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chana-dal-fry
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Chana Dal Fry

Split chana dal cooked with basic spices in an Instant Pot to make a super comforting and satisfying pantry meal with least amount of efforts!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • 3 Cloves
  • 3 Peppercorn
  • 2 Whole Dry Red Chili
  • 1 Stick Cinnamon, small
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 1 Yellow Onions sliced
  • 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Grated Ginger
  • 1 tsp Chopped Green Chili
  • 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 2 tsp Dhanajiru
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1¼ cup Dry Chana Dal soaked for 4+ hours
  • 1½ cup Water ½ cup for spice cooking, 1 cup later with dal½

Instructions

  • Wash and soak chana dal in warm water for 4+ hours.
  • Put instant pot on saute mode and warm up 2 tbsp of oil. If using regular Indian style pressure cooker, start warming same amount of oil in it.
  • Add whole spices like cloves, peppercorn, cinnamon stick, whole dry red chilis, bay leaf and cumin seeds.
  • Once cumin seeds start turning brown, add sliced onions, minced garlic, grated ginger and chopped green chili.
  • Saute onions till they become translucent and raw smell of garlic goes away. It should take any where from 2-5 minutes. Make sure to stir it few times during this process so onions and garlic do not burn.
  • Add 1 tbsp of tomato paste and ½ cup of water. Mix it well.
  • Once tomato paste is all mixed up with onions, add salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, dhana jiru (cumin coriander powder), garam masala. Mix it well.
  • Let the spice mix cook for couple of minutes while stirring few times.
  • Add soaked and drained chana dal along with 1 cup of water. Mix well and bring it to boil while keeping IP on saute mode or leaving the heat on medium for Indian style pressure cooker.
  • Close the IP lid. Put IP on high pressure for 12 minutes. Once the cooking timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 7-10 minutes. Release rest of the pressure manually.
  • If using Indian style pressure cooker, do 3 whistles and let the pressure release naturally all the way.
  • Garnish it with freshly chopped cilantro and serve it with roti, bhakhri or rice, with side of raita and flavored onions!
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