1cupwhole green mung beanssabut moong dal, 210 grams
3cupswater24 oz
1tablespoonchopped cilantroplus more to garnish
1/2lemonjuice of
Tadka/Tempering
2teaspoonsghee10 ml
1/4teaspooncumin seeds
1/4teaspoonhingasafoetida
2largegarlic clovesthinly sliced
1/4teaspoonKashmiri red chili powderfor color (it's not very hot)
Instructions
Before you start soak the moong dal for 3 to 4 hours in 2 to 3 cups water. Press the saute button on the Instant Pot. Once it displays hot add the oil and then add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for few seconds.
Then add the chopped onion, ginger and green chili and cook for 2 minutes until onions are softened.
Add the chopped tomatoes and stir and then add the spices- turmeric, coriander powder and garam masala. Also, add the salt and mix everything.
Drain the water in which the dal was soaked and then add the dal to the Instant Pot.Add 3 cups water now and mix.
Close the Instant Pot with lid and press the manual or pressure cook button. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with the pressure valve in the sealing position. This will result in a very soft dal.If you don't like the dal to be very soft, then cook for 10 minutes only. If you haven't soaked the dal, then pressure cook for 20 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
Open the lid and give the dal a stir. Add in the chopped cilantro and squeeze in lemon juice.
For the tadka, heat 2 teaspoons ghee in a small pan. Once the ghee is hot, add 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them sizzle and then add hing.
Add sliced garlic and cook until the garlic starts changing color. Add kashmiri red chili powder, mix with a spoon and then remove pan from heat.
Pour tadka over dal and serve green moong dal with rice or quinoa.
Stove-Top Pressure Cooker Instructions
Follow all the steps as it is and then pressure cook for 10 to 12 whistles on medium-high heat. Let the pressure release naturally. Then make the tadka in a pan and pour over.
Stove-Top Pan Instructions
If you don't have a pressure cooker and want to make this dal, I would suggest first soaking the dal overnight. Then follow all the steps as it is until adding the lentils. Add the lentils, water and then cook for around 30 minutes uncovered on medium heat until lentils are soft and done. Cook them to consistency you prefer. You may need to adjust the amount of water here as water will evaporate when cooking in an open pot compared to a pressure cooker. Make the tadka as usual and pour over cooked dal.
Notes
Skip hing to make this gluten-free or you can use gluten-free hing.
Use oil in place of ghee in the tadka to make this dal vegan.
If you don't soak the dal, cook for 20 minutes on high pressure. Soaking for 3-4 hours and then cooking on high pressure for 15 minutes results in a very soft dal which I like but if you don't then don't soak the dal or if you have soaked for couple of hours, cook for 10 minutes only.