minutes longer.
- Add the broth or stock and stir, scraping any browned bits on the bottom of the pot.
- Add the lentils, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, cayenne, black pepper, and kosher salt. Stir to blend.
- Lock the lid in place and choose high pressure. Set the timer for 7 minutes.
- When the time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes, and then turn the knob or lever to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.
- Stir the tomato paste into the dal.
- Serve dal with rice, if desired, along with warm naan bread.
