A warm and comforting bowl of Instant Pot Toor Dal or Split Pigeon Peas topped with tadka or a tempering of Indian spices. It's perfect with a Basmati rice, papad, and achaar.
Growing up I hated dal. We had dal once a week on average. I found it flavorless, but it wasn't until years later I figured out why I despised dal so much. Ready for this? My mom never added tadka (tempering of spices) to the lentils for health reasons, and y'all know tadka makes all the difference.
Once I discovered dal tadka, I learned to love dal. Now, it's my comfort food on days I don't feel like cooking, after coming home from vacation, and when I'm sick. Needless to say, my hubby still hates dal and I'm working on him, but he did enjoy a bowl of my toor dal with rice. Hope you guys try my "lazy" dal with rice... it has no ginger, garlic, tomatoes, or onions. It's perfect with a side of papad, yogurt, and achaar (pickle). A dollop of ghee/butter would be delectable on top. Enjoy!
this instant pot toor dal is:
Vegan
Gluten-Free
Healthy-ish (use less oil)
Comforting
Soothing
Perfect for Fall & Winter
Great for Meal Prepping
how to make instant pot toor dal step by step?
for the dal/lentils
1. Soak split piegon pea lentils in warm water for 15 minutes.
2. Combine the toor dal ingredients... lentils, water, turmeric powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in the Instant Pot.
3. Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 8 minutes.
4. Once done.
Prepare the tadka / tempering.
1. Set aside all the spices.
2. Heat up a small pot, add oil once hot, once the oil is hot, add all the spices and temper for about 30-45 seconds.
3. Pour the tadka over the dal. Mix well.
Garnish
1. Add another ½ teaspoon of salt if need be, mango powder, and fresh cilantro leaves.
2. Serve with brown rice, white rice, or quinoa. I also love it with a side of papad, achaar, and yogurt.
Amazon Recommendations
More Dal Recipes!
- Tomato Dal / Tomato Pappu
- Spinach Dal Fry
- Dal Makhani
- Papad wali Dal
- Instant Pot Toor Dal Tadka
- Green Moong Dal (Sabut Moong Dal)
Recipe Card
Instant Pot Toor Dal / Split Pigeon Peas
Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-freeEquipment
Ingredients
for Toor Dal / Split Pigeon Peas
- 1 ½ cups toor dal / split pigeon peas
- 4 ½ cups water you can add more later
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
for the tadka / tempering
- 3 tbsp avocado oil you can use less oil, try 2 tbsp
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ⅛ teaspoon hing for gluten-free, use gf hing
- 2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 ½ teaspoon ajwain / carom seeds
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 4 dry red chilies, split in half
- ¼ tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp amchoor / mango powder
for garnish
- ½ tsp salt, if need be
- ½ tsp amchoor / mango powder
- small handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
for the Dal / Lentils
- Soak split piegon pea lentils in warm water for 15 minutes.
- Combine the toor dal ingredients... lentils, water, turmeric powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in the Instant Pot.
- Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 8 minutes.
- Once done.
for the tadka / tempering
- Set aside all the spices.
- Heat up a small pot, add oil once hot, once the oil is hot, add all the spices and temper for about 30-45 seconds.
- Pour the tadka over the dal. Mix well.
Garnish
- Add salt if need be, mango powder, and fresh cilantro leaves.
- Serve with brown rice, white rice, or quinoa. I also love it with a side of papar, achaar, and yogurt.
Gauri says
Do we do a quick release on IP once 8 minutes are done?
honeywhatscooking says
HI Gauri. No. I don't so the dal gets nice and soft. I wait about 15 minutes once the IP starts the timer.
Shebag holding says
Thanx for the useful and authentic recipee you have share with this article
it will be surely Delicious.
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks so much. Appreciate it.
Ria says
how can we make this without an instant pot?
honeywhatscooking says
Hi Ria. If you have a pressure cooker, you can use that. I'm not sure how many whistles you need. If you don't have a pressure cooker, I would Google to find out how to make dal in a regular pot. Once that's done, you can add this tadka on top. Hope that helps.
Ritesh Sharma says
You have thoroughly explained to make this dish, will try to make this dish according to your method.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
honeywhatscooking says
HI Ritesh. So glad to hear that. Send me a picture on Instagram once you make it, would love to share. 🙂