Lentils and beans are well known as a source of plant-based protein to your diet. They are not only healthy and delicious, they are also budget-friendly. Lentils are a part of everyday meals in Indian food, where many people have a vegetarian diet. If you did not know, Indians have been using stovetop pressure cookers to cook lentils and beans for a very long time. Hence, Instant Pot, which is an electric pressure cooker, is a wonderful gadget to make lentils (dal) and beans. They cook so quickly under pressure and get the perfect creamy texture.
There are so many different varieties of dals – Toor Dal, Chana Dal, Mung Beans, Masoor Dal, and many more. We love to switch and make different lentils in the instant pot.
You can get a free printable chart for instant pot bean/ lentil cooking times.
I posted about 31+ Indian Curries in the instant pot, which was very popular. So I am sharing here another roundup of lentil and beans recipes that can be made in the Instant Pot. Oh…and if you don’t have the instant pot, you can still make all of these recipes in your stovetop pressure cooker.
All of the recipes shared here are vegetarian and gluten-free. And they can be made vegan by replacing ghee with plant-based oil.
Let’s dive right into the lentil and beans you can enjoy with your pressure cooker!
Curious about pulses used in Indian cooking? Check out my detailed guide about Indian Pulses.
Instant Pot Lentils
Spinach Dal (Dal Palak)
Instant Pot Spinach Dal (Dal Palak) is a comforting lentil soup with spinach mixed in it for extra nutrition. Enjoy this vegan and gluten free dal with basmati rice or as a soup.
Red Lentil Curry
This red lentil curry is a healthy and budget friendly vegan meal can be made in less than 30 minutes in the instant pot!
Dal Makhani (Madras Lentils)
This is one of the most popular Punjabi lentil, Dal Makhani in Instant Pot. Most people order this dal when in an Indian restaurant. This is mainly black gram lentils and red kidney beans prepared with onion, tomatoes, lots of ginger, garlic and butter. This can be made vegan with substituting butter with any plant based oil, my favorite is coconut oil. You can also make pot-in-pot brown rice with Dal Makhani.
Pumpkin Dal
Pumpkin Dal, or Squash Dal, is a simple yet flavorful dish that’s perfect for a cozy weeknight meal. Made with fragrant spices, creamy pumpkin, and protein-rich lentils. Serve it with rice or naan bread.
Dal Fry (Toor Dal)
Toor dal or Arhar Dal is the one of the most popular dal made in India. The cooked toor dal is also popularly called as Dal Tadka or Dal Fry. In this recipe, dal tadka is made in an Instant Pot along with pot-in-pot Basmati Rice (see video). Dal tadka is very quick to prepare and can be ready in minutes. It is one of the easiest to make for a week night dinner.
Vegetable Sambar
Mixed Vegetable Sambar in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. Sambar is primarily a South Indian delicacy, but because of it’s benefits and taste popular all over India. This recipe is to make sambar in an instant pot. It is very easy to make sambar and even easier in an instant pot, with you not having to monitor while it is cooking.
Moth Dal (Moth Bean Cury)
A delicious, comforting, and wholesome Moth Beans Curry. Full of flavor and nutrition, this Punjabi style Moth Dal can be made in the Instant Pot in just 30 minutes!
Gujarati Dal (Sweet, Tangy Dal)
Gujarati Dal is a sweet, spicy and tangy lentil soup, made with pigeon peas (tuvar dal), lots of warming spices and the sweetness of jaggery. This staple dal from the Gujarat region of India can be enjoyed with rice, roti or as a soup!
Rajasthani Panchmel Dal
Panchmel Dal, also called Panchratna dal, is a comforting one-pot Indian mixed lentil soup made with five lentils. It is the dal served with the traditional Rajasthani dish of Dal Baati.
Whole Masoor Dal (Brown Lentils Curry)
This healthy Whole Masoor Dal, also known as Brown Lentils Curry, is made in the Instant Pot. Vegan & Gluten Free.
Mango Dal
Toor dal (Split Pigeon Pea) cooked with raw mango and tempered with red chillies, curry leaves, mustard seeds and spices. This dal is also called Mango Pappu or Mamidikaya Pappu in South India, where pappu means lentils. This dal has an interesting flavor of mangoes along with lentils. In a single spoon, you can taste the lentils and the tangy sweet mangoes. This is a great variation to the everyday lentils.
Green Moong Dal
Wholesome Green Moong Dal made in an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. This is a delicious creamy lentil soup, that is so easy and quick to make in a pressure cooker. It is very nutritious with lots of protein and perfect for a cold evening.
Hearty Brown Lentil Soup
Hearty Brown Lentil and vegetable Soup in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. Make this warm soup on a cold & rainy (or snowy) day. Get cozy with this nutritious and easy-to-make vegan soup. This is a great soup for detox as well.
Moong Dal Fry (Split Yellow Lentils)
Moong Dal Tadka or Split Yellow Lentil Soup made in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. This is another popular dal similar to Toor Dal Fry that is used for everyday cooking in India. It is a quick, easy, and low-calorie nutritious lentil soup.
Moong Dal Khichdi
Moong Dal Khichdi is a simple dish made with rice and lentils, tempered in ghee with cumin seeds. This recipe is to prepare Khichdi in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. It takes 20 minutes or less and is a perfect comfort meal for weeknights.
Chana Dal
Easy & Delicious Instant Pot Chana Dal is made with split Chickpeas cooked with ginger, garlic, onion, tomato and flavorful spices, to make a comforting soup. Vegan & Gluten free.
Lentil & Vegetable Khichdi
Lentil & Vegetable Khichdi or Masala Khichdi made in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. This is a one-pot vegetarian dish made with lentils, rice and vegetables along with simple spices and ghee. This is the epitome of comfort foods all over India. Khichdi is best cooked in a pressure cooker, so the Instant Pot is the perfect gadget to cook Khichdi.
Sprouts Curry
Mung bean sprouts cooked in an onion-tomato sauce with ginger, garlic, and aromatic spices. This curry goes perfectly with roti, paratha or rice.
Misal Pav
A delicious Maharashtrian breakfast, Misal Pav, is a wholesome meal, that can be enjoyed as a nutritious breakfast or brunch. Misal is a spicy sprouts curry (usal) cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and coconut. This is then topped with onions, lemon juice, farsan and enjoyed with pav (dinner rolls).
Quinoa Khichdi
This Quinoa Khichdi is wholesome comfort food, made with quinoa, lentils, veggies, and spices. A one-pot nutritious meal that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
Dal Dhokli
Dal Dhokli is a hearty one-pot meal in which spiced wheat flour dumplings are simmered in a flavorful sweet and spicy lentil soup. This meal is called Dal Dhokli in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and Varan Phal or Chakolya in Maharashtra.
Bisi Bele Bath
Bisi Bele Bath is a flavor and nutrition-filled recipe from Karnataka in Southern India. Cooked with lentils, rice, vegetables, and aromatic spices, this authentic one-pot meal is hearty and comforting.
Ven Pongal
Made from rice and lentils, this satisfying South Indian breakfast recipe, Ven Pongal, is enjoyed with sambar and chutney. Deliciously seasoned with curry leaves, cumin seeds, and black pepper, this vegetarian and gluten-free recipe is a wholesome meal.
Instant Pot Beans & Chickpeas
Coconut Chickpea Curry
This creamy vegan curry is made with staple pantry ingredients. A one-pot meal with pot-in-pot brown rice will make up for a perfect wholesome meal.
Chana Masala (Chickpeas Curry)
Chole with bhatura or naan was a favorite weekend meal growing up. Chana or Chickpeas take very long to cook, hence they are perfect for pressure cooking in the Instant Pot. This a true one-pot recipe, with the onion-tomato gravy made in the instant pot and then soaked chickpeas cooked along with the gravy. With the instant pot, the best part is that you can set it on a timer to pressure cook and forget.
Kala Chana
Kala Chana is a mildly spiced black chickpeas curry made in instant pot. This is a simple everyday Punjabi curry, made in a onion-tomato gravy with ginger and garlic. It is so easy to prepare and yet so delicious.
Rajma Masala
Rajma is one of the most loved Punjabi dishes. It is a great comfort food enjoyed with rice or roti. You can make this dish in an instant pot or traditional pressure cooker. You could also make Rajma in a slow cooker. This post shares how to make Rajma in Instant Pot, along with pot-in-pot brown rice (see video). This is a gluten-free and vegan recipe.
Lobhia Masala (Black Eyed Peas Curry)
Being a North Indian, I grew up eating Black Eyed Peas, also referred to as Raungi, Chawli orLobhia in different parts of India. Interestingly they are also referred to as cowpeas, but are from the beans family, not peas. They are a comforting and nutritional meal. Making them in the instant pot is a breeze, so try this tasty curry (see video).
Chana Saag (Chickpea Curry with Spinach)
This easy one-pot curry is made with chickpeas and spinach in a delicious curry sauce. Serve it with rice, quinoa, or naan for a perfect weeknight dinner! I hope you have found your favorite Indian lentil recipe to make in the Instant Pot! Let me know what you are most excited to make, and when you make it, don’t forget to tag #pipingpotcurry. Is your favorite lentil or beans recipe missing in this list? Leave a comment below to let me know your requests! If you are wondering about Indian Curries…check out Indian Curry Recipes in the Instant Pot.
