Add Preferred SourceDiscover the flavors and simplicity of whole masoor dal cooked effortlessly in an
Why you will love this recipe?
- This masoor dal recipe can be prepared in 30 minutes, with only 10 minutes of hands-on time.
- The dal pairs well with a variety of accompaniments, such as rice, roti/naan, millet rice, red rice, or quinoa.
Ingredients
Sabut masoor dal: Also called brown lentils, this is the main ingredient for this dish.
Onions: Red or pink onions work well for this dish. You can also use brown onions.
Spices: The powdered spices I use are turmeric, chili powder, ground coriander, and garam masala. The whole spice I use is cumin seeds.
See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
Variations
Palak masoor dal: Boost the nutritional content of the dal by adding a handful of fresh spinach leaves. Add the spinach after the dal is cooked and let it wilt in the residual heat. This adds vibrant color and extra nutrients to the dish. You can also use frozen spinach leaves before pressure cooking the dal.
Vegetable masoor dal: Add diced vegetables like carrots, peas, or bell peppers to the dal while cooking. This not only adds more texture and color but also increases the nutritional value of the dish.
No onion-garlic dal: You can skip onions and garlic to make a no-onion, no-garlic version of this dal. For that, temper cumin seeds and add ginger and chili. Follow the rest of this recipe.
Step-by-step instructions
Expert Tips
I use 6 cups of water for 2 cups of brown lentils. This gives me a slightly thick whole masoor dal curry. Adjust the consistency as per your liking.
Lightly mash some of the cooked masoor dal. This will make the final dish creamy and buttery.
While whole masoor dal does not require soaking like some other lentils, you can soak it for about 15-20 minutes before cooking to reduce the cooking time slightly. Before cooking, make sure to rinse the whole masoor dal thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or impurities.
Properly sautéing the onions, garlic, and ginger enhances the flavor of the dal. Cook them until they turn translucent and the raw smell from the ginger-garlic paste goes.
Some optional spices like bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, black pepper powder, or cumin powder can also be added to this brown lentils curry.
What to serve with whole masoor dal?
Rice: Serve the dal with steamed basmati rice or any other variety of rice like red rice, jeera rice (cumin rice), or biryani rice.
Roti, naan, or paratha: Whole masoor dal is delicious when paired with Indian bread like roti, chapati, or naan. Enjoy the dal with flaky and layered Indian bread called paratha. Parathas can be plain or stuffed with various fillings like potato, paneer (Indian cottage cheese), peas, or spinach. We love this dal with peas paratha.
Sorghum: Serve the dal with cooked whole-grain sorghum. This gluten-free millet boasts an earthy and nutty flavor that makes it a great replacement for white rice.
Salad: To add freshness and crunch to the meal, serve a side salad alongside the dal. A simple cucumber-tomato salad with a tangy dressing or a green salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a honey mustard vinaigrette can be refreshing and complement the dal nicely.
Check out this vegan curry recipe to make delicious Thai red curry.
Recipe FAQs
Whole masoor dal can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can also freeze this dal for 3-4 months. To reheat, transfer the dal to a saucepan, add a little water, and simmer. The dal tends to dry out when it is cold, so it is best to simmer with a little water.
You can skip onions and garlic in this dish. For instructions, see the variations section above.
To use a slow cooker or crock pot to make sabut masoor ki dal, follow the recipe steps to cook the onion-tomato masala in a frying pan. Transfer the onion-tomato masala mixture and rinsed dal to the slow cooker. Add the water, cover, and begin the cooking process on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours or until the dal is cooked and tender.
More Instant Pot lentil recipes
If you tried this Instant Pot Whole Masoor Dal (Sabut Masoor Dal) Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ? star rating and let me know how it went in the ? comments below.
Recipe card
Instant Pot Whole Masoor Dal (Sabut Masoor Dal)
Ingredients
- 2 cup whole masoor dal (brown lentils)
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 inch ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 1 green chilli finely chopped
- 1 large tomato finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust as per taste
- ½ teaspoon garam masala (use store-bought or homemade garam masala)
- 1 tablespoon kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice (or lime juice)
- 2 tablespoon cilantro
Instructions
- Wash the whole masoor dal thoroughly in water. Drain the water and set it aside.
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add oil. Once it heats, add cumin seeds and saute for a few seconds.
- Once the cumin splutters, add onion and fry for 3 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and green chili. Saute for one more minute.
- Add tomato, turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Add ¼ cup water. Cover and let the tomatoes cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the washed brown lentils. Also, add 6 cups water and mix well.
- Close the lid of the Instant Pot and pressure cook for 20 minutes.
- Do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Add garam masala, coriander leaves, Kasuri methi, and lemon juice. Mix well.
- Serve hot with rice or roti.
Kayla DiMaggio says
yum! I really love Indian food and lentils are some of my favorites. This masoor dal was so delicious and warming.
Maiko says
I love dal curries and this recipe looks easy to make and super delicious! Definitely making this curry this weekend. Thank you!
Anaiah says
I love this dal! So flavorful and comforting. It's way better than I've ever made before. So glad I found your recipe!
Elizabeth Swoish says
So delicious and easy to make as a newbie to Indian food!
Emily Flint says
I just love finding new and unique recipes for my Instant Pot! I will be making this over the weekend since it's going to be cold. Thank you!
Sue says
I love that this can be made in 30 minutes. Can't wait to give it a try!
Addie says
Loved the flavors in this dish!
Gina Abernathy says
A big bowl of comfort food! Delicious!
Stacy Boswell says
Such a delicious and flavorful 30-minute meal! I love that it is quick, easy, and healthy but also so comforting and filling.
Tavo says
Wow this daal looks astonishing! I love cooking with lentils and Indian spices! I'll sure give this one a try over the weekend!
Kayla DiMaggio says
These instant pot brow lentils are so delicious! I love how easy they are to make!
Chris says
This meal was so good! I made it today and everyone loved it! It was so creamy, smooth, and very fragrant! I will make this again, soon! Thank you!
Emily says
This dal is so comforting and delicious! I love this one-pot meal, we found it to be hearty and filling!
NATALIA says
This is a great lentils recipe, really tasty! I love it, looks very easy and filling. Definitely going to give this a go, thank you so much for sharing!
Michelle says
Making dal in the instant pot was so easy! This is the perfect weeknight dinner and great to make a big batch of.