Easy Chana Dal Pulao Recipe
Make this flavorful and nutritious recipe for Chana Dal Pulao, a delicious Indian lentil rice dish that's easy to prepare and perfect for any meal.
Servings: 4
Calories: 364kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup basmati rice
- ½ cup Chana dal
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 tomato chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ inch cinnamon
- 4 clove spice
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 ¾ cup water
- 3 teaspoon cilantro chopped
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and soak basmati rice for 20 minutes. Drain. Rinse and soak chana dal for one hour. Drain.1 ½ cup basmati rice, ½ cup Chana dal
- Turn on the Instant Pot saute mode and heat oil. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.2 teaspoon coconut oil, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- Add bay leaf, cinnamon, and cloves. Sauté briefly. Add sliced onion and sauté until soft.1 bay leaf, ½ inch cinnamon, 4 clove spice, 1 onion
- Add ginger and chopped tomato. Cook until the tomatoes soften.1 teaspoon ginger, 1 tomato
- Add turmeric powder and garam masala. Mix well. Add soaked chana dal and basmati rice. Gently mix. Add water and salt. Cancel Sauté.1 teaspoon Garam masala powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 ¾ cup water, salt to taste
- Close the lid of the Instant Pot with the vent in the sealing position. Cancel the saute mode. and select the pressure-cook mode, then cook on High pressure for 8 minutes. After the Instant Pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. Open the lid, fluff gently, and serve warm.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with a side of potato tikka masala or any vegan curry recipe.3 teaspoon cilantro
Notes
- I always soak both the rice and chana dal before cooking. It helps everything cook evenly and gives the best texture.
- I first sauté the whole spices in oil. This small step adds a lot of flavor, so I never skip it.
- I keep the water slightly less than regular rice to avoid soggy pulao, especially in the Instant Pot.
- I let the pulao rest for a few minutes before fluffing. This helps the rice stay separate and fluffy.
- For family meals, I keep the spices mild and let everyone adjust later if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg