This hearty, protein-packed, comforting moth dal recipe is made with moth beans, onion, tomato, and a few Indian spices. It’s easy to make and perfect for a healthy dinner when served with rice.
2tablespoonsCilantro or coriander leavesfinely chopped
1cupBasmati riceor your choice of any variety of rice
1cupWater for cooking rice
½teaspoonSalt for rice
Instructions
Rinse & Soak: Rinse beans 2-3 times using regular tap water until the water is not cloudy anymore.
Soak in enough water (2-3 inches above the beans) for 2-4 hours or overnight.
Discard the soaking water and keep them ready.
Prep Rice: Similarly, rinse the rice using water until the water is not cloudy anymore. Transfer to an instant pot insert (for PIP cooking). Add salt and water. Keep this container ready.
Cook: Turn on the instant pot with saute mode on. Add oil, once the oil is hot add cumin seeds and let them sizzle a bit.
Add hing. Immediately add onion and sprinkle a pinch of salt to speed up the cooking process. Mix and cook until onions turn soft and become light pink or translucent in color.
Add crushed ginger and green chili. Mix and saute for 30-40 seconds or until the raw smell of ginger goes away.
Add tomatoes and cook until tomatoes start to soften a bit.
At this time turn off the saute mode. The remaining heat is enough to cook spices. Add remaining salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Mix and saute for 1 minute.
Add soaked, drained beans and fresh water. Stir everything to mix.
Place a tall trivet in the center. Place the rice container and cover it with a lid.
Cover the instant pot with a lid and keep the valve in a sealing position.Instant pot: Cook on manual (high pressure) for 8 minutes.Not-soaked beans: Manual 13-15 minutes.Stovetop Pressure cooker: 5-6 whistles on medium heat.
Let the pressure go down by itself (NPR - natural pressure release). Once the pin drops, open the lid, remove the rice container, and stir to check the consistency. If needed add some hot water.
Add garam masala and lime juice. Mix well.
Add freshly chopped cilantro and it is ready to serve.
Notes
Do not simmer after adding lemon juice to retain its flavor. So always add lemon juice at the end once the cooking is done.
Always add garam masala after pressure cooking to retain its aroma and flavor.
The water amount may vary depending on the moth dal consistency you prefer. The above measurements give medium-thick consistency. If you like it thin then add more water.
It will thicken as it cools down so you may need to add a splash of water while reheating.
Do not cook rice using the PIP method if using not-soaked beans. Otherwise, rice will get mushy as the cook time is higher than soaked beans.