Cooking with Instant Pot Chana Dal: The Open Magazine

Instant Pot Chana Dal. “Looking for a quick and tasty meal? Try making chana dal recipe instant pot! This dish is made with split chickpeas, Ginger Garlic, & onion, tomato, & a difference of spices to generate a warm and heart-warming soup. Plus, it is vegan and gluten-free, making it a good option for those with dietary restrictions. “Simply cook everything in your chana dal instant pot (pressure cooker) for a mouth-watering & simple meal.

In Indian cuisine, dal (lentils) is a staple for vegetarians and is often the main component of a meal. A typical vegetarian meal includes dal, vegetable curry (subzi), roti (flatbread), or rice with some salad. With so many flavourful dals available, one can assemble an unlike one each day of the week. 

What is Chana Dal? Chana Dal in Instant Pot

1  Chana Dal is an appetizing & nutritious dish made with split and skinned brown chickpeas, also known as Chana Dal or Bengal Gram. 

2  These beans are a special source of protein & nutrients, together with fiber and a low glycemic index. 

3  With the convenience of an Instant Pot, this dish can be easily assembled for a healthy & satisfying meal.

How to cook Chana Dal in Pressure Cooker?

1  If you are planning to make Instant Pot Chana Dal, Keep in mind that it takes longer to cook than other split lentils like Toor Dal or Moong Dal. 

2  To speed up the cooking process, you can soak the chana dal for about 30 minutes before cooking.

3  However, if you are short on time, you can still cook them in the Instant Pot without soaking, but it may take a few extra minutes.

4  Chana Dal, a popular Indian dish made from split chickpeas, used to require boiling in a pressure cooker and preparing a separate tempering in a pan. 

5  But with the convenience of the Instant Pot, this recipe can now be made as a one-pot dish. 

6  In this version, the tempering is prepared with Ginger & Garlic, onions, tomatoes, and spices straight in the Instant Pot.

7  Then the chana dal and water are added and cooked at high pressure for a tasty and easy meal.

Ingredients required for Chana Dal in Pressure Cooker:

  1 cup split chickpeas chana dal

  2 cups Water for soaking

  1 Tablespoon oil 

  1 Teaspoon cumin seeds jeera

  ¼ teaspoon Asafotedia optional, Skip for gluten-free

  ¾ cup Onion’ Diced

  ½ tablespoon Ginger’ minced

  3 Cloves Garlic minced

  ¾ cup Tomato’ chopped

  2 cups Water for cooking, increase to 2.5 cups if not soaking the dal

  1 Tablespoon Lime juice 

  Cilantro

Spices:

1 Teaspoon Salt

 ¼ teaspoon Ground turmeric {Haldi Powder}

 ½ teaspoon Red chilli powder

 1 Teaspoon Coriander powder

How to prepare Chana Dal in Pressure Cooker:

1   Start by soaking the dal in water for 30 minutes. Once the time is up, drain the soaking water before cooking.

2   Begin by heating oil in sauté mode on your Instant Pot. Once heated, add cumin seeds and asafoetida to the pot.

3  Start by heating some cumin seeds until they start to change color. Then, add in some onions, garlic, & ginger & sauté everything together for about 2 minutes.

4  Start by adding diced tomatoes and spices to the pot and stirring them well. Then, add the chana dal and enough water to cover it for cooking. Give it all a good stir before cancelling the pressure setting and closing the lid with the vent in the sealing position.

5  Set your Instant Pot to manual or pressure cook mode and cook at high pressure for 12 minutes. If you didn’t soak the dal beforehand, cook for 15 minutes at high pressure instead.

6  “Simply let the pressure release naturally after the Instant Pot beeps. Once the pressure has been released, add a splash of lime juice & give the mixture a good stir. 

7  Sprinkle some fresh cilantro on top before serving it over a bed of fluffy rice.

NUTRITION

Calories: 309kcal Carbohydrates: 47g Protein: 15g Fat: 6g Sodium: 811mg Iron: 3.3mg

Potassium: 171mg Fiber: 15g Sugar: 8g Vitamin A: 510IU Vitamin C: 11. 6mg Calcium: 48mg