Whole Masoor Dal (Brown Lentils Curry) recipe is a healthy and easy dal made in an Instant Pot pressure cooker with whole masoor dal, onions, tomatoes, and Indian spices.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
  • 1 tablespoon ginger and garlic (minced)
  • 1 green chili (chopped)
  • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 medium tomatoes (finely chopped)
  • 1 cup whole masoor dal (brown lentils) (rinsed)
  • 2 1/2 cups water ((or vegetable broth))
  • salt (to taste)
  • 1/2 lime (juiced)
  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves (chopped)

Spices

  • 1/2 teaspoon tumeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala

Method

Instant Pot Method

  1. Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat oil, and add cumin seeds. Let them splutter. Add minced garlic, ginger, green chilies, and onions. Saute till the onions turn light brown.
  2. Add tomatoes, spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt. Cook till the tomatoes turn soft and mushy, which takes 2-3 minutes.
  3. Then add rinsed lentils (dal), water, and give a stir. Adjust spices at this stage. Also, Deglaze the pot to ensure no food particle sticks to the bottom to avoid the Burn message.
  4. Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to " SEALING ". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 15 minutes. When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
  5. Lastly, squeeze some lime juice, and add coriander leaves. Mix well. Instant pot pressure cooker Whole masoor dal (brown lentils) recipe is ready. Serve hot with steamed rice, quinoa, roti, or serve it as a soup.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker

  1. Follow the steps from the instant pot instructions. Give 4-5 whistles on medium flame and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same.

Stovetop Pot

  1. If you don't have a pressure cooker and planning to make this dal on a stovetop pot then follow the same instructions till we add brown lentils and water. Then cook for around 30-35 minutes on medium heat or till lentils are soft and done. Adjust water accordingly.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.