Chana Dal Pulao is a delicious protein-rich vegetarian dish made with chana dal (split yellow chickpeas) and basmati rice cooked along with the aroma of whole spices. Enjoy with yogurt or raita.
This is a guest post from Khushboo Agarwal Murarka. This is an attempt to feature delicious home-cooked meals in everyday life.
What could be better than an authentic and easy one-pot meal? This Chana Dal Pulao fits the bill perfectly.
Quick, simple and of course nutritious. I make this pilaf in my favorite instant pot, set it on the rice mode and off I go to get ready. Come back and chana dal pulao is ready.
Oh...I love the perfectly cooked grains of rice. Perfect to enjoy for lunch or pack for lunch too. So here is the simple recipe for Chana Dal Pulao.
If you are looking for other recipes with Split Chickpeas, check out my delicious Chana Dal recipe.
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Why you will love this Easy Chana Dal Pulao?
✓ Easy to make
✓ A simple one-pot meal
✓ Protein-rich and nutritious
✓ Its rich, vibrant color is a perfect addition to any lunch or dinner spread.
Ingredients
This healthy chana dal pulao has the usual pantry ingredients that you might have at home:
Basmati rice: I like to use long grain rice when making this recipe. This holds it shape and has the perfect fluffy grains once cooked.
Chana Dal: These are split chickpeas. For this recipe, it is important to soak the chana dal for an hour in hot water. Or you can also soak it for 4 hours in regular tap water.
Onions & Garlic: We love to add these aromatics to the rice. You can skip onions if you like, the rice will still turn out well.
Whole Spices: I add cinnamon, bay leaf, green cardamom, cloves, cumin seeds, and whole red chili's to the rice. These add a wonderful aroma to the rice. (Note: it is okay to skip if you don't have these in your pantry)
Spices: Add the basic spices such as turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala and salt.
Liquid: I use water, but if you like you can use broth in this recipe too.
Lime juice: Gives a wonderful tangy flavor to the dish.
Cilantro: Garnish with cilantro leaves
How to make?
Pressure Cooker Method
- Rinse the Chana Dal and soak for 1 hour in hot water. Or you can soak for 4 hours in regular tap water. Then drain the water.
- Rinse the basmati rice when ready to cook.
- Start the pressure cooker in SAUTE mode and heat it. Add ghee/oil and all the whole spices. Sauté them for 30 seconds.
- Add the onions, ginger and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add the rinsed basmati rice to the pot. Drain the water from the soaked Chana Dal and add it to the pot. Then add all the spices.
- Add water and give it a good stir. Press Cancel and close the pressure cooker lid with vent in sealing position.
Set the instant pot to RICE mode for 12 mins (low pressure). When the instant pot beeps, quick release the pressure manually.
For stovetop pressure cooker, cook until 2 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally.
Add lime juice, and fluff the rice.
Garnish with cilantro and Chana Dal Pulao is ready to be served.
Stovetop Method
You can also make this pulao in a pot on the stovetop. Follow the same steps as in the above method until adding water on medium-high flame.
Add 2 ¼ cups of water for this method. Then let the ingredients come to a boil. Now simmer to low flame and cover the pot with a lid. Cook until the water is completely absorbed.
The Chana Dal Pulao is ready to be enjoyed. Sprinkle lime juice and garnish with cilantro.
Variations
You can make this healthy turmeric rice with different combinations such as:
- Chana Dal Brown Rice Pilaf - Follow the same steps above to prep the rice. Then cook all the ingredients for about for 20 minutes on high pressure in instant pot. Cook the same for about for 35-45 minutes covered on stovetop.
- Chana Dal Khichdi with Vegetables - You can add vegetables similar to my veg pulao recipe in this pulao as well. eg. green beans, bell pepper, green peas, carrots would all work well.
How to Serve?
- You can serve this pulao with a side of veggies, grilled chicken or vegetables.
- Serve it alongside with simple yogurt or raita like cucumber raita along with masala papad and your favorite pickle.
- You can serve it with a curry such as vegetable korma, or aloo gobi.
How to Store?
This chana dal pulao can be stored in an air-tight container and refrigerated for up to two days. Or freeze it for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
To reheat the rice, microwave for 30 seconds. You can cover with a wet paper towel while heating so that the rice retains its moisture.
Enjoy this easy, healthy and delicious Chana Dal Pilaf.
Check out other Instant Pot Rice recipes you might enjoy:
Chana Dal Pulao
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice rinsed
- ½ cup Split Chickpeas (Chana dal) rinsed & soaked for 1 hour in hot water
- 2 tablespoon Ghee or Oil
- ½ cup Onion thinly sliced
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Ginger grated
- 1 ½ cups Water
- 2 teaspoon Lime juice
- Cilantro leaves chopped
Spices
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 teaspoon Salt adjust to taste
Whole spices
- 2 Bay leaf (Tej Patta)
- 3 Green Cardamom (Elaichi)
- 5 Cloves (Laung) (optional)
- 1 inch Cinnamon (Dalchini)
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
- 2 Dried Red Chili Whole
Instructions
- Rinse the Chana Dal and soak for 1 hour in hot water. You can also soak in regular tap water for 4 hours.
Instant Pot Method
- Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode and heat it. Add ghee and all the whole spices. Sauté them for 30 seconds until onions become transparent.
- Add the onions, ginger and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add the rinsed basmati rice to the pot. Drain the water from the soaked Chana Dal and add it to the pot. Then add all the spices.
- Add water and give it a good stir. Press Cancel and close the instant pot lid with vent in sealing position.
- Set the instant pot to RICE mode for 12 mins (low pressure). When the instant pot beeps, quick release the pressure manually.
- Add lime juice, and fluff the rice. Garnish with cilantro and Chana Dal Pulao is ready to be served.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- For stovetop pressure cooker, add 2 cups of water and cook for 2 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally.
Stovetop Method
- Follow the same steps as in the above method until adding water on medium-high flame.
- Add 2 ¼ cups of water for this method. Then let the ingredients come to a boil. Now simmer to low flame and cover the pot with a lid. Cook until the water is completely absorbed.
- The Chana Dal Pulao is ready to be enjoyed. Sprinkle lime juice and garnish with cilantro.
Video
Notes
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
About Khushboo:
Hi, I am Khushboo. Working mom of 2 munchkins (3.5 years and .5 years old). I started cooking only after marriage as I landed up in this big country, USA, where we have to be independent for most of the things we do. I thank my husband to get me started on cooking. It’s been close to 8 years now and I simply enjoy cooking something new and different everyday, and above all love to cook in the Instant Pot.
Harini Vino says
Hi, this recipe looks yummy and unique. Your descriptions are clear as well. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Jyothi Varanasi says
Can you make this with sona masori and canned garbanzo beans?
Meeta Arora says
Hi Jyothi - Yes sure, you can make with sona masoori rice and canned garbanzo beans. I would suggest to add 1 3/4 cup fo water as sona masoori rice needs more liquid to cook. I also suggest to rinse the garbanzo beans and remove any liquid from them before using.
Maryellen says
loved this recipe. I will definitely make it again. I have questions about two possible variations:
1. I'd like to increase the proportion of dal to rice, for example 1 cup of each. Should I increase water to 2 cups, 2 1/4 or...how much?
2. I would like to add a Tarka/Tadka to the finished dish at the end. I don't think that this is traditional when rice is mixed with the dal, but do you have any advice for trying this anyway?
thanks!
Meeta Arora says
Hi Maryellen - Happy to hear you enjoyed the pulao.
1. I would suggest to increase the water to 2 1/4 or even a little bit more (still less than 2 1/2 cup) if you use 1 cup rice with 1 cup dal.
2. We do add tadka on khichdi often, which is a mixture of rice and dal. So it is totally fine if you would like to add it.
To add a tadka on top, heat ghee (or oil) in a small pan, add some cumin seeds (about 1/2 teaspoon), and some asafoetida. Optionally you can add some curry leaves if you like. Just let this be on the flame for 30 seconds. If you like, you can add some mild red chili powder after taking it off the flame (I use Kashmiri chili powder). Top it on while serving or on the rice in the instant pot.
RC says
I followed the recipe exactly but the split peas (chana daal) came under cooked quite a bit.
Meeta Arora says
Hi RC - Sorry to hear the Chana Dal did not cook well. Did you soak it for an hour before cooking?
Charlotte says
This dish was so quick and easy to make and it was super tasty!! We also added some spinach before pressure cooking, and it worked really well. We will definitely be making this again soon 🙂
Kim says
Sorry one more question! When you crush the cardamom, do you use the crushed outer shell also? Or just the little seeds. For some reason I didn’t get any notification anywhere that you haD responded to me?
Meeta Arora says
Hi Kim - You can add the other shell when making rice. However we typically pick put the whole spices (or this shell) when eating the rice. You can choose to not add it and just add the seeds.
Kimberley says
Can I put little chunks of chicken in as soon as water goes in? Or will the time of cooking not be enough to cook it through? I’m talking pieces the size of a penny.
Meeta Arora says
Hi Kimberly - Yes, you can add chicken pieces too. The cooking time will work well for chicken pieces. Hope you enjoy the pilaf.
Kim says
Was wonderful! Thank you! I try to remain vegetarian, but sometimes I’m so low on money I have to go to food banks and incorporate what they give. Please make a book specifically for instant pot Indian food!
Meeta Arora says
Thank you so much Kim. I am glad you are enjoying the recipes.
Rebecca says
I wonder if this could be made with brown rice. Thank you.
Meeta Arora says
Hi Rebecca - If you soak the brown rice for 2 hours, then you can pressure cook for about 12 minutes on high pressure in this recipe. Hope you enjoy it!
Meena Narayanan says
Your recipes look simply delicious and simple & im certainly going to try this Chana dal pilaf ...
Thanks
Meeta Arora says
Hey Meena - Thank you. I would love to hear how it turns out 🙂