White Urad Dal Recipe {Instant Pot & Stovetop}

Instant pot split white urad dal is mild spicy Indian lentil curry pair with white rice. Cooked with basic spices, this white urad dal tadka is gluten-free & vegan along with pot-in-pot basmati rice.

Learn how to make instant pot urad dal.

Urad dal is often known as split black gram,dhuli dal, dhuli urad, Dhuli Urad ki Dal ,maa ki dal, white lentils or white urad dal.

Normally with dhuli urad dal (white urad split), we make maa ki dal, Dahi vada, idli-dosa batter, bedmi poori, or urad dal ki puri, and laddu.

This white urad dal(split) has a mildly bitter flavor and creamy texture after cooking. Dal makhani is another version using whole black urad dal.

Vigna mungo, the black gram, urad bean, minapa pappu, mungo bean or black matpe bean is a bean grown in the Indian subcontinent. Like its relative, the mung bean, it has been reclassified from the Phaseolus to the Vigna genus. Wikipedia

Urad dal nutrition

Lentils or dals are a great source of protein for vegetarians. Apart from protein they provide essential nutrients to the body.

• Urad dal provides protein, carbohydrates, and fat to the body.
• One of the protein sources for vegetarians.
• It also contains folic acid, magnesium, iron, and calcium.
• It helps in improving digestion.

The same benefits you get from all three versions of urad dal - white, black & whole urad dal.

Check the detailed video of how to make urad dal in the instant pot with basmati rice using the PIP method.

What is dal?

Dal or lentil represents the main ingredient and the recipe itself. Dal is a split version of any dried pulses like masoor dal, urad dal, toor dal, and moong dal. For this dal recipe, white split urad dal is used.

How to cook Indian Dal?

To make any dal first it is boiled and then tempered with basic spices like cumin seeds, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and ginger-garlic paste.

Garnishing with green coriander is after tempering adds extra flavors.

Why you will love this recipe?

In instant pot, dal is cooked with all spices together. There are a number of ways to make dal depending on which lentil is being used in the recipe.

Like I use white urad dal(husked split black lentil) to make the recipe.

Using the pot-in-pot method with an instant pot this urad dal with rice is very easy.

Just put everything in the pot and pressure cook, from start to finish the entire process takes less than 30 minutes. It is an easy, one-pot, comforting vegetarian meal.

This instant pot urad dal is

• an easy one-pot meal
• vegan & gluten-free
• protein-rich, healthy and nutritious
• which gets ready in less than 30 minutes

Ingredients

Dhuli Urad dal recipe is cooked the same way as other dals are cooked in an instant pot.

Cooking dal in pressure cooker with some basic spices and serve hot with rice or paratha.

Please check RECIPE CARD for detailed ingredients list with accurate measurement.

1. Urad dal- Split white urad dal is the star ingredient. You can use whole white urad dal as well.
2. Whole spices - Star anise, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom, dry red chilies OR 1 teaspoon garam masala. These spices add so much flavor and aroma. DO NOT miss them.
3. Tempering - Onion, garlic clove, grated ginger, grated garlic, Cumin seeds, Turmeric powder, Red chili powder, Salt as per taste, Asafetida, Oil. Tempering with these spices makes this urad dal so tasty and delicious.
4. Garnishing - Green coriander and lemon juice
5. To serve - Rice or roti or paratha

Tadka or tempering is a must-have process in Indian cooking.

How to cook white urad dal in Instant Pot

Here I will show you how to cook urad dal in an instant pot, step by step. Normally we first boil the dal in the pressure cooker and then adding tadka.

But here I cooked dal along with tadka and used the pot-in-pot method to cook basmati rice.

1. Wash and clean one cup of rice with water. Rinse and place in a steel container with 1 cup of clean water.
2. Wash white urad dal with clean water. Rinse and keep it aside.
3. Switch on the instant pot and press the SAUTE button.
4. Once heated add oil and add all whole spices like dry red chili, star anise, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom, and cumin seeds.
5. Once all spices start crackling add chopped onion and cook until onion is translucent.
6. To this add chopped ginger and garlic. You can add 1tblsp ginger garlic paste as well.
7. To this add asafetida, turmeric powder, and red chili powder. Mix well.
8. Finally, add the rinsed dal with 2.5 cups of water and salt. Give a nice stir.
9. Place a long leg trivet inside the pot. Here do not use the trivet which comes with the pot due to its short height.
10. Now place the rice container on top of the trivet. You can leave it open or cover it with the lid.
11. Close the instant pot with the lid and pressure valve in the sealing position. CANCEL the SAUTE mode. Press PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL button and set timer for 5 minutes.
12. Let the pressure released naturally and open the lid. Carefully remove the rice container using tongs.
13. In cooked dal add chopped green coriander and lemon juice. Give a stir. If it is too thick then add ½ cup water and mix. I added ½ cup of water.
14. Serve this white urad dal tadka with rice and hot chapati.

Stovetop Instructions

• Wash and clean white urad dal with water until you see transparent water. Rinse it and keep it ready.
• Heat the Indian pressure cooker on medium heat and add 2 tablespoon oil.
• When the oil is hot enough add all whole spices like dry red chili, star anise, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom, and cumin seeds.
• Once all spices start crackling add chopped onion and cook until onion is translucent.
• Now add grated ginger and garlic. You can use ginger garlic paste as well in place of this. Cook for 30 seconds.
• To this add asafetida, turmeric powder, and red chili powder. Mix well.
• Finally, add washed dal with 2.5 cups of water and add salt as per taste. Cook for 1-2 whistles.
• Switch off the flame and let the pressure release on its own. Garnish with chopped green coriander leaves and add lemon juice. If required add ½ cup water. Mix well.
• Serves this Instant pot white urad dal with white rice or hot chapatis.

Serving suggestions

Serve this creamy, delicious dhuli dal with roti, ajwain paratha, pudina laccha paratha, Kerala parotta, naan, white rice, brown rice, or quinoa.

Storing suggestions

• Room temperature- cooked urad dal is good at room temperature for 5-6 hours depending on the weather. In summer it is best to store in the fridge.
• Refrigerator- Store in the fridge for 1-2 days. Keep this cooked urad dal in a container and store easily. While serving, take the portion out and microwave for 30 sec to 1 min.
• Freezer- Store in freezer-friendly bags in portions. You can store cooked dahl easily for 15 days. When required take the portion out, thaw, and reheat in the microwave. You can add tempering while serving.

Reheating- Reheating cooked dals is an easy process. If stored in the fridge then reheating in microwave for 30seconds-1min is enough.

If stored in the freezer, then first thaw the dal and then reheat in the microwave.

Add tempering before serving to make this cooked dal as tasty as fresh dal. Cooked Dals tend to get thick with time. Adjust water as per taste & add tadka.

Variations

You can add baby spinach, frozen spinach, fenugreek leaves, dill leaves or kale to make it more healthy and nutritious.

Use spinach to make urad dal palak.

Tips & FAQ's

• If you like a firm texture in urad ki dal then dry roast it for 10 minutes on low heat. And then cook it further. It will give you a firm and less slippery texture.
• You can adjust chili as per your taste.
• Don't forget to add whole spices as it will give you a delicious taste and relief from its slightly bitter taste.
• Adjust water as per your desired consistency.
• Use 1 teaspoon of garam masala in place of whole spices.
• Feel free to add any greens like baby spinach, kale to make it more nutritious. For example, I made Dal-palak using toor dal with baby spinach.

Check some more lentil recipes idea to cook and help you in completing your protein. There are a variety of raita recipes to serve along with it which you can check here.

1. Vegetable Moong dal - Mung dal is cooked with mixed vegetables only to make a finger-licking and delicious combination.
2. Dal Palak - Split lentil cooked with baby spinach and tempered with onion garlic tadka.
3. Urad dak ki puri - White lentil is mixed with flour to make deep-fried bread. Serve Urad dal puri with potato curry.
4. Yellow lentil with fenugreek - Also know as methi chi bhaji very popular in Maharashtrian cuisine, cooked with fenugreek leaves.

You can also look for other Instant pot recipes which are also beginner friendly.

• Instant pot hard boiled eggs- You can learn how to boil eggs in instant pot perfectly that are easy to peel.
• Palak paneer in instant pot- Palak paneer cooked in instant pot taste amazing and ready under 30 minutes.
• Instant pot beets- How to steam beets (beetroot) in instant pot, with all tips & tricks.
• Spanish rice instant pot- Spanish rice made in instant pot with just 5 ingredients.
• Instant pot sarso ka saag- Indian saag cooked in instant pot and ready in just 30 minutes.
• Vegan tofu curry- Indian style tofu curry which is vegan and cooked within 30 minutes.
• Instant pot cold start yogurt- 2 ingredients yogurt made in instant pot using cold start method.

Use homemade ghee to add the tempering. Ghee adds a wonderful flavor to this dal.

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