Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (2024)

You no longer have to go to an Indian restaurant to enjoy a bowl of delicious dal makhani. This pressure cooker dal recipe is quick and easy to make in an instant pot!

Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (1)

What is Dal Makhani?

State: Punjab

This popular Punjabi dal is so easy to make in an instant pot! Dal makhani is a rich and creamy dal recipe that calls for a combination of lentils: whole lentils that maintain their texture and split lentils that melt together to create a creamy dal. Stir some ghee into the dal before serving to give it a rich buttery flavor, and you’ve got the perfect bowl of lentil soup.

I’ve been eating dal makhani for as long as I can remember. I was a pretty picky eater as a kid, but I was always on board when it came to eating buttery lentils. A favorite childhood meal: dal makhani,roti, spicyachar (pickle), and dahi (yogurt). So simple but sotasty. Just thinking about itmakes me nostalgic.

Speaking of nostalgia, that’s pretty much the whole reason I’m even sharing this recipe. My mom makes the best dal makhani and right after I got married, she made sure to shareher recipe with me.By her recipe I mean, “Ash, just use a pinch of this, a handful of that, and a few scoops of this.”

In the past, her directions would overwhelm me… but now I think I’ve got the hang ofconverting “mom’s measurements” to actual measurements (#IndianKidProblems).Even though mom’s cooking is always the best, I have to say thisdal makhani isabsolutely spot on – or “on fleek” (wow… I feel super awkward and way too old to be using that phrase IRL. same with IRL…). The best part is, you can make this in your Instant Pot – a magical electronic pressure cooker that’ll have the dal done in no time at all.Trust me, this dal is restaurant-quality for sure.

How to Make Dal Makhani

So how do we make dal makhani in an instant pot? Easily!

There are very few steps – we saute onions first, then garlic, ginger, spices, and eventually tomatoes. Add soaked lentils to the pot along with some water and pressure cook. That’s it!

The hardest part about making dal makhani is the time you spend waiting for it to be done, and even that is thankfully shorter when you use the IP.

Dal Makhani Ingredients

  • Whole and Split Lentils: I use a combination ofwhole black lentils,whole mung beans, whole masoor beans,red lentils, red kidney beans and I soak them in cold or room temperature water overnight.
  • Spices: whole cumin seeds, bay leaf, garam masala, salt, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne
  • Onion
  • Garlic: you can use minced garlic or garlic paste.
  • Ginger: you can use minced ginger or ginger paste.
  • Tomatoes
  • Ghee: this is an important ingredient in dal makhani because it’s what adds the creaminess, the butteriness (makhan) to the dal.
Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (2)

Can I used canned beans instead of dried?

I’ve only tested this recipe using dried beans as I always keep dried beans in my pantry. Canned beans take up too much space in my little pantry and dried beans are also much more affordable. That said, I’m sure you can use canned beans but you’ll need to adjust the amount of water used in the recipe as canned beans are already cooked and won’t absorb water the way that dried beans will. My guess would be to start with two cans of beans. If you experiment, let us know how it goes! And if I get around to testing this recipe with canned beans I will be sure to update the post.

What can we eat with Dal Makhani?

Serve this dal with basmati rice and dahi (yogurt), and achar:

Here are some other recipes to serve with dal makhani:

  • aloo gobi
  • masala cauliflower
  • corn kadai
  • paneer onion masala stir-fry
  • bhindi do pyaza
  • palak paneer
Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (3)

Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (4)

Instant Pot Dal Makhni Recipe

Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (5)

Instant Pot Dal Makhni Recipe

Dal makhani is one of the most popular lentil recipes. You can find it on the menu at almost every Indian restaurant. This is my mom's recipe and it's definitely restaurant-quality, if not better. Top these lentils with as much ghee as you want – the more ghee, the merrier!

4.92 from 68 reviews

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Servings 4

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Indian

Ingredients

Spices

  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ – 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 tomatoes chopped
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons ghee adjust to taste
  • Cilantro garnish
  • Drizzle of heavy cream optional garnish

Instructions

  • Soak the lentils in cold water overnight. Drain, rinse and set aside.

  • Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot, add the oil and allow it to heat up for a minute. Add the cumin seeds and once they start to brown, add the onion and bay leaf. Stir-fry for 6-7 minutes or until the onion begins to brown.

  • Add the garlic, ginger, spices and stir, then add the tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes break down.

  • Add the lentils to the pot along with the 3 cups of water and mix well.

  • Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 30 minutes at high pressure.

  • Allow the pressure to release naturally.

  • Stir in the ghee and garnish with cilantro if desired.

Video

Notes

  • Feel free to add more ghee to this recipe! Ghee is what gives this dal its delicious buttery flavor. You can also add a bit of heavy cream if you prefer!

Did you make this recipe?Tag @myheartbeets on Instagram and hashtag it #myheartbeets!

Pin This Recipe

Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!

Like this recipe? Then check outmy cookbook: Indian Food Under Pressure for more Indian Instant Pot Recipes!

Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Try these:

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
Instant Pot Saag
Instant PotCarne Guisada
Instant Pot Habanero Chili
Goat Curry in a Hurry
Instant Pot Texas Beef Chili
Instant Pot Ground Lamb Curry
Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Dal Makhani Instant Pot Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients of dal makhani? ›

What is the best combination with dal makhani? ›

Serve warm dal makhani with Indian breads like roti, naan and parathas for dipping. You can also eat it with basmati rice. I like to serve it with cooked green vegetables like kale or Swiss chard, which help digest milk fat.

How much time does dal take to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

First pour water at the bottom of the steel insert and then place a steam rack or trivet that comes with the IP. Then place the rice bowl at the bottom and then the dal on top. Pressure cook for 10 mins and wait for the pressure to drop naturally.

What happens if there is too much pressure in a pressure cooker? ›

The pressure inside the cooker builds up rapidly, exceeding the safety limit. The sudden release of this excessive pressure can result in an explosion, sending hot steam and food flying in all directions. Not only can this cause severe burns and injuries, but it can also damage your kitchen.

Why does my dal makhani taste bitter? ›

When the water starts boiling, it's very important to remove the scum that accumulates at the top — if you don't do this your daal may taste slightly odd and a bit bitter.

How to enhance dal makhani taste? ›

Of course, you can always add more salt later, taste throughout and add salt until the flavor is just right. Salted butter helps you to enhance the taste. Make sure to use it while cooking the dal. And then serve dal again with a piece of butter.

What is the difference between dal and dal makhani? ›

dal makhani uses a darker lentils brown and lack lentils, and is cooked with a heavy dose of butter making it thick and creamy, rajma (kidney beans are sometimes added to it as well). It is a rich Punjabi Veg Delicacy. Dal fry involves the lentils being fried before stewing them.

What rice goes well with dal makhani? ›

Making a good Dal Makhani is easy & needs only a few ingredients but it does take time as the lentils need to be slow cooked. So this is an amazing dish to make for a weekend or special festive meal. Serve this Dal Makhani with fluffy Basmati Rice, Jeera Rice, garlic Butter naan, Tandoori Roti, Chapati or roti.

How to thicken dal makhani? ›

You can easily thicken the dal by simmering it a bit more (uncovered, of course), or thin it out a bit with some extra water. If you'd like to make it smoother (and the dal is already completely tender), just whisk it a few times. Some recipes tell you to puree the dal in a blender, but I rarely do so.

Is dal makhani bad for cholesterol? ›

Good for heart health: Rajma contains soluble fiber, which helps to lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease .

How do you get the burnt taste out of dal makhani? ›

If, by chance your masala or tadka is burnt, add 1-2 tbsp of ghee into the dish. This will not only remove the burnt smell from the dish but improve the taste and flavour of it as well.

Which dal takes longest to cook? ›

You can easily substitute with other split lentils. The cook time will vary, with the chana dal likely taking the longest, so you need to keep an eye on the dal as it cooks.

Does dal need to be washed before cooking? ›

Let the dal remain soaked for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of dal. Split pulses can be soaked for 30 minutes or 1 hour and whole pulses should be soaked for 2 hours. This will not only break down complex carbs but will also cut down cooking time. Again wash 3-4 times before using.

Why cooking in pressure cooker is not good? ›

The bad news is, when starchy foods are pressure cooked, they form acrylamide, a harmful chemical that, when consumed on a regular basis may lead to health issues like cancer, infertility, and neurological disorders.

Does pressure cooking lentils destroy nutrients? ›

Pressure Cooking: Bottom Line

Like any method of cooking, pressure cooking does destroy some of the nutrients in food, but it actually preserves more than any other cooking method.

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