Textual Chef

Pressure Cooker Dal Makhani

Rich, creamy black lentil dal slow-simmered with butter, cream, tomatoes, and warming spices, traditionally cooked for hours but ready in the pressure cooker in about an hour.

85 minMediumServes 4340 cal/serving

IndianDinnerPressure CookerVegetarianGluten-FreeNut-FreeEgg-Free

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole black lentils (urad dal, rinsed), rinsed
  • 1/2 can canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes (canned)
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. 1

    Set the pressure cooker to Saute on medium heat. Melt half the 4 tbsp unsalted butter. Add 1 finely diced yellow onion and cook, stirring, for 6 to 8 minutes until golden. Add 4 cloves minced garlic cloves and 2 tsp grated fresh ginger and cook for 1 minute more.

  2. 2

    Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground coriander, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

  3. 3

    Add 1 cup rinsed whole black lentils (urad dal, rinsed), 1/2 can drained and rinsed canned kidney beans, 1 cup crushed tomatoes (canned), 3 cups water, and 1 tsp kosher salt. Stir to combine.

  4. 4

    Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Allow a full natural pressure release (about 20 minutes).

  5. 5

    Open the lid and stir. The lentils should be completely soft. Set to Saute on medium. Stir in the remaining butter and 1/4 cup heavy cream. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the dal thickens to a creamy consistency.

  6. 6

    Stir in 1 tsp garam masala. Taste and adjust salt.

  7. 7

    Serve topped with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro alongside basmati rice or naan.

Cook it with the batch dial

Textual Chef is a plain-text cooking reference of 2,009 recipes. In the app, this entry scales itself — half, standard, or double batch, every quantity recomputed inside the step that uses it — and the ingredient list files itself into an aisle-ordered shopping list. No ads, no life stories, no photos of somebody else's dinner.

Open the appThe first 30 days are free.