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    Home » Instant Pot Recipes » Instant Pot - Pot in Pot Recipes

    Instant Pot Spinach Dal and Rice

    Published: Jul 16, 2018 · Modified: May 12, 2021 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 55 Comments

    1721 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    A favorite Indian lentil dish, this spinach dal is made with an easy dump-and-done Instant Pot recipe. This recipe also shows you how to make the rice at the same time using the pot in pot technique so you have a full meal to enjoy.

    spinach dal and rice served in a white bowl with pickle

    Palak Dal is a family favorite recipe! Creamy dal cooked in warm spices such as cumin, turmeric, garlic, and optional veggies, served over hot fluffy rice makes for a wholesome comfort meal that is super easy to make in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

    Jump to:
    • Dal
    • Variations
    • Tips
    • Steps
    • FAQ's
    • Recipe

    Dal

    The word dal in Hindi language has 2 meanings:

    1. Dried split pulses such as masoor dal, toor dal, moong dal, etc. and
    2. A soup, stew-like dish made with the tender cooked split pulses tempered with spices.
    • picture of dry lentils
      Dry Lentils
    • Spinach Dal in white bowl
      Cooked Lentils

    Dal and rice is a quintessential Indian meal! Many families have their favorite version, with some recipes that are passed down for generations.

    There are many variations and ways to prepare dal. Starting with plain soft-cooked dal with just turmeric and salt, to tempered or tadka dal where cooked the lentils are topped with a smoky tempering of spices such as cumin, turmeric, and chilies, to a dal cooked with spices and an assortment of vegetables.

    • chopped tomatoes, garlic, knife on cutting board
    • photo of spinach

    Often served over rice, dal is an inexpensive way to eat proteins paired with carbohydrates to makes a complete and hearty meal.

    This spinach dal recipe is on my weekly menu for many years. It started with trying to incorporate greens into our diets while trying to manage busy weeknight meals. I grew up eating my mom's version of spinach dal that tastes incredible but I rarely have the time to make her detailed recipe which resulted in my simpler version that comes pretty close to hers with much fewer efforts.

    Spinach Daal, rice and ghee

    Using Instant Pot to cook Dal

    My original spinach dal recipe that I shared last year uses a more traditional cooking method with tempering and layering of ingredients. Using the Instant Pot to start and finish up this dish in itself is a HUGE plus. You have one pot to clean and hands-free once you press the pressure cook button. A big advantage over traditional pressure cookers that you need to manually keep track of time by counting the whistles.

    A year later, I keep trying to make the recipes even more simple so my children can make them independently. Making dal seemed like a perfect candidate for a dump-and-done recipe and this is how this easy recipe was born.

    Variations

    • This recipe is gluten-free and to make it vegan simply substitute ghee with neutral cooking oil, or simply skip the ghee altogether
    • Other than lentils, salt and turmeric all the other ingredients can be optional
    • Skip spinach or substitute it with baby kale, frozen spinach, or kale
    • To make pot-in-pot brown rice, increase the pressure cook time to 22 minutes

    No Tempering!

    Unlike mustard seeds, cumin seeds do not require popping them in hot oil. You can add them raw to dal or rice when pressure cooking and they meld perfectly well with all the other ingredients to make a flavorful dish while adding its earthy aromas. So go ahead and add cumin seeds to your dump-and-ready recipes.

    Tips

    Depending on how old your lentils are, or if you are using organic dal it may take much longer for the lentils to cook. Also if you have hard water, it may take longer for the dal to cook. My recommendation is to use filtered water for cooking or soak the lentils in warm for 5 to 10 minutes as you prepare the other ingredients. You can also allow full natural pressure release for this recipe so the dal continues to cook soft and get creamy.

    Steps

    How to make Spinach Dal & Rice, easy step-by-step recipe:

    Add all the ingredients for the dal except the spinach to the Instant Pot insert. Add rice, water, and salt to the stainless steel pan and place the pan over the tall trivet and start pressure cooking (photos 1 - 4).

    steps showing adding ingredients for Spinach Dal except spinach to the Instant Pot

    Allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release and then open the Instant Pot. Thin out the dal to the consistency you like by adding more water, stir in the spinach, bring the lentils to a gentle boil on Sauté mode (photos 5 - 8).

    photos showing cooked rice, and adding spinach to cooked dal

    I love the convenience of pre-washed boxed baby spinach. Although you can add it with the lentils and pressure cook, I like to stir it in after the pressure cooking is done so that the spinach retains the bright green color. You can add a handful (photo 9) or the entire box (photo 10).

    photos of Spinach Dal in Instant Pot

    FAQ's

    How to serve Spinach Dal

    Enjoy hot dal served over rice, pickle, and a small spoonful of homemade ghee. I often pair the spinach dal and rice with Batata Bhaji, Aloo Gobi or cooling cucumber raita with beets

    How to store cooked Spinach Dal

    Cooked spinach dal will stay well refrigerated for 2 to 3 days. For extended shelf-life, freeze the dal for up to 6 months. Place the dal in the refrigerator to defrost overnight.

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe? We love your feedback.Please click on the stars in the recipe card below
    Spinach Dal in white bowl
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    4.59 from 56 votes

    EASY Spinach Dal with Rice

    Spinach Dal with Rice, a favorite Indian lentils soup with an easy dump and done Instant Pot recipe.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 299kcal
    Author: Archana Mundhe

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
    • Tall Trivet
    • Stainless steel pot

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon ghee
    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 green chili chopped
    • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
    • 4 curry leaves optional
    • 1 tomato diced
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 cups water
    • ½ cup red lentils masoor dal
    • 4 ounces baby spinach

    Pot in Pot Rice

    • 1 cup basmati rice
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ½ cups water

    Instructions

    • Add ghee, cumin, turmeric, green chili, garlic, curry leaves, tomatoes, lentils, salt, and water. Give a quick stir.
    • Place the tall trivet inside the pot. Add rice, salt, and water to the stainless steel pot and place it over the trivet.
    • Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook(Hi) and adjust the pressure cook time to 5 minutes. Allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release and then release the remaining pressure manually. Open the Instant Pot and carefully take out the rice bowl and the trivet. 
    • Mix the lentils with a spatula. Add more water, to bring the lentils to desired consistency. Dal will thicken as it cools. Add chopped spinach and mix well. Cook on Sauté mode until the daal comes to a gentle boil.
    • Enjoy hot with steamed basmati rice. 

    Video

    Notes

    1. Substitute Masoor dal with moong dal or Toor dal. If using toor dal increase the pressure cook time to 10 minutes. 
    2. You can also make dal without pot in pot rice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 1239mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2825IU | Vitamin C: 33.3mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 3.1mg
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    Spinach Dal in white bowl with bowl of rice

    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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    1. Bekra Yorke says

      July 21, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      Made it last night, my 1st Indian food in the Instant Pot, and only the 4th or so item I've tried in the Instant Pot. Wow, delicious!! As good as any restaurant dal I've ever had. Had an extra small head of cauliflower and an onion, so cut them up and included them (along with recipe for 16 servings). I get the feeling this is a forgiving recipe in that way. I will be making this again, and look forward to trying others on the site as well. Thank you for making these great recipes available!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Rekha Pradeep says

      October 19, 2020 at 12:40 am

      The dal turned out delicious. Thank you so much for the easy to follow instructions and the fantastic recipe!5 stars

      Reply
    3. Wasfa says

      November 01, 2020 at 7:55 pm

      Made it today, I doubled the recipe. Came out perfect. I never knew pink daal and spinach was such an amazing combo! My new comfort food:)4 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        November 02, 2020 at 5:43 pm

        Thank you! Would love 5 star from you 🙂

        Reply
        • Wasfa says

          November 04, 2020 at 2:04 am

          Loved it❤️5 stars

          Reply
    4. Sangita says

      March 17, 2021 at 7:51 pm

      This is the best and easiest daal recipe! Thank you again for your yummy recipes!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Saadia says

      March 22, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      Instead of a steel pan for rice, can you use a silicon pan??

      Reply
      • Archana says

        March 23, 2021 at 12:16 pm

        I have not tried but yes if it's oven-safe it will work in the Instant Pot too.

        Reply
    6. Nikita says

      April 21, 2022 at 10:06 pm

      This recipe is the best discovery! I used the pot in pot method and did it twice. Just need to increase the amount of water in the daal to give it not so thick consistency. This method reduces the number of vessels and has perfect measurements for the rice!5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        April 23, 2022 at 5:37 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed it! I agree the lentils will continue to thicken as they cool down so add water as needed.

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

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