White Urad Dal – Instant Pot Recipe

Step 1: Rinse and Soak Dal

Rinse 1 cup of white urad dal with water and soak it in 3-4 cups of water for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare Dal for Cooking

Drain the soaked dal and add it to an instant pot. Add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 teaspoons salt, and 4 cups of water. Stir to combine all ingredients.

Step 3: Pressure Cook the Dal

Close the lid of the instant pot, set the valve to the sealing position. Press the PRESSURE COOK button and set the timer to 12 minutes at high pressure.

Step 4: Natural Pressure Release

Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Manual Pressure Release & Open

Release the remaining pressure manually by moving the valve to the venting position. Carefully open the lid.

Step 6: Mash the Dal

Mash the dal using the back of a ladle until it reaches your desired consistency. Add some more water if the dal is too thick for your liking. Check for salt and add more if needed.

Step 7: Prepare Tempering - Heat Ghee

Heat 3 tablespoons of ghee in a small pan over medium-high heat.

Step 8: Add Spices

Once the ghee is hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafoetida (hing) and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds. Let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.

Step 9: Add Chilies and Onions

Add 2-3 dry red chilies and ½ cup chopped onions. Cook until the onions turn golden brown, stirring frequently.

Step 10: Add Chili Powder

Add 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder to the pan and mix well with the onion mixture.

Step 11: Combine Tempering with Dal

Immediately add the prepared tempering (tadka) to the cooked dal in the instant pot and mix well to combine.

Step 12: Finish with Lime and Cilantro

Add 1 tablespoon lime juice and 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro to the dal. Mix well.

Step 13: Serve

Serve the White Urad Dal hot.

• I made this recipe in my 3-quart instant pot (or a 3-liter traditional pressure cooker). If you want to scale it up, then use a larger-size instant pot or stovetop cooker. The time of cooking will remain the same.