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Related Cooking Notes


Dal Makhani (Creamy Lentils)

Ingredients

  • pressure cook

    • 1 cup whole black urad dal

    • 1 tbsp chopped garlc

    • 2 tsp minced ginger

    • 2 bay leaves

    • 2 1/2 cups water

  • mix

    • 1/4 cup greek yogurt

    • 1/2 cup half-and-half or cream

    • 1 tsp kosher salt

    • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

    • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

    • 1/4 tsp ground cumin

    • 1/2 tsp ground coriander

    • 1/2 tsp garam masala

  • tempering

    • 2 tsp ghee

    • 1 tsp cumin seeds

    • 1 tbsp tomato paste

  • garnish

    • fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions

  1. Pick over and rinse the dal. Put the dal, garlic, ginger, and bay leaves, and water in a pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure for 30 mins with a natural pressure release. When cooked, mash 1/4 (or less) of the dal to thicken the mixture.

  2. In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, half-and-half (or cream), salt, turmeric, cayenne, cumin, coriander, and garam masala.

  3. Tempering. Heat ghee over medium-high heat in a pan. When hot add the cumin seeds. When the seeds start to sputter, add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it absorbs most the ghee, about 2 minutes.

  4. Add the tempering and yogurt/spice mixture to the dal.

  5. Serve with cilantro as garnish.

Notes

  • MSG doesn't enhance the flavor.

  • Don't skimp on the salt.

References

  • Adapted from Indian Instant Pot Cookbook, 2017, p50, by Urvashi Pitre


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