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Veggie Lentil Dhansak Instant Pot
5 from 81 votes

Veggie Lentil Dhansak Instant Pot

This Veggie Lentil Dhansak combines various lentils with assorted chopped vegetables and leafy greens, cooked under pressure for a hearty, spiced stew. The dal and veggies are flavored with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and dhana jeera powder. A tempered mixture of mustard and cumin seeds, onion, garlic, and garam masala is mixed in to add depth and aroma.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 2
Calories: 274 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, Vegan, gluten-free

Ingredients

Dal and Veggies:
  • 3/4 cup split dal combination of red lentils(masoor dal and yellow lentils(mung dal) or toor and moong dal, total quantity
  • 2 cups vegetable such as cauliflower, eggplant, zuchhini, opo squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, broccoli etc, chopped, heaped
  • 1 cup leafy greens such as spinach, fresh fenugreek leaves, mustard leaves, chard or amaranth, packed, chopped
  • 1 tbsp ginger minced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 green chile hot, minced
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp dhana jeera powder or 1/2 tsp garam masala + 1/2 tsp coriander powder + a good pinch of ground cloves
Tempering:
  • 1 tsp neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
  • 3/4 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/2 cup onion chopped, heaped
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala or more as needed

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Soak the dals for 15 mins to half hour. Drain and combine in a pressure cooker/Instant pot with the vegetables, and the rest of the ingredients under Dals and Veggies(ginger, garlic, spices)and 2.5 to 3 cups water. Cook for 3 minutes on manual (high pressure). Let the pressure release naturally.
  2. Meanwhile, make the tempering. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add mustard and cumin seeds and let them start to pop. Add onion and garlic and cook until golden, stirring occasionally. (a heavy bottom pan, a good pinch of salt and stirring at regular intervals gives an even golden onion). Add garam masala and mix in .
  3. Once the pressure has released, open the lid. At this point you can mash the veggies and lentils for a more traditional version..
  4. Mix in half the tempering into the lentil vegetable mixture in the Instant Pot. Taste and adjust salt and heat(cayenne). Add more salt and garam masala if needed. Garnish with the remaining half tempering, cilantro and lemon juice and serve.
  5. Serve with rice, flatbread, toasted bread or garlic bread, garlic naan and kachumbar salad (cucumber tomato onion salad).

Notes

  • Dhana jeera powder is prepared by slow roasting coriander and cumin seeds, then blending with cinnamon, clove, and black pepper to create a flavorful spice mix.
  • The dal and vegetable mixture can be partially cooked in a saucepan over medium heat for 25-30 minutes as an alternative to pressure cooking.
  • Adjust salt and garam masala after cooking and before serving to balance flavors.

Nutrition Information

Calories 274kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 45g (15%) Protein 16g (32%) Fat 4g (6%) Sodium 706mg (29%) Potassium 941mg (20%) Fiber 19g (76%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1405IU (28%) Vitamin C 63.4mg (70%) Calcium 92mg (9%) Iron 5.1mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 274

% Daily Value*

Calories 274kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 45g 15%
Protein 16g 32%
Fat 4g 6%
Sodium 706mg 29%
Potassium 941mg 20%
Fiber 19g 76%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1405IU 28%
Vitamin C 63.4mg 70%
Calcium 92mg 9%
Iron 5.1mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.