• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Rice Recipes
    • Paneer Recipes
    • Snacks Recipes
    • Dal Recipes
    • Veg Curry
    • Indo-Chinese Recipes
    • Latest
    • Recipe Index
  • ABOUT

Swasthi's Recipes

Home >> Recipes >> Dal Recipes

Moong dal recipe (Stovetop & instant pot)

By swasthi , on January 22, 2021, 82 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Moong dal is one of the most widely used lentils in Indian cuisine. Also known as yellow moong lentils, these are usually cooked with onion, tomatoes, herbs & spices to make a side dish. This simple moong dal recipe will give you a delicious, healthy & protein packed side that you can enjoy with plain rice, Paratha, roti & naan. In this post I have shared the instructions to cook in a pot, cooker or instant pot.

moong dal

It also goes well with any flavored rice like Jeera rice, plain basmati rice or Ghee rice. We usually serve it with plain rice, pickle, papad & raita for a complete meal. If you have kids at home who do not like moong dal then this recipe is a must try as this tastes unique and delicious.

Advertisement

This healthy lentil dish can also be served to toddlers & babies after 10 months, just skip the chilies.

What is moong dal?

Moong dal is the split version of whole mung beans (green gram) either with or without skin. The skinned version is known as yellow moong dal, yellow dal or yellow petite lentils. Split version with the skin is known as chilka moong dal, chilka mung or split green mung. These have the green skin intact and only the mung beans are split.

Both kinds of split moong dal (with & without skin) can be used in most preparations. They can also be used interchangeably if you are okay with the color of the dish. So using split moong dal with skin is the same as using the whole green gram except for the cooking time.

Moong dal is one of the most favored dal or lentils in Indian cuisine as it is easily digestible. According to Ayurveda, mung lentils are said to be tridoshic & can balance any disturbances in the body.

Hence it is used widely to make various dishes like Dal khichdi, dal soup, and Moong dosa. If you are new to lentils then do note that yellow moong dal is split & dehusked green gram or mung beans. These are fairly quick to cook and gentle on the stomach.

Preparation for stovetop method

1. Add ½ cup moong dal to a pot or cooker. Rinse it well a few times until the water runs clear. Pour 1½ cups water.

Rinse & cook lentils for moong dal

2. Pressure cook for 2 whistles on a medium flame. If cooking in a pot, cook it on a medium heat adding more water as needed. Moong dal should be soft cooked. When the pressure releases naturally, open the cooker and mash it to your liking.

pressure cooking

3. While the moong dal cooks,

  • fine chop 1 small onion
  • fine chop or puree 1 large tomato
  • chop or slit 1 to 2 green chilies
  • Grate or fine chop 1 teaspoon ginger garlic (half inch ginger, 2 garlic cloves)

Tempering

4. Heat 1 tablespoon ghee or oil in a pan. Add ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 broken red chili.

heating oil to temper spices for moong dal

5. When the mustard seeds begin to splutter, add 1 teaspoon fine chopped or grated ginger garlic and 1 to 2 chopped green chilies. Add 1 sprig curry leaves or bay leaf. Curry leaves lend a good aroma and is healthy too so I add them.

saute ginger garlic for moong dal

6. When ginger garlic smells good, add a pinch of hing (asafoetida). Then add chopped onions.

frying onions
Advertisement

7. Saute until the onions turn lightly pink or golden, add chopped tomatoes.

addition of tomatoes for moong dal

8. Add ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon turmeric. Saute until tomatoes turn completely soft and mushy. You can also add ¼ teaspoon chili powder and ¼ teaspoon garam masala for extra heat and flavor. Saute well for a minute.

adding turmeric and salt to fry tomatoes

How to make moong dal

9. Pour ¾ cup water & bring it to a boil. Add mashed moong dal. Stir and bring everything to a boil.

addition of dal for moong dal fry recipe
Advertisement

10. Optional – Add ½ teaspoon crushed kasuri methi and ½ teaspoon amchur powder. If you do not have amchur powder, add lemon juice just before serving.

Taste test and add more salt if needed. If the consistency is too thick, add some hot water.

add kasuri methi and amchur powder

Serve moong dal fry with plain rice, jeera rice or paratha.

moong dal recipe

Instant pot moong dal tadka (PIP)

I make both moong dal fry and moong dal tadka in my instant pot. Most often I prefer to cook dal & rice in 2 separate bowls (PIP) at one time in the instant pot. Then I just do a tadka to the cooked dal. I have shared the moond dal tadka below and moong dal fry in the recipe card.

instant pot moong dal with tempering

1. To make the moong dal tadka, rinse half cup moong dal in a bowl. Drain and pour 1½ cups water. Add chopped green chilies and tomatoes. I don’t use onions for this method. Cover the bowl and place it over the rice bowl in the instant pot.

2. Secure the Instant pot with lid, with the steam release handle set to sealing position. Pressure cook for 9 to 10 mins and wait for natural release. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Later remove the dal, add salt and mash it. If it is too thick then, pour some hot water.

3. For the tempering, heat ghee in a small tadka pan. Add mustard & cumin. When they splutter, add red chilli, green chilies & ginger garlic. Optionally add curry leaves too and hing.

4. Turn off the heat and add red chilli powder, garam masala and turmeric. Add this to the cooked moong dal. Stir and serve. Cool down slightly and then squeeze lemon juice.

Tips to make moong dal

  1. Most Indian homes do own a pressure cooker so I have shown this recipe making in the same. If you do not own one, then you can just cook the dal in a pot or instant pot. I have given the instructions for instant pot as well below.
  2. You can also make this as a one pot dish. Again it can be made in a cooker or pot. All you need to do is, do the tempering first & then just add the dal and water. Cover & pressure cook.
  3. We usually do not make very hot & spicy lentils as the original flavor of lentils is lost. However if you love spicy foods, then feel free to double the amount of spices like red chilli powder & garam masala.
  4. If you are not accessible to curry leaves just replace with bay leaf.
  5. To make the dish healthier, I usually add some spinach and carrots. I pressure cook the carrots with the moong dal. Then I saute the spinach in the tempering pan until it wilts. Then add the cooked dal.

More Dal recipes
Chana dal
Masoor dal
Dal makhani
Dal fry recipe

Instant pot dal & rice

Related Recipes

Dal fry recip...

dal fry recipe

Masoor dal re...

masoor dal

Green gram cu...

green gram mung bean curry

Dal makhani (...

dal makhani recipe

Chana dal rec...

chana dal

Moong dal dos...

instant pesarratu recipe

Recipe card

Advertisement
moong dal recipe

Moong dal recipe

Moong dal is a simple, delicious & healthy Indian lentil side made with skinned mung lentils & spices. This recipe will give you a very flavorful dish that you can serve with plain rice, roti or with any flat breads. Instructions for instant pot and stove top included.
Pin Recipe Print Recipe

For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time28 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings3 people
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ½ cup moong dal (or skinned split green gram)
  • 1 ½ cups water (same for IP)

Tempering ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil (or ghee or butter)
  • 1 dried red chili (optional, broken)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ( jeera)
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds (optional)
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) (skip if you don't have)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves or bay leaf (optional)
  • 1 to 2 green chilies chopped (use as needed)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic chopped or crushed (or ½ tsp ginger & ½ tsp garlic)

Spice powders

  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala (optional)

Other ingredients

  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 large tomato chopped or pureed
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (or as needed)
  • ½ teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) (optional)
  • ¼ to ¾ cup water (more or less for consistency) (skip for IP)
  • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves (cilantro finely chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or ½ tsp amchur or dry mango powder) as needed
Advertisement

Instructions

  • Rinse moong dal thrice in a pot or pressure cooker with ample amount of water. 

How to cook on Stovetop

  • Drain the water completely. Pour 1½ cups water and cook on a medium heat until soft. 
  • Pressure cooker for 2 to 3 whistles. If cooking in a instant pot – Place the bowl inside the instant pot, secure the lid & cook for 10 mins on a high pressure.
  • Once the pressure releases, open the lid and check. Moong dal must be soft cooked. If you like smooth & creamy dal then mash it well.

Tempering

  • Pour ghee or oil to a hot pan. Add mustard, cumin & red chili. Let them pop.
  • Next add green chilies, ginger garlic & curry leaves. Fry until a nice flavor comes out. 
  • Then saute onions until transparent. Next saute tomatoes until soft & mushy.
  • Add turmeric, salt, garam masala (optional) and chilli powder (optional). Saute for a min until aromatic. 
  • Pour half cup water and bring it to a boil. Then transfer cooked dal. Pour more water if needed to bring to a desired consistency. 
  • Dal is usually made to a thick but of pouring consistency. It turns thick upon cooling.
  • Stir and cook till it begins to bubble. Optional – Add kasuri methi and amchur if using. Stir and switch off.
  • Squeeze in some lemon juice when it cools down a bit. Serve moong dal with rice, roti or any Indian bread.

How to make moong dal in Instant pot

  • Press the SAUTE button on your Instant pot.
  • Pour ghee or oil to the inner pot. Add cumin,mustard, dried red chilli and curry leaves or bay leaf.
  • When they splutter, add asafoetida (hing), onions and green chilies. Fry for about 2 mins until the onions turn transparent.
  • Then add in ginger, garlic, red chili powder, garam masala and turmeric. Give a quick stir.
  • Add in tomatoes, salt, rinsed dal and pour 1½ cups water.
  • Deglaze the inner pot by scrubbing with a spatula to release any bits of food stuck.
  • optional – Place a trivet and place your rice bowl.
  • Secure the IP with the lid. Position the steam release handle to sealing. Press PRESSURE COOK button and set the timer to 10 mins.
  • When the IP is done, press cancel and switch off. Wait for the pressure to release naturally for 10 mins.
  • Release the rest of the pressure manually. With the help of a spoon, gently move the steam release handle from sealing to venting. This releases the steam.
  • Sprinkle kasuri methi over the dal and mash it if you like it smooth. If the dal is too thick you can pour ¼ to ½ cup hot water and bring it to consistency. Taste it and add more salt if needed.
  • Garnish moong dal with coriander leaves and squeeze in lemon juice.
Advertisement

Notes

This recipe can also be made with whole green gram or whole mung beans. Soak them for at least 4 hours before cooking.
Timings for rice and dal together in instant pot, 8 mins if cooking with basmati rice. 10 mins if using normal rice

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Moong dal recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 167 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 656mg29%
Potassium 409mg12%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 245IU5%
Vitamin C 41.1mg50%
Calcium 27mg3%
Iron 2.8mg16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

WhatsApp
Share7K
Pin1K
Reddit
Tweet
Email
8K Shares
FOR MORE RECIPES

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.


Moong dal recipe (Stovetop & instant pot)
WhatsApp
Share7K
Pin1K
Reddit
Tweet
Email
8K Shares

Related Posts

Advertisement

FEATURED RECIPES

Breakfast Recipes

Upma recipe (r…

upma recipe

Cake Recipes

Banana cake re…

banana cake recipe

Breakfast Recipes

Aloo paratha r…

aloo paratha

vegetarian

Paneer recipes…

paneer recipes

Dal Recipes

Dal makhani (S…

dal makhani recipe

Rice Recipes

Veg biryani re…

veg biryani

Advertisement

POPULAR RECIPES

Idli recipe (S…

soft idli

Samosa recipe …

samosa

Pav bhaji reci…

pav bhaji

Eggless chocol…

eggless chocolate cake

Palak paneer r…

palak paneer

Rajma recipe (…

rajma

Advertisement

Paneer butter …

paneer butter masala

Kadai paneer r…

kadai paneer

Paneer tikka r…

paneer tikka

Advertisement

About swasthi

Iโ€™m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthiโ€™s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
Read more..

Recipe Rating




Recipe Rating




82 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
john ernest barrowclough
April 19, 2021 10:26 am

hello, could you tell me what pip means, thankyou.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  john ernest barrowclough
April 19, 2021 11:52 am

Hi John,
PIP is pot in pot, where we keep a pot inside the steel insert of the Instant pot.

Reply
Advertisement
David Clarke
December 20, 2020 9:37 am

5 stars
I just love this Dhall. A lovely reciope. I now have an Instant Pot can I ask you where you get your inner stainless steel rice bowls. I have not been able to find any anywhere?
Many thanks
Dave

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  David Clarke
December 21, 2020 4:56 am

Hi David,
Glad to know! I buy from a local Chinese store here in Singapore. They are available on amazon. 18 to 19 cm bowls are good to go in a 6Qt IP. Hope this helps

Reply
Dave
Reply to  swasthi
December 27, 2020 8:21 pm

5 stars
Thanks swasthi Iโ€™ll have another look on there! Cooked your recipe again tonight.
My favourite Dall x

Reply
Jeannie
December 2, 2020 11:52 pm

This turned out delicious! Out of all the food blogs I frequent, yours is the only one where I never need to adjust the spices – always the perfect amount!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Jeannie
December 4, 2020 1:43 pm

Hi Jeannie
Thank you! Glad to know!
๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
Lisa
November 1, 2020 11:37 am

5 stars
fabulous. I added all of the optional ingredients and it was great. I’ve been making dal for over a decade and your tadka is among the best. YUM! Thank you very much.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Lisa
November 2, 2020 12:46 am

Welcome Lisa
So glad to know you liked it. Thank you so much!

Reply
Cammie
September 25, 2020 2:41 am

5 stars
This was the 1st thing I tried making in my Instapot. So fast and delicious! Thanks.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Cammie
September 25, 2020 4:21 am

Welcome Cammie
Glad to know!
Thanks for leaving a comment

Reply
Sarah
September 7, 2020 11:37 pm

5 stars
I made this recipe for my family today with basmati rice, grilled chicken tikka masala and homemade naan. I was a little skeptical that they wouldn’t care for it because lentils are not really a favorite in our home but my husband, son and his girlfriend LOVED it! Ate up the entire pot! My husband said we should have it at least once a week!! Thank you for posting it! Will be using it again, for sure!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Sarah
September 25, 2020 4:22 am

Welcome Sarah
So glad your family loved it. Thank you!

Reply
Anupama
August 12, 2020 7:56 am

5 stars
Hi, I tried moong dal recipe, I turned out delicious, everybody liked it

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Anupama
August 12, 2020 1:08 pm

Hi Anupama
Glad to know!
Thank you

Reply
Advertisement
Shyma Dhinesh
July 17, 2020 1:52 am

Hi Swasthi…
I am a big fan of your recipes
Your recipes makes me feel, cooking an easy job
Thanks a lot

Reply
Shonali
July 14, 2020 6:01 pm

5 stars
Swasthi, so so grateful for your website! Everything Iโ€™ve made for my toddler is just excellent and he actually ate it. THANK YOU!!! Sending you love and hugs for all your effort and work ๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Shonali
July 16, 2020 10:24 am

Hi Shonali
You are welcome! So happy to know!
Thank you so much!
Lots of love to the little one!
๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
kashish food
June 8, 2020 4:16 am

5 stars
Excellent Recipe. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Reply
Magda
May 28, 2020 8:51 am

Hi, Swasthi
I am not sure about difference between moong dal and mungo beans? May I use mungo beans for this recipe as well?
Your website was the impulse for me to try to cook Indian dishes. As being from Europe I donโ€™t have any previous experience with cooking, but I love Indian restaurants here in Singapore!
Thanks a lot!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Magda
May 28, 2020 9:02 am

Hi Magda,
Moong dal is skinned & split mung beans (whole green gram). You can take a look at the step by step pictures (after the recipe card) to identify moong dal. You can follow this mung beans recipe if you want to use the whole beans (not split). Hope you enjoy the dish.
๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
Magda
Reply to  swasthi
May 29, 2020 6:13 am

Hi, Swasthi,
I have decided to try both and I have already bought moong dal as well.
Thanks a lot for your reply!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Magda
May 31, 2020 3:55 pm

Hi Magda
Hope you enjoy them

Reply
Winnie
May 1, 2020 10:17 am

I always found moong dal to be a bit bland, but this turned out to be absolutely delicious. Such simple recipes are really comforting and satisfying especially in these difficult times of lockdown. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Winnie
May 2, 2020 2:48 am

You are welcome Winnie!
Glad to know it turned out good.
Thank you

Reply
Ron Snider
April 28, 2020 5:50 am

Hi, I just made it using my new 3qt Instant Pot … the 3rd dal and 3rd item I’ve made with it !

I have a question: The ingredients mention “Hing” but doesn’t mention WHEN to add it in … unless I overlooked it ??

At first I thought it was a little too spicey (hot) … with the 3 kinds of pepper in the recipe !! But after eating a little more, I think it’s just right in terms of hottness.

I used Amchoor instead of lemon juice.

Thanks !

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Ron Snider
April 29, 2020 3:24 pm

Hi,
You are welcome!
Hing goes after the whole spices. I updated it. Thank you

Reply
Advertisement
Rajashree
April 16, 2020 8:33 am

5 stars
Your recipe is awesome able to feed my family especially during lock down. Thank you for writing the blog

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Rajashree
April 16, 2020 1:17 pm

Hi Rajashree,
Thank you! Glad to know!

Reply
Ankit
April 10, 2020 3:28 pm

5 stars
Awesome recipe. Fell in love with yellow dal again!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Ankit
April 11, 2020 2:14 pm

Thank you Ankit,
Glad you liked it

Reply
Anurag Gupta
April 10, 2020 7:24 am

Hi, if I wanted to make it in one pot using stove top, then after tampering and adding all vegetables and spices, when I add the uncooked dal, how much water do I add and how long should I pressure cook it?

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Anurag Gupta
April 10, 2020 7:48 am

Hi Anurag,
Please cook the dal separately first & temper. One pot pressure cooker moong dal may burn sometimes or the dal may not cook well.

Reply
Donna
April 5, 2020 9:27 pm

You mean mustard seed, right? Not mustard from a jar? I’ve been looking at this recipe since before my Instapot arrived. One of the main reasons I got it was to be able to make some Indian dishes in it. Don’t know where I got that idea, lol. I know it’s good for other stuff as well. This will be my first recipe in my Instapot! I won’t be using curry leaves or some of the optional spices but I’ve got the required ones. ๐Ÿ™‚ I just need the bravery. I’ve been looking and looking and looking at this recipe. Time to try to do it!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Donna
April 6, 2020 12:23 am

Hi Donna,
Yes it is mustard seed. I am with you. Just go ahead and try it. I am sure you can make delicious dal. I have a video of the instant pot dal and rice cooked together in the Insta pot. You may want to take a look. The only change is I have used a mix of moong and toor dal. You can check it here – Instant pot dal. Hope you enjoy making it.

Reply
Q
February 28, 2020 2:15 am

5 stars
This dal is so good! I made it with split moong with skins on, which changed the color, and I left it thick and chunky without mashing any. It’s so hearty and low in calories (123 kcal per 1 cup serving, makes 3 servings). Thank you!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Q
March 2, 2020 3:14 am

You are welcome! Glad you liked it. Thank you so much!

Reply
Gillian Carlin
December 20, 2019 7:51 am

5 stars
Just made the Moong Dhal – absolutely delicious. Stunning flavour. Thank you so much for your recipes. I have just found you and now canโ€™t wait to cook more of your recipes. Having just returned from an amazing trip to India this Dahl took me straight back there. Thank you

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Gillian Carlin
December 23, 2019 3:32 am

Hi Gillian Carlin,
You are welcome! Glad you liked the moong dal. Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy more recipes from here.
๐Ÿ™‚

Reply
Advertisement
Lori
November 27, 2019 7:01 am

Thank you for the recipe and I look forward to trying it. I soak about 1/5 cup of yellow mung dahl and 1/5 cup of basmati rice together over night. I rinse well the next day and then cook both together with water until soft. I cook vegetables separately in a pan with coconut oil using Banyan Botanicals’ Kitchari spice mix. When the mung dahl rice mixture is fully cooked, I stir in ghee and put in a bowl and top with the cooked seasoned vegetables. I would like to avoid the long cooking time of the mung dahl and rice and having to watch the pot and add water as needed throughout the cooking process. So I am considering buying an Instant Pot Duo. Since I am cooking less than 1/2 cup of yellow mung dahl and basmati rice combined, can I cook this in an Instant Pot Duo 3?

Thank you for your advice!

Reply
Mahi
November 21, 2019 8:30 am

5 stars
Hii madam …ur recipes is good …I try a lot recipes …just I loved it

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Mahi
November 22, 2019 6:26 am

Hi Mahi
Thank you.Glad you like them
๐Ÿ™‚

Reply

Primary Sidebar

Advertisement

DIWALI RECIPES

JALEBI RECIPE
RASGULLA RECIPE
RASMALAI RECIPE
GULAB JAMUN
BESAN LADOO
KAJU KATLI
RAVA LADDU
Advertisement

CATEGORIES

DINNER RECIPES
SANDWICH RECIPES
BREAKFAST RECIPES
RICE RECIPES
CHUTNEY RECIPES
Advertisement

HEALTH CORNER

RAGI RECIPES
OATS RECIPES
MILLET RECIPES
Advertisement
Advertisement

ยฉ 2012 - 2020 - Swasthi's Recipes. The content is copyrighted to SWASTHI'S and may not be reproduced in any form.