Daals

Sambar (Instant Pot Recipe)

Sambar (Instant pot recipe)

Serves: 4 persons

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup toor daal
  • 1½ cup cut vegetables of your choice
  • 1 tablespoon sambar masala
  • 2½ tablespoon oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafoetida
  • 7-8 curry leaves
  • 2 dry red chillies
  • ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon tamarind paste
  • Salt to taste
  • 4½ cups of water
  • Handful of chopped cilatro

Method:

  1. Wash and rinse toor daal couple of times. Keep rinsed daal aside. Cut vegetables of your choice.
  2. Turn on the saute mode on instant pot. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Add vegetables. Saute for ½ minute and add rinsed toor daal. Mix everything and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add water, salt, sambar masala, and tamarind paste. Give a quick stir. Cancel the saute mode.
  4. Put the lid on into sealing position. Press manual for 15 minutes on high setting.
  5. After 15 minutes, let the pressure realese naturally. As the pin drops, open the lid. Mix everything with the spatula. Cancel the manual mode and turn on the saute mode.
  6. Seasoning Preparation: Heat a small pan on medium-high flame and add remaining oil. Add mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds. Let the mustard seeds crackle. Add asafoetida, curry leaves, dry red chillies, turmeric powder, and red chilli powder. Pour this seasoning over the ready sambar in instant pot. Add chopped cilantro and mix well.
  7. Let it boil for a minute and then cancel the saute mode.
  8. Serve hot with Idli or Dosa.

Kale Dal

Kale Dal

Serves: 3-4 persons

Kale is one of my favorite leafy greens. Low in calorie and high in fibre. Kale has a strong flavor So, I like to mix it with Indian lentils. I used to make this recipe on a regular basis but, with Spinach or Fenugreek. When I discovered the benifits of Kale, I started using in my daily diet.

In this recipe, I have used combination of toor dal and moong dal. You can use only toor dal or moong dal. Masoor dal is also another option. The result will always be tasty. :) Hope you find this recipe intresting!

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup toor dal
  • ½ cup moong dal
  • 2 cups chopped kale leaves
  • 3-4 chopped garlic pods
  • 2 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon asafoetida
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 small onion chopped finely
  • 1 medium tomato chopped finely
  • 3 tablespoon oil
  • 1 cup water

Method:

  1. Wash toor dal and moong dal together and drain the water. Add 3 cups of fresh water to dals. Add little salt and pinch of turmeric powder. Cook in a pressure cooker for 6-7 whistles. Let the pressure goes down completely.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. Add half of the chopped garlic and half of the cumin seeds. Let them sizzle. Add chopped onion and grated ginger. Saute for a while. Add in chopped tomatoes and mix everything.
  3. Add chopped kale to the pan. Cook until kale is completely cooked.
  4. Add cooked dal and mix well. Add water and salt. (be careful while adding salt since there is salt in cooked dal.)
  5. Check the water consistency. Add more if you like runny dal. Cook dal and kale mixture on a medium hat for 10 minutes.
  6. Add 2 tablespoon oil in another pan. Add remaining chopped garlic and cumin seeds. Let the garlic become golden brown. Add asafoetida, turmeric powder, and red chilli powder. Pour this seasoning over cooked dal.
  7. Serve hot with rice or roti.

Note: