Have you ever craved a hearty, wholesome and flavourful dish that’s quick to prepare and packs a punch of nutrition? Look no further than Instant Pot Zucchini Chana Dal! This delicious, protein-filled One Pot dish combines the goodness of zucchini and chana dal (split chickpeas/ split bengal gram) with simple spices to create a meal that’s both comforting and nutritious. All it takes is 20 minutes! Let’s see how to prepare this delightful Zucchini Recipe in your Instant Pot pressure Cooker.
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About Instant Pot Zucchini Chana Dal
Lentil is a part of the Indian daily food menu in some form or the other. Being a South Indian, I have grown up eating dal every day, mostly in the form of Rasam, Sambar or Kootu. As Vegetarians, lentil is a great source of protein in our diet. Lentils are extremely versatile, and numerous delicious dishes can be made. This Instant Pot Zucchini Dal is perfect for a quick, one-pot meal. Makes a great weeknight dinner on a busy day.
This Zucchini Chana Dal recipe is a variation of a simple dal curry with zucchini. Back when I was in India, I had no idea about zucchini. After moving out of India, I started using this vegetable in many everyday recipes. This dal is one of my favourite recipes to use zucchini in.
Zucchini blends so well in Indian Recipes. It resembles a Bottle Gourd or Cucumber and can easily be used in everyday recipes. Some examples are Dal, Kootu, sambar, Kootu, Raita etc.
Why you will love this Instant Pot Zucchini Dal
Instant Pot Zucchini Chana Dal has become a staple in many households for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s a vegetarian delight, making it an excellent option for those looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet. Combining zucchini and chana dal adds a rich texture and provides essential nutrients.
The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker is the unsung hero, drastically reducing cooking time while ensuring the flavours meld perfectly. This Instant Pot Chana Dal recipe is a saviour in our fast-paced lives, offering a wholesome meal without sacrificing taste.
Ingredients to make Zucchini Chana Dal in Instant Pot
How to make Instant Pot Zucchini Chana Dal
Wash and soak ½ cup Chana Dal for 30 minutes.
Set the Instant Pot on Saute Mode. Add oil or ghee. Once it turns hot, add cumin seeds and red chilli. Let it crackle.
Add slit green chilli, finely chopped ginger and garlic. Saute for a minute. Add finely chopped onion. Saute till it turns light brown. Add roughly chopped tomato. Once it turns lightly mushy, add chopped zucchini.
Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Mix well. Add soaked and drained chana dal. Add a cup of water. Check for spices and salt. Adjust if needed.
Close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 10 minutes.
This timing ensures that the Dal is well-cooked but retains its texture to an extent.
Once the cooking is done, let the pressure release naturally (NPR) for 10 minutes.
Release pressure manually after 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and lime juice (optional). Mix well and serve the hot, delicious dal with some Roti or Rice.
Tips & Suggestions
Soaking the chana dal for 30 minutes helps cook the chana dal faster.
Moong Dal, red Lentil (Masoor Dal) or Toor Dal can be used instead of chana dal.
Adjust the spice levels according to your taste. If you prefer a milder dish, reduce the number of green chilies and red chilli powder.
Make sure you chop the zucchini into bite-sized pieces. Only then you can feel the texture of the zucchini in the dal. If you chop it too small, the zucchini will get mashed completely.
You can also use chayote, bottle gourd, and spinach instead of Zucchini. Lauki Chana Dal is a pretty popular Indian recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Rice: Serve it with plain rice or jeera rice for a comfort meal. You can also serve it with mild pulao like Coconut Milk Pulao , Instant Pot Ghee Rice.
Naan or Roti: Enjoy the cooked chana dal with freshly baked naan or roti for a wholesome Indian meal.
Quinoa: For a healthier twist, serve the chana dal curry over quinoa instead of basmati rice to boost protein content.
Other Recipes you may like
Instant Pot Chickpea Coconut Curry with Spinach
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Recipe Card
Zucchini Chana Dal in Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 medium Zucchini around 3 cups chopped into medium- sized pieces.
- 1 medium Onion finely chopped
- 1 medium Tomato roughly chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic finely chopped
- 1 inch Ginger finely chopped
- 2 slit Green Chillies
- ½ cup Chana Dal
- 1 cup Water
- 2 teaspoon Oil / Ghee
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 1 Red Chilli
- Salt as needed
- 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 3 tablespoon Coriander Leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Wash and soak ½ cup Chana Dal for 30 minutes.
- Press Saute on Instant Pot. Add ghee/oil. Once it turns hot, add cumin seeds and red chilli. Let it crackle. Add slit green chilli, finely chopped ginger and garlic. Saute for a minute.
- Add finely chopped onion. Saute till it turns light brown. Add roughly chopped tomato. Once it turns lightly mushy, add chopped zucchini.
- Add salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder. Mix well.
- Add soaked and drained chana dal. Add 1 cup water. Check for spices and salt. Adjust if needed.
- Close the lid on the pot and turn the pressure valve to SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 10 minutes. This timing ensures that the Dal is well cooked but retains its texture to an extent.
- Once the pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally (NPR) for 10 minutes.
- Release pressure manually after 10 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and squeeze in some lime juice. Serve with rice or roti.