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    Home » Soups & Lentils » Dal Tadka in Instant Pot

    Published: Feb 19, 2022 · Modified: Feb 19, 2022 by Priya * This post may contain affiliate links.

    Dal Tadka in Instant Pot

    Recipe Print
    Dal served with tadka of fried onions on top and text at the top and bottom
    Dal tempered with fried onions and served in a bucket and text at the top
    3 image collage of Instant Pot Dal Tadka with text at the top

    Instant Pot Yellow Dal Tadka is a deliciously comforting dish made with mixed lentils, veggies and spices. This Indian dal recipe is vegan and can be made in 30 minutes.

    Dal Tadka served in a brass bucket with a spoon in it

    Table of Contents

    • Indian Dal decoded
    • Many variations to Dal
    • What does tadka mean
    • Why Instant Pot
    • Why make this
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make it
    • To make smoky Dal Tadka
    • Serving suggestions
    • Top recipe tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Dal recipes
    • Dal Tadka in Instant Pot

    Indian Dal decoded

    Also known as Daal, Dhal or Varan is an extremely popular North Indian side dish that's made with lentils which is cooked with aromatic spices.

    It has a beautiful yellow/orange hue thanks to the spices used. It's often served with rice and is considered as comfort food for Indians.

    Many mistake it as a curry, but Dal is not a curry. It uses fewer spices, and is way simpler to make. It's more like a creamy lentil stew with an earthy taste.

    Lentils and pulses are called Dal in Hindi. The term 'Dal' is used to describe the dish as well as the ingredient.

    Instant Pot Dal Tadka served in a bowl with a spoon on the side

    Many variations to Dal

    Yes, every Indian household has its own recipe to make Dal. There are many variations to it. Right from lentils and spices used to the way its tempered, everything can vary.

    Dal Tadka or Dal Fry is one of the ways of cooking the Indian Dal. I call it the dressed up version of the staple Yellow Dal.

    That is why you will find it on restaurant menus, celebratory events and parties.

    The Yellow Dal Tadka recipe is naturally vegetarian but today I am sharing how to make it vegan and in the Instant Pot.

    What does tadka mean

    Tadka also reffered to as tarka, vaghar, or chaunk means tempered spice infused oil. It is a very common cooking technique in Indian cooking.

    Spices when tempered in ghee or oil, release essential oils, aroma and flavors which gives the dish an uplifting flavor. We use a special tadka pan for this.

    The sizzling sound you get when you pour the tadka over the dish is like music to the ears.

    Why Instant Pot

    This home-style version of yellow Tadka Dal can easily be made in the Instant Pot. I prefer to make it in this because its a one-pot meal.

    I just add all the ingredients and let the Pot do the magic. No more counting the whistles of the traditional pressure cooker!

    Since I like to serve this Dal with rice, I also like to cook it with the Dal using the pot-in-pot method.

    Why make this

    • This Dal recipe is vegan
    • It's very nutritious, high in protein and fiber content
    • Easy to digest
    • A budget-friendly meal
    • Can be made with basic pantry ingredients
    • One-Pot meal
    • Simple, easy and quick to make
    • Is easily customizable and scalable
    • It's mouthwateringly delicious

    Ingredients needed

    all the ingredients needed to make Dal Tadka in Instant Pot placed on a table with labels on them

    Lentils - I have used 3 kinds of pulses/lentils to make this Dal Tadka. It's made with tur dal (split pigeon peas), chana dal (split chickpea lentils), and masoor dal (red lentils).

    Mixing the three dals together gives it better flavor and texture. You can also make this recipe with just one variety of dal.

    All these pulses can be easily found on Amazon or in an Indian grocery store. When selecting them, ensure there are no insects in them or are not stale.

    Veggies - onions and tomatoes are the two basic veggies we need that will help enhance the flavor.

    Spices and herbs - cumin seeds, garlic, ginger, green chillies, turmeric, coriander powder, garam masala, red chilly powder, dried red chillies, and Kasuri methi give this Dal an aromatic flavor.

    Dal Tadka masala - This is an optional ingredient but do add it if you have. This spice mix can be found on Amazon or in an Indian grocery store.

    Traditionally, ghee is used to temper Dal, but since this is a vegan dal recipe, I have used vegan ghee.

    all the ingredients needed to make tadka for dal placed on a table with labels on them

    The ingredients that will be used in the takda/tempering of this Instant Pot Yellow Dal are:

    Fried onions - this is one of the key ingredients that will elevate the flavor by many notches. Avoid skipping this.

    Other ingredients are cilantro, lemon juice, cumin seeds, asafoetida, dried red chillies, and Kashmiri red chilly powder (this gives color without the spice).

    How to make it

    4 image collage showing the steps to make dal tadka in the Instant Pot
    1. Mix all the 3 dals (tur dal, masoor dal and chana dal) together and rinse well under running water. Wash gently by rubbing with your fingers. There is no need to soak the dal.
    2. Turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Add ghee. Once it's hot, add cumin seeds, ginger paste, garlic, green chillies and turmeric powder. Saute for 30 seconds,
    3. Then add the onions and dried red chillies. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
    4. Add the tomatoes along with salt. Continue to saute till the tomatoes turn soft.
    4 image collage showing how to make Dal Tadka in Instant Pot
    1. Now add the spices like chilly powder, coriander powder, garam masala, dal tadka masala, garam masala and crushed Kasuri methi. Mix and cook for 30 seconds.
    2. Add the rinsed lentils. Give it a mix.
    3. Finally add the water. Hit cancel. Close the lid and select manual or pressure mode. Cook it for 7 minutes with the valve in sealing position.
      • When done, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Hit cancel and then do a manual pressure release.
      • Open the lid and mash the cooked lentils with a whisk or with the back of the ladle and give it a mix.
    4. Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro. Add a cup of water if the Dal is very thick. Using the ladle, mash the lentils lightly.
    2 image collage showing how to do the tadka for Dal
    1. In a tadka pan, temper cumin seeds, then add asafoetida, dried red chillies and Kashmiri chilly powder. Fry for 10 seconds.
    2. Add the fried onions and cilantro. Fry for 30 seconds. Pour this tadka over the prepared Dal.

    To make smoky Dal Tadka

    An additional step that you can do here is to give the Dal a smoky flavor. Transfer the cooked Dal to a large serving bowl. Place a small bowl in the center.

    Burn a piece of natural coal or a cinnamon stick and place it carefully in the small bowl.

    Drizzle oil on it and cover the serving bowl immediately and let the smoke flavors infuse the Dal for 2 minutes.

    Then open the lid and discard the coal. This smoking technique is also known as Dhungar.

    Instead of doing this, you can also just add smoky paprika instead of chilly powder to get that smoky flavor.

    Dal tempered with fried onions and served in a bucket

    Serving suggestions

    Yellow Dal Tadka tastes the best with Jeera rice, white or brown rice. But if you are looking for low carb options, serve it with cauliflower rice or alternate grains like quinoa.

    Serve a small bowl of Dal along with some curry and Indian bread like chapati, roti, naan, paratha or bhakhri to make a complete meal. You can also have it like a soup.

    We usually make Dal and rice on days when we want to eat light or detox. It's also the meal we prefer to have when we get back home after a trip.

    Dal, rice with yogurt, papad, and pickle on the side is like the best food combo ever. If you have some leftover Dal, use it to make Leftover Dal Pancakes.

    Serve this home-style rustic Indian Instant Pot Dal Tadka on weekdays, weekends, brunches, parties, potlucks, or even pack it in lunchboxes.

    Top recipe tips

    Dal tadka masala is optional. But do add it if you can. It gives this recipe a very nice flavor.

    This Instant Pot vegan yellow Dal tadka can also be served without the tempering. It will still taste good. The tadka helps elevate the flavors of Dal.

    You can also prepare the Dal ahead of time and do the tempering just before serving. Curry leaves can also be added at the tempering stage to give it more flavor.

    If you feel the lentils are slightly undercooked, pressure cook it for a couple of more minutes.

    To make this vegan Dal gluten-free, skip adding asafoetida. If you are not vegan, do the tempering in ghee instead of vegetable oil.

    Recipe FAQs

    Which lentils to use?

    The Indian Dal is very customizable. You can either use just one type of Dal or mix it up. Lentils may be whole split, with skin or without.
    Some of the popular Indian lentils used to make the vegan Indian Dal are tur dal, chana dal, moong dal, masoor dal, and/or urad dal.

    Is it important to soak the lentils before cooking?

    Soaking lentils prior to cooking them helps cook them faster. You can soak them 30-40 minutes prior if you want.
    Since we are making this Dal Fry in the Instant Pot, there is no need to soak them. They cook very easily in the Instant Pot.

    How to make it on the stovetop?

    You can very well make it on the stovetop. The lentils can either be cooked using a traditional pressure cooker or in a pot with salt and turmeric.
    Then the tempering can be prepared using a tadka pan and poured over the cooked dal.

    What is the right consistency of the dal?

    The consistency of Dal is a personal preference. The water proportion I have shared results in a thick Dal.
    If you like it thinner, add some warm water once it's cooked till you get the desired consistency. Also remember, it will thicken as it cools.
    In case the consistency is thin, then use the Sauté mode and cook the dal for a few minutes.

    How to store it?

    It's very convenient to store Dal. You can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week. It also freezes well for 3-4 months.
    To use, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Add some water or broth to loosen it because it would have thickened as it cooled. Heat it in a pot or in the microwave.

    More Dal recipes

    • Methi Dal Recipe | Fenugreek Lentil Stew
    • Vegan Lentil Soup | Indian Dal Shorba
    • Simplest Black Lentils Stew | Kali Dal | Maa Ki Daal
    • Roasted Lentils & Carrot Dal With Spinach - Pressure Cooker Recipe!
    Dal served with tadka of fried onions on top
    Dal served with tadka of fried onions on top

    Dal Tadka in Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Yellow Dal Tadka is a deliciously comforting dish made with mixed lentils, veggies and spices. This Indian dal recipe is vegan and can be made in 30 minutes.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 302.09kcal
    Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

    Equipment

    Instant Pot

    Ingredients 

    To make the Dal

    • 1 cup tur dal
    • 1/3 cup masoor dal
    • 1/3 cup chana dal
    • 2 tbsp vegan ghee
    • 1 tsp cumin seeds
    • 1 tbsp ginger paste
    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 1 tsp turmeric powder
    • 3 green chillies
    • 1 onion
    • 3 dried red chillies
    • 2 tomatoes
    • salt
    • 1 tsp coriander powder
    • 1 tsp chilly powder
    • 1 tsp garam masala
    • 1 tsp dal tadka masala
    • 1 tbsp Kasuri methi
    • 4 cups water

    For Garnish

    • 1/4 cup cilantro
    • 1 tbsp lemon juice

    To prepare the tadka

    • 1 tbsp vegan ghee
    • 1/4 tsp asafoetida
    • 1 tsp cumin seeds
    • 1 tsp Kashmiri chilly powder
    • 2 dried red chillies
    • 1/3 cup fried onions
    • 1 tbsp cilantro

    Instructions

    To make the Dal

    • Mix all the 3 dals (tur dal, masoor dal and chana dal) together and rinse it well under running water. There is no need to soak them.
    • Turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Add ghee. Once it's hot, add cumin seeds, ginger paste, garlic, green chillies and turmeric powder. Saute for 30 seconds,
    • Then add the onions and dried red chillies. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
    • Add the tomatoes along with salt. Continue to saute till the tomatoes turn soft.
    • Now add the spices like chilly powder, coriander powder, garam masala, dal tadka masala, garam masala and crushed Kasuri methi. Mix and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add the rinsed lentils. Give it a mix.
    • Finally add the water. Hit cancel. Close the lid and select manual or pressure mode. Cook it for 7 minutes with the valve in sealing position.
    • When done, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Hit cancel and then do a manual pressure release. Open the lid and give the dal a mix.
    • Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro. Add a cup of water if the Dal is very thick. Using the ladle, mash the lentils lightly.

    To prepare the tadka

    • In a tadka pan, temper cumin seeds, then add asafoetida, dried red chillies and Kashmiri chilly powder. Fry for 10 seconds.
    • Add the fried onions and cilantro. Fry for 30 seconds.
    • Pour this tadka over the prepared Dal.

    Notes

    Dal tadka masala is optional. But do add it if you can. It gives this recipe a very nice flavor.
    This yellow Dal tadka can also be served without the tempering. It will still taste good. The tadka helps elevates the flavors of Dal.
    You can also prepare the Dal ahead of time and do the tempering just before serving. Curry leaves can also be added at the tempering stage to give it more flavor.
    If you feel the lentils are slightly undercooked, pressure cook it for a couple of more minutes.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302.09kcal | Carbohydrates: 40.61g | Protein: 13.78g | Fat: 9.93g | Saturated Fat: 6.86g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.49g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.67g | Sodium: 128.41mg | Potassium: 593.73mg | Fiber: 18.08g | Sugar: 4.04g | Vitamin A: 725.11IU | Vitamin C: 13.86mg | Calcium: 72.03mg | Iron: 4.64mg
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    Comments

    1. Madhuri Diwanji says

      April 21, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      Hello Priya,
      Thank you for posting all awesome recipes for us.
      I tried Dal Tadka in instant pot following your recipe. It came out so tasty.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Priya says

        April 22, 2022 at 3:01 am

        Thank you so much. This makes me so happy. We love it too 🙂

        Reply
    2. Anna says

      September 15, 2021 at 1:12 am

      Trying this today! It looks epic. It doesn't say how many it serves though?

      Reply
      • Priya says

        September 15, 2021 at 1:55 am

        Thank you. It serves 6 people. Hope you like it. 🙂

        Reply

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