Masoor Dal Makhani (Pressure Cooker) – Indian Style Brown Lentils

 Masoor Dal Makhani (Pressure Cooker)the most popular Indian dal recipe that’s fingerlicking, creamy, rich in flavor yet light in the tummy. It’s made using masoor dal / brown lentils, onions, tomato, ginger garlic, spices, and yogurt. This is a healthy twist on the original Dal Makhani recipe using Sabut Masoor Dal or Indian Style Brown Lentils or Brown Lentil Dal Makhani.

Masoor Dal Makhani Recipe

Masoor Dal Makhani

This by far is 1 of the MOST Popular & Requested recipes at any of our house parties and is a healthy, lighter, and ‘easier to make’ version of the ever-popular ‘Indian Dal Makhani’.

The Original Dal Makhani is the most popular Indian dal internationally as well as in India. It’s made using ‘sabut urad dal’ or ‘whole black gram’ which I find slightly heavier to digest and takes a lot longer to cook.

Hence, at my house, we make this ‘Masoor Dal Makhani’ which is a lot easier version, lighter on the tummy, and tastes equally divine!

A lot of my friends even call it ‘Restaurant Style Masoor Dal Makhani’ or Indian Style Brown Lentils because of its taste and rich colors 🙂

My recipe is also the healthier version of the dal as it uses mostly yogurt for the creamy consistency and if you like, you can add 1-2 tbsp of cream or cashew cream when cooking.

Brown Lentil Dal Makhani Recipe

Masoor Dal Makhani (Pressure Cooker) Ingredients:

Let’s go ahead and gather the ingredients for the recipe and start with the cooking –

  • Sabut Massor Dal – Brown Lentil Dal
  • Onions
  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic – Ginger
  • Yogurt
  • Fresh Cilantro
  • Mustard Oil – you can use any light oil or even butter
  • Ghee – you can use butter or oil too for tempering/tadka

Whole Spices:

  • Bay Leaf (tej patta)
  • Cinnamon Stick (dalchini)
  • Cumin Seeds (jeera)
  • Cloves (laung)
  • Black Pepper Corn (kali mirch)
  • Red Chilies
  • Green Cardamom (choti elaichi)
  • Black Cardamom (badi elaichi)
  • Fenugreek Leaves (kasoori Methi)

Powdered Spices:

  • Turmeric Powder
  • Red Chili Powder
  • Coriander Powder
  • Cumin Powder
  • Garam Masala

 

I forgot to click the picture of the raw sabut masoor, but here’s a picture of the ‘cooked sabut masoor’ which we boiled in pressure cooker.

masoor dal makhani ingredients

 

Indian Spices & Masala for Dal Makhani Ingredients

How to Make Masoor Dal Makhani (Indian Style Brown Lentils):

Here’s an easy step-by-step pictorial display of the recipe.

We start by soaking the sabut masoor dal or brown lentil in water for 2 hours (for it to soften a little. 

Then we add it in the pressure cooker along with ‘Whole spices’ and boil it till 2-3 whistles for it to cook/soften slightly. Transfer it to a large bowl.

How to Make Masoor Dal Makhani

Then we make the masala in the same pressure cooker (detailed steps in recipe card below).

Then once the masalas are cooked, we add the boiled dal and cook it again in the pressure cooker.

After 2 steams, turn off the heat and let the cooker cool.

How to Make Masoor Dal Makhani in Pressure Cooker

Remove the Dal Makhani from the pressure cooker and transfer to a serving bowl.

Prepare the Tadka (Tempering):

Heat a small pan or tadka pan.

Add ghee or oil whatever you are using.

Add jeera, hing (asafetida), whole red chili, and kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves).

Stir and turn off the heat and pour the tadka/tempering over the cooked dal along with freshly chopped cilantro.

Serve Hot.

easy indian dal makhani recipe masoor dal

Serving Suggestions:

Now, this is where all the fun starts as there are tons and tons of things that you can pair along with it.

Of course, you can serve it with the ‘Tandoori Rotis, Butter Naans, Paranthas’ or steamed rice, jeera rice or peas pulao’

You can add raita, Indian salad, achaar, and chutney too.

But can be served with dinner rolls, garlic bread (a personal favorite), wraps, cooked tortilla, Mexican rice or plain bread too. 

It even goes amazingly with Hawaiian rolls or sweet rolls.

Serve it along with simple salads or plain spaghetti noodles

masoor-dal-makhani-pressure-cooker

Storage – Freeze & Use Instructions :

The dal/lentil can be stored in any food-safe container in the fridge for up to 2 days or you can freeze it up to 2 weeks.

To use it again, simply thaw it overnight in the fridge and then either heat in a pan or use the microwave to heat it.

Now the dal does get thicker when stored in the fridge/frozen, so simply add some boiled water (depending on the consistency you like) and transfer to a platter.

Add the fresh tadka on top and enjoy.

healthy-dal-makhani-recipe

The combination of aromatic spices, creamy texture, and the nuttiness of masoor dal creates a symphony of tastes that lingers on your taste buds.

Each spoonful is a journey through layers of earthy, spicy, and savory notes, making this dish a favorite among those who appreciate the complexity of Indian cuisine

Whatever be your choice of side, go ahead and enjoy this yummilicious goodness with your family and friends for brunches, lunches or a meal for two.

—————-

Tried Our Recipe – AWESOME!!!

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Masoor Dal Makhani Recipe

 

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Instant Pot Dal – Instant Pot Dal Tadka Recipe (15 Minutes)

Restaurant Style Mixed Dal Tadka -Indian Style Mixed Lentils

 

Yield: 4 Adults

Masoor Dal Makhani (Pressure Cooker) - Indian Style Brown Lentils

masoor dal makhani - brown lentil dal makhani

Masoor Dal Makhani (Pressure Cooker) - the most popular Indian dal recipe that's fingerlicking, creamy, rich in flavor yet light in the tummy. It's made using masoor dal / brown lentils, onions, tomato, ginger garlic, spices, and yogurt. This is a healthy twist on the original Dal Makhani recipe using Sabut Masoor Dal or Indian Style Brown Lentils or Brown Lentils Dal Makhani.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Sabut Massor Dal - Brown Lentils
  • 2 Medium Onions - thinly chopped
  • 4 Medium Tomatoes - thinly chopped
  • 2 Tbsp Grated Garlic - Ginger
  • 1/2 Cup Yogurt - use vegan option if need be
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro
  • 4 Tbsp Mustard Oil - you can use any light oil or even butter

Whole Spices:

  • 2 Bay Leaf (tej patta)
  • 1 Stick Cinnamon Stick (dalchini) - broken
  • 2 Tbsp Cumin Seeds (jeera)
  • 6-7 Cloves (laung)
  • 6 Black Pepper Corn (kali mirch)
  • 4 Red Chilies
  • 3 Green Cardamom (choti elaichi)
  • 1 Black Cardamom (badi elaichi)
  • 3 Tbsp Dry Fenugreek Leaves (kasoori Methi) - crushed

Powdered Spices:

  • 1 Tbsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1 Tbsp Red Chili Powder
  • 2 Tbsp Coriander Powder
  • 2 Tbsp Cumin Powder
  • 1 Tbsp Garam Masala

Tempering/Tadka Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp Ghee - you can use butter or oil too for tempering/tadka
  • 1 Tbsp Jeera Seed
  • 2 Whole Red Chili
  • 1/4 Tsp Asafetida (hing)
  • 1 Tbsp Dry Fenugreek Leaves (kasuri methi)

Instructions

Boiling the Dal:

  1. We start by soaking the sabut masoor dal or brown lentil in water for 2 hrs (for it to soften a little). 
  2. Crush the whole spices except red chili and bay leaf.
  3. Then add the crushed spiced in the pressure cooker along with the soaked dal and boil it for 2-3 whistles for it to cook/soften slightly.
  4. Turn off the heat and let the pressure cooker cool down.
  5. Transfer the cooked dal to a large bowl.
  6. Clean the cooker as we are going to use it back again.

Making the Masoor Dal Makhani:

  1. Heat the pressure cooker and add mustard oil.
  2. Let the oil smoke completely and turn off the heat (Turn ON the exhaust to remove any hot smoke air).
  3. Now add the bay leaf, jeera and saute instantly.
  4. Add thinly chopped onions and grated ginger + garlic and saute for 2 minutes on low heat.
  5. Add the powdered spices and cook for another minute.
  6. Add chopped tomatoes + 1tbsp tomato puree or ketchup. Saute and cover cook for 3 minutes on low heat (stir in between).
  7. Now add whisked yogurt, boiled dal, and water and mix everything.
  8. Let this cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
  9. Now cover the pressure pan with lid and steam till 2 whistles.
  10. Let it cool to touch and release the whistle.
  11. Open the lid carefully as some steam will escape.
  12. Stir the dal and check the consistency (thick and thin as per choice).
  13. Transfer to a serving bowl.


Make the Tadka / Tempering:

  1. Heat a pan or tadka pot.
  2. Add ghee or butter or oil, whichever you prefer to use.
  3. Add jeera, hing (asafetida), whole red chili, and kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves).
  4. Stir and turn off the heat and pour the tadka/tempering over the cooked dal along with freshly chopped cilantro.
  5. Serve Hot.

Notes

Storage:

The dal/lentil can be stored in any food safe container in the fridge for upto 2 days or you can freeze it upto 2 weeks.

To use it again, simply thaw overnight in fridge and then either heat in pan or use microwave to heat.

Now the dal does get thicker when stored in fridge/frozen, so simply add some boiled water (depending on the consistency you like) and transfer to platter.

Add the fresh tadka ontop and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

7

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 341Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 379mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 12gSugar: 9gProtein: 13g

19 Replies to "Masoor Dal Makhani (Pressure Cooker) - Indian Style Brown Lentils"

  • Ramona February 26, 2024 (3:06 pm)

    This dish looks incredible I can’t wait to be making those beautiful lentils. So healthy and nutritious. I also like cooking in my pressure cooker, it is so much faster.

  • Tammy February 26, 2024 (12:52 am)

    This sounds blissfully comforting and delicious what a beautiful meatless meal for the Lenten season too! A bowl of this and fresh naan would be perfect!

    • Molly Kumar February 29, 2024 (10:33 am)

      Absoluteley, it pairs amazingly with Naan. Thanks Tammy for liking the recipe 🙂 Hugs, Molly

  • LaKita February 26, 2024 (12:51 am)

    These lentils look so flavorful and delicious, I love that they’re made in the pressure cooker to save time.

    • Molly Kumar February 29, 2024 (10:37 am)

      Absolutely love using ‘pressure cooker’ for grains/lentil recipes 🙂 Thanks, Molly

  • Madelyn February 25, 2024 (9:25 pm)

    This recipe was packed with flavor, so rich and with a creamy texture. It’s already being requested by the family again!

  • Kristina February 25, 2024 (9:24 pm)

    This was super flavorful and made a great, hearty dinner. I dipped na’an bread in it and it made a great meal.

  • Leslie February 25, 2024 (8:05 pm)

    This really is the most perfect Indian dish! Comforting, creamy, and delicious! Love everything about this!

  • Jamie February 25, 2024 (4:55 am)

    this looks very tasty and has different flavors in it. I’ll try this one day so I can taste what Indian food is

  • Amy Liu Dong February 25, 2024 (3:56 am)

    Wow! Another awesome Indian dish that everyone would love! This looks incredibly delicious and very appealing! I just love the many herbs in this dish! Boosting its flavor and taste! It’s perfect!

    • Molly Kumar February 29, 2024 (10:38 am)

      So glad you liked it, Thanks 🙂

  • DK Park February 24, 2024 (8:25 pm)

    I have never tried to make an Indian dishes and this looks so easy and delicious.
    I think this is a perfect weekend night dish to make for everyone. Yum!

    • Molly Kumar February 29, 2024 (10:36 am)

      I’m so looking forward to you making it, I’m sure you’d love it. Thanks, Molly

  • Mikayla February 22, 2024 (2:12 am)

    I made this for a work lunch an paired it with some flat bread, everyone raved over it!

    • Molly Kumar February 29, 2024 (10:36 am)

      That is awesome and so glad everyone loved it 🙂 Hugs, Molly

  • Savita February 20, 2024 (11:35 am)

    Wow, this Masoor Dal Makhani recipe is a game-changer! The use of brown lentils and the pressure cooker technique make it not only delicious but also super convenient. It’s become a staple in my household. Thanks for sharing this authentic Indian recipe!

    • Molly Kumar March 18, 2024 (7:10 am)

      Thanks Savita and so glad you liked it. Hugs, Molly

  • Marta February 19, 2024 (5:00 pm)

    Dal is one of my absolute favorite Indian dishes to prepare. I loved your blend of spices and how you’ve broken down the different recipe components to ensure success with this pressure cooker version.

    • Molly Kumar February 29, 2024 (10:35 am)

      So glad you liked it, thanks Molly

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