Instant Pot Spinach Dal with Rice

A brown bowl with dal palak with tadka on top; with cilantro and a spoon beside it.

5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Spinach Dal with Rice

Spinach Dal is a flavorful blend of spinach, yellow lentil and Indian spices made quickly in the instant pot.

This one pot dal recipe makes the rice along with the dal using Pot-in-Pot (PIP) method and a perfect meal in under 40 minutes.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 304kcal

Author: Smruti

Ingredients

For the Dal

¾ cup Split Yellow Petite Lentils
2 cups Baby Spinach Leaves
2-3 cloves Garlic (minced)
1 inch Ginger (grated)
½ medium Onion (diced)
1 medium Tomato (diced)
1 Green Chili (slit lengthwise)
2-3 Curry Leaves
¼ teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 pinch Asafetida
1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Lemon Juice
1 tablespoon Ghee
3 cups Water
2-3 stalks Cilantro

For the Rice

1 cup Basmati Rice
1¼ cup Water
¼ teaspoon Ghee
¼ teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 inch Cinnamon stick

For the Tempering

1 teaspoon Ghee
1 clove Garlic (minced)
½ teaspoon Red Chili powder

Instructions

Wash the lentil till the water runs clean. Drain and set aside.
Set the Instant Pot mode to 'Sauté' and Normal. Add ghee and let it heat.
Then add mustard seeds, asafetida and cumin seeds.
Once the seeds pop, add garlic, green chili, ginger and curry leaves.
Once the raw flavor vanishes, add the onions. Let the onions cook for 5-6 minutes till it is soft.
Add tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder and red chili powder.
Mix and let the tomatoes become soft.
Deglaze the pot by adding 3 cups water.
Add in the lentils and mix well.
Place a trivet in the center of the Instant Pot.
Wash the rice till the water runs clean. Drain and add 1 ½ cup water, cumin seeds, cinnamon and ghee.
Place the bowl on the trivet.
Close the lid and press 'Cancel'. Press 'Pressure Cook' and set time to 6 minutes. The pressure should be set to high and the valve to sealing position. Let the lentils and rice cook. When the Instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Move the vent to venting and remove the remaining pressure.
Open the Instant Pot and remove the insert with the rice.
Set the mode to 'Sauté' and add washed spinach.
Mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Turn off the instant pot and add lemon juice and cilantro.
If you like the dal with lots of garlic, in a pan heat 1 teaspoon ghee, add 1 clove of minced garlic and ½ teaspoon red chili powder.
Add that on top of the dal and serve.

Notes

Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates using an automated calculator. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition