Instant Pot Dal or Instant Pot Dal Tadka is my favorite everyday dal that we make at home and I especially like it with a bowl of steaming rice!! ‘Dal’ is an inseparable part of Indian cuisine and literally, All Indians have grown up eating it. Whether it’s the simple combination of ‘Dal-Roti’ or ‘Dal-Chawal’ or even our most humble offering ‘Khichdi’ (mixture of lentil+rice). And if you like eating at an Indian restaurant, then you can literally see a whole ‘sub-heading’ in the menu dedicated to Various Indian Dal, like Dal Makhani, Dal Fry, Dal Tadka, Yellow Dal, etc. As common yet important Dal is, every household in India has a different Dal recipe 🙂 Yes, you heard it right! There is no hard and fast rules or MUST-haves in cooking it, you would come across numerous versions. And that my friend is the BEST part about Dals. They can be 100% customized to your taste/needs.
What is Instant Pot Dal Tadka?
It is a mixture of 2 or more dals (masoor, moong, arhar or as many) that’s cooked in an Instant pot to a mushy state and then a ‘Tadka’ (tempering) of cumin, onion, tomatoes are added on top. As seen in pictures below
Ingredients for Instant Pot Dal Tadka Recipe:
I love using a mix of dal’s and in the picture above you can see the following variety:
Arhar / Toor Dal (Yellow Split Peas) Masoor Dhuli Dal (Red Lentil or Split Masoor Dal) Moong Dhuli Dal (Split Mung Beans or Green Moong Dal) Indian Spices – Turmeric, Red Chili Powder, Salt
Ingredients for the Tadka:
Ghee or Butter (if using salted butter, adjust salt accordingly in dal) – use vegan options if need be Cumin Seeds (Sabut Jeera) Onions, thinly sliced Tomatoes, thinly sliced
What is the Difference Between Dal Tadka and Dal Fry?
If you read above, I have mentioned that this is a Dal Tadka, which is very different from Dal Fry. Dal Tadka: is a mix of 2 or more Indian lentils, that’s cooked to a mushy state. Then you make the tempering known as ‘Tadka’ using cumin, onions, tomatoes, etc and add it on TOP of the Dal. Dal Fry: is mostly made using yellow dal (could be a mix or not) and then is either mixed with a tadka of ‘Cumin-Onions’ or it’s added on the top. For my Instant Pot Dal recipe, I’m making the Tadka separately in a small pan and will add it on top of the dal (once cooked) – This had two advantages: The tadka is ready in less than 3 minutes and elevates the Dal flavor to a whole new level Tried Our Recipe – AWESOME!!! Now Quickly SNAP A PICTURE & TAG : #easycookingwithmolly + @easycookingwithmolly on Instagram –> Connect with Me Here: Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Quintessential Dal Makhani Recipe (Buttery Black Lentil Mix)
Restaurant Style Mixed Dal Tadka – Indian Style Mixed Lentils
Instant Pot Chana Masala (Indian Chickpeas Curry)
Instant Pot Gobi Masala – Cauliflower in Indian Spices (V+GF)
You can prepare the ‘Tadka’ when you put the dal into Manual Cooking Mode. Hence, the hot tadka is ready as soon as the Instant pot dal is done.
