Toor Dal Tadka (Instant Pot + Pressure Cooker)

This Toor Dal Tadka is a simple yet most delicious and nutritious Indian lentil recipe made using yellow split pigeon peas. Goes well with rice.

Recipe Source Link:https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/toor-dal-tadka/

---

« Go back Print this recipe »

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

» For Toor Dal Fry:

• 1 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)
• water 3 cups or as needed
• 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
• 1 bay leaf (tej patta)
• 1 inch cinnamon stick (dalchini)
• 4 cloves (laung)
• 1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped or grated
• 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
• 1 medium-sized tomato, chopped
• 1/4 green chili, slit
• 1 teaspoon kashmiri or regular red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
• salt as per taste
• 1 tablespoon cilantro (coriander) leaves

» For Tadka (Tempering):

• 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
• 1 pinch of asafetida
• 1 teaspoon cumin jeera
• 1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1/4 green chili, slit
• 1 tablespoon cilantro (coriander) leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon kashmiri or regular red chili powder

» For serving:

• 1/2 lemon

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

» How to Make Toor Dal In Instant Pot:

1. Rinse Toor dal 3-4 times and set it aside.
2. Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat ghee in it.
3. Once the ghee is hot, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and cloves to it.
4. Saute for a few seconds and add the onions and green chili.
5. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
6. Add chopped tomatoes, chopped ginger, and chopped garlic to it.
7. Saute for 3-4 minutes or till mushy.
8. Now add rinsed dal and give it a mix.
9. Add the red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well.
10. Add 3 cups of water and mix well.
11. Cancel the SAUTE mode. Close the lid, and set the valve to sealing.
12. Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode at high pressure for 8 minutes.
13. NPR (Natural pressure release). Once the pin drops, open the lid.
14. Press the cancel button and then press the saute button. Mix well and mash dal lightly using the back of a spoon.
15. Add 1 tablespoon of coriander leaves and garam masala powder.
16. Mix well and boil for 5 minutes. Toor Dal Fry is ready.

» How to make Toor Dal in Stovetop Pressure Cooker:

1. Rinse Toor dal 3-4 times and set it aside.
2. Heat ghee/oil in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
3. Once the ghee is hot, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and cloves to it.
4. Saute for a few seconds and add the onions and green chili.
5. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
6. Add chopped tomatoes, chopped ginger, and chopped garlic to it.
7. Saute for 3-4 minutes or till soft.
8. Now add rinsed dal and give it a mix.
9. Add the red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well.
10. Add 3 cups of water and mix well.
11. Close the lid, and pressure cook on high for 3 whistles. Let the pressure go down completely before opening the lid.
12. Once the pin drops, open the lid. Mix well and mash dal lightly using with the back of a spoon.
13. Add 1 tablespoon of coriander leaves and garam masala powder. Mix well and boil for 5 minutes. Toor Dal Fry is ready.

» How To Make Tadka (Tempering) For Toor Dal:

1. Heat ghee in a tadka pan over medium heat.
2. Add asafetida, and cumin seeds and let them crackle.
3. Add chopped garlic cloves saute until garlic turns light brown.
4. Add dried red chilies, green chilies and cook for a few seconds.
5. Add coriander leaves, Kashmiri red chili powder and stir it.
6. Fry for few seconds and remove from heat.

» How To Serve Toor Dal Tadka:

1. Transfer cooked toor dal fry to a serving bowl.
2. Pour the prepared tadka and garnish with coriander leaves. Drizzle with some lemon juice. Serve toor dal hot with chapati and rice.

RECIPE NOTES

1. This dal thickens as it cools, I have made this dal semi-thin. You can easily change the consistency of Toor Dal by adding more or less water according to your taste and preference.
2. I prefer to add Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder to this day as it is mildly spicy and adds a nice color to the dal. You can also use regular hot chili powder for this recipe.
3. If you want onion garlic free dal, then remove onion and garlic from the recipe and follow the same recipe.
4. If you want to make Toor Dal Fry then skip the tadka part.
5. I love cooking Toor Dal in ghee because it lends a delicious aroma and enhances the taste of this dal. But if you don't like adding ghee then you can also use vegetable oil.
6. This dal can be made without any soaking. But if you are not comfortable making it without soaking, then soak it for 30 minutes and then pressure cook for about 6 minutes.