Instant Pot Lauki Chana Dal with Rice (Pot-in-Pot method)
Instant Pot Lauki Chana Dal with Rice is packed with flavor, super easy to make, protein-rich, and gluten-free - a one-pot meal that is perfect for busy weeknights.
Servings: 4
Calories: 475kcal
Ingredients
LENTIL INGREDIENTS
- 1¼ cups Chana Dal (Split Yellow Chickpea Lentils) (Split Yellow Chickpea Lentils)
- 1½ cups Water (for soaking)
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 small Red onion, chopped chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger paste
- 1 large Tomato, chopped
- ¾ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander powder (sukha dhaniya)
- ¾ teaspoon Red chili powder
- - - Salt to taste
- 1 cup Lauki chopped (bottle gourd)
- 1¼ cup Water (for cooking)
RICE INGREDIENTS
- 1½ cups Long Grain Basmati Rice
- 1½ cups Water
- 1½ teaspoon Oil
- - - Salt to taste
GARNISHES
- Chopped cilantro leaves
- Fresh Lemon juice
Instructions
LENTIL PREPARATION
- Start with lentils first. Quickly sort through the lentils to make sure there are no dirty and gritty things in the lentils. Rinse the lentils well. Transfer the lentils to a bowl, cover with regular tap water, and leave to soak for 30 minutes.
- Move on to the bottle gourd. Peel the bottle gourd skin and discard the stem (the top part). Wash the peeled bottle gourd and cut into squares. Set it aside.
- Turn the Instant Pot to ‘Saute mode.’ Once it displays ‘hot,’ add oil to the insert. Add cumin seeds. As it starts to crackle, add chopped onions and ginger paste to the insert. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in tomatoes along with all the dried spices. Stir until everything is pretty well combined. Pour in a little water and scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the insert to prevent a burn warning.
- Drain the water from the soaked lentils and wash them again tap water. Add the soaked lentils to the insert. Pour in water and mix to combine. Add the chopped bottle gourd and mix.
- Turn the Instant Pot off. Add the trivet in the Instant Pot insert. This will separate the lentils from rice that are also being cooked in the insert.
RICE PREPARATION
- Rinse rice under tap water until the water runs completely clear.
- Transfer rice to an insert Stackable pan, pour water, oil, and salt. Stir until combined. Rest the rice pan on the trivet.
ASSEMBLE AND COOK
- Close the lid and seal the pot. Press the Manual or pressure cook button and cook the Instant Pot Lauki Chana Dal with Rice on High Pressure for 6 minutes with the pressure valve in sealing position.
- Once the cooking time has elapsed, turn off the pressure cooker. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick pressure release.
- When the pin drops, carefully open the lid.
- Fluff rice with a fork and use a silicone mitt to remove the rice dish from the Instant Pot carefully.
- Carefully remove the hot insert from the Instant Pot. Turn the Instant Pot to ‘Saute mode.’
- Feel free to add extra 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water to the lentils to match the consistency you like. Boil for 3-4 minutes and turn the Instant Pot off.
- Finish off with lemon juice and cilantro leaves.
- Serve hot with warm rice.
- To read all about the health benefits and Faq's related to this recipe, please see the main post above. 👆
Video
Notes
FAQ's Related to this recipe!
Where can I find lauki (bottle gourd)?
You can find lauki at your nearby Indian grocery store or your local farmer market. For this recipe, please use a small yet firm bottle gourd. The soft ones will get mushy. How do you find a firm bottle gourd? Firmly squeeze the gourd, it should feel firm.
Can I make this recipe on a cooktop?
Of course, you can! For a cooktop method, please follow this link.
Tips to Consider!
- If your kids have texture issues with chopped fresh tomatoes, feel free to use crushed tomatoes instead(use 3 tablespoons).
- Like garlic? Add chopped garlic while preparing the tempering.
- This recipe gets cooked in 6 minutes, but cooking times will also vary depending on the age of the lentils. Older lentils will take longer to cook because they have lost their moisture content.
- There are two kinds of chana dal available in the market – one that is very firm (the perfect kind), and the other one that has a shiny coat on the lentils (please avoid this one as it will disintegrate soon and become mushy).
- Once cooked, stir the lentils carefully so that the bottle gourd doesn’t get mushy and disintegrates.
Nutrition
Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 3mg