This Yellow Dal recipe is a cozy and satisfying Instant Pot vegetarian recipe. A family favourite where we mix up the dal, rice, and yogurt for a nourishing and fulfilling meal.
We have a few vegetarian dishes we adore and use on repeat for a reprise from the daily regular meat proteins and this Instant Pot Dal is definitely one of those dishes. A few spices and onion give the dish so much flavour that our entire family loves.
As far as instant pot vegetarian recipes go, this one is at the top of our list for a cozy and satisfying meal.
I always serve this Instant Pot Dal with rice. I still use my rice cooker as I only have one Instant Pot – I’m 100% not into washing it and then making something else in it. Stove top, instant pot, or rice cooker … any way the rice gets made still results in a delicious meal. My rice cooker is ancient and is one of the very inexpensive kinds that don’t have a lot of options. BUT, it’s small, making it easy to store (especially when we’re storing what feels like tons of kitchen appliances these days).
If rice runs out and I make Instant Pot Dal then I usually serve the Dal with naan bread. And yes, pantry staples often go not replenished around here because there are too many actual important things to be concerned about.
I switch up the vegetables every time I make this Instant Pot vegetarian recipe, although crispy cauliflower usually ranks high for us since it goes so well with the dal, rice, and yogurt.
What to serve with Dal (dahl, daal, etc.):
- Crispy Cauliflower (20-25 min at 425° F after tossing in 2 tbsp of olive oil and salt & pepper)
- Kid-approved Salad
- Sweet Bell Pepper Salad
- Yogurt Sauce (2 cups thick Greek yogurt with finely chopped cucumber, lemon juice, grated 1/2 garlic clove, and salt & pepper)
- Naan bread or flat bread
Inspiring Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes:
- Instant Pot Mushroom Stew
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Lentils
- Instant Pot Lentil Chili
- Instant Pot Chana Masala
- Instant Pot Lentil Tacos
This Yellow Dal recipe is a cozy and satisfying Instant Pot vegetarian recipe. A family favourite meatless Monday meal that is comforting and nourishing.
- 2 cups yellow split peas, rinsed thoroughly (swished about in a large bowl of water 5-8 times until water is clear)
- 2 tsp vegetable oil (avocado, grapeseed, or canola)
- 1 medium yellow cooking onion, finely sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 tsp whole cumin seeds
- 1 tsp dried turmeric
- 400 mL coconut milk (full-fat or light is fine)
- 800 mL cold water
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Set Instant Pot to Saute. Once HOT appears on the IP add oil and onion. Cook for 2 minutes until starting to soften. Add garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, and turmeric, cooking and stirring for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
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Add split peas, coconut milk, and water to IP, closed lid with valve set to sealed and set IP to HIGH pressure cook (or manual) for 4 minutes.
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Carefully use the quick release valve and allow steam to escape until the valve is depressed. Carefully open lid, stir dal and serve with rice, naan bread, and desired vegetables.
Enjoy! xo
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Love that bright sunny colour! Looks so good and so QUICK too. I laughed about your rice cooker. Ours is ancient too and I reserve my IP for the “bigger” cooking jobs. Adding this to my dinner menu soon!
Lovely! And yes, I cannot fathom washing my (what feels like) giant IP twice for one meal. Not when my little bitty rice cooker does such a bang up job. Hope your crew loves it when you get a chance to make it.
I LOVE LOVE LVOE dahl and yours looks just scrumptious. I need a bowl and a spoon right now. You are making me want an instant!
Nice! The Instant Pot is so good for dal, we love it.
So tasty!
so glad you loved it!
I made it and it tastes delicious but mine is sooo much soupier than how yours looks! Not quite sure what I did wrong, but mine came out practically pureed.
I’m not too sure. Maybe the age of the split lentils? Or the lentils weren’t rinsed enough? I’m glad it still tasted delicious, we adore this dish.
The directions say to vent the pot “once the valve is depressed.”. This implies a natural release of pressure, which is contradicted by the instruction to carefully release the pressure. When I waited for the button to depress naturally the dal was way overcooked. Try manually releasing the pressure carefully once the cooking time is done.
I can see how the wording was confusing. I’ve updated the instructions for clarity. Thanks!
Just finished making this with my mini instant pot to take in for my work lunches. Had to add some salt at the end but other than that, it’s perfect. Thanks for the easy to follow recipe!
Awesome! I should prep this for lunches this week too – great idea!
I’m excited to try this! I don’t have yellow split peas (looked everywhere and cant find them! I’d rather not have to order them online and wait). I have red lentils. Do you think i could just sub those?
Hi Deborah, I’d use green split peas instead if you can find those. Red lentils will dissolve more than yellow and green so the texture will be quite different (more mushy) if you use red lentils. Hope this helps!
Recipe instructions are misleading. The quick release valve releases the pressure manually. This recipe needs the natural release valve…otherwise, the split peas do not cook.
Hi there, the instructions are correct – manual release. I find that if I use natural release for the split peas are mush by the end of it and lose all texture. Were the correct split peas used? Or maybe the IP seal isn’t functioning properly?
Do you have a non-IP version of this recipe? I’m not sure how to convert IP recipes to standard.
Hi there. I don’t, sorry. It would take around 15-25 min for the yellow lentils to cook at a firm simmer on the stove top. Hope that helps!
Is the cooking time the same for pre soaked dal?
I’d assume it would be lower, I’d probably cut the time in half if you’ve soaked them for more than a couple of hours. I haven’t tried to pre soak them myself so I can’t be certain about the timing unfortunately.
Hello,
This smelled great but because instructions say to use quick release and not natural release the lentils didn’t cook… just a heads up
Hi Brandi! Where the correct lentils used? With split yellow lentils I find if I allow the Instant Pot to naturally release then the lentils are overcooked (as oppose to undercooked).