Tastiest Punjabi Dal Makhani - Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe

Tastiest and super easy Dal Makhani or Dal Makhni - A luscious creamy preparation of mix of whole black lentils and kidney beans in butter, mild spices and cream. It is an ultimate kali dal recipe from Punjabi cuisine that tastes exactly like dhabas or restaurants. Here is how to make best dal makhani recipe on stove top and instant pot pressure cooker step by step.

About this dal recipe

Dal makhani - A renowned dish, most known Indian preparation of lentil from the land of flavours - Punjab. As the name says, the word dal cite to ' lentils' whereas makhani refers to 'Buttery'. So basically it the dal lentils cooked with loads of butter and ghee or clarified butter.

The authentic Punjabi dal makhani recipe consists of combination of whole black lentil and red kidney beans. Both are together cooked and seasoned with the melting butter, spices and cream.

Whole black lentil = Sabut urad or Kali dal in hindi.

Kidney Beans = Rajma in hindi.

A mix of the two soaked overnight. And then slow cooked together with spices, and tomato based masala in butter, ghee and cream until buttery and creamy consistency.

Dal makhani is indeed a true labour of love and it will never ever give you regrets, mark my words!

A secret to dhaba and restaurant style recipe

Do you know the secret behind the authentic restaurant style dal makhani recipe?

Well, let me disclose this to you.

In restaurants, it is not prepared the same day when they is usually serve it to customers. Yes, it has been cooked a day earlier, to enhance the taste of the daal blended with spices, butter and cream.

The next day before serving, it has to be reheated with some butter, add a dash of kasuri methi. You may add some red chilli powder also if you wish to.

There you go, now you can have the authentic restaurant style dal ready at home.

Now, let me confess this, yes, I do the same since last 9 years. I prepare it a day ahead and serve it the same way next day to my family and even guests. Not even a single instance has passed, when my family and even guests did not gave me praises.

Trust me guys, try it and see, you will love it i bet. In dhabas and some restaurants, you will find that, they also give coal smoke or dhungar to the dal.

Do you really love the smoky dhaba style dal makhani? Then, I would seriously urge you to go on ahead with the charcoal smoking step.

To give the smoke or dhungar, heat a piece of charcoal (referred to as lump charcoal in US) on open flame until red hot. Place the small bowl or a piece of aluminium foil on the top the dal in pot.

Drizzle teaspoon of ghee or oil. Immediately cover the pot with lid and allow the dal to absorb the smoky flavour. Open the pot after 5-7 minutes and discard the coal. Smoky dal makhni is ready to serve.

Preparation of traditional authentic dal

So, now let's talk about, how the authentic slow cooked dal makhani without pressure cooker is made. Traditionally, it is slow cooked on charcoal fire overnight with spices and butter.

Even today, in North India, they have been cooking this dal in a same way. That taste of slow cooked kaali dal on a charcoal fire is unbeatable, by far the best.

But, we being in a today's time, are looking for instant recipes. So, making dal makhani on charcoal fire is completely out of the scenario.

At least we can slow cook it on stove top for good amount of time than overnight, say for 30-45 minutes, right?

And the best thing we have is Indian pressure cooker, where boiling the dal and rajma takes few minutes. You can also opt for slow cooker, crock pot or Instant pot method.

Below, I have demonstrated how to make dal makhani in Instant pot step by step.

Ingredients

Moving down to the Ingredients, make it a note that best things do take time and so does this kali dal recipe.

Sabut Urad dal (whole black lentils) and Rajma (dried red kidney beans) are the two main elements of this recipe.

Bay leaf

Fresh ingredients - the fresh ingredients that goes in are ginger, garlic, tomatoes and onions. we will be needing ginger and garlic, both in chopped and paste form.

Spice powders - Kashmiri Red chilli powder and garam masala powder. Well, Dal makhani actually is not spicy but with very slight sweetness and full loaded creaminess. Hence, we really do not add green chillies to the dal. But, if you love it to be spicier then please go ahead with the addition of some chopped green chilies as well.

Ghee and Butter - These both gives the authentic taste and richness to the dish. However, you can even use oil with butter instead of ghee.

Tomato Puree - For the real restaurant dal makhani taste, please do not skip the addition of canned tomato puree. It gives so much of intensely delicious taste to the kaali dal.

Fresh cream and Kasuri Methi - Either a homemade malai from fresh milk or store bought tetra pack cream, both will do perfect in this recipe. Kasuri methi gives unbeatable Punjabi flavour to the dal makhani, so please do not skip it.

Using Canned Beans for Dal Makhni

You may surely opt to use canned kidney beans as well. If you do so then, boil the black lentils first. Then while making the masala base for dal makhni, add boiled dal and canned kidney beans both together in the spices. Then, allow it to slow cook for 30-45 minutes.

But, let me tell you a secret to a good dal. It is always better to use dried kidney beans as anyway you will have to boil the black dal.

The together cooking of both lentils and dried beans in turn will give you the best of the flavours. And yes I highly recommend you to go with the scratch cooking.

No onion no garlic recipe

To make no onion no garlic dal makhani recipe, the only thing we need to do here is, skip chopped garlic and garlic paste along with the chopped onions.

The procedure to make the recipe is, boil dal and rajma along with ginger and bay leaf only. To prepare the gravy base, melt ghee and butter together.

Then, add cumin seeds, one small stick of cinnamon and 2-3 green cardamom in it. After few seconds of frying, add ginger paste and cook. Then add chopped tomatoes and freshly pureed tomatoes and proceed with rest of the steps mentioned below.

Also, you may add some dry ginger powder if  you wish to. But do not forget to simmer on low heat for good 30 minutes to get restaurant style Jain dal Makhani recipe taste.

Preparing vegan dal

Are you looking for vegan dal makhani recipe? Well, it is not at all a difficult task to make vegan dal at home. To get that creamy flavour, add 1 tablepsoon of cashew paste or cashew cream or almond cream instead of dairy cream for the below measure.

Furthermore, use vegan butter or oil instead of dairy butter and ghee. However, you can use cashew milk or almond milk also. But, i would recommend to go for cashew paste or cashew milk.

Serving ideas

On the whole, this kaali dal is definitely rich not only in flavour but the taste is absolutely divine. My family loves it to the core and they do not prefer any side servings like vegetable, kababs etc. with it. They say, “When there’s Dal Makhani, There’s no need of anything else.”  In fact they quickly start tasting it even without a bread/roti or Rice.

But, Dal makhni when coupled with garlic naan or even lachcha paratha and zafrani pulao or jeera rice,  is an ultimate bliss. You can serve it with phulkas, parathas or even steamed rice. However, personally I do not enjoy kaali dal with phulkas.

It is popular because of its flexibility on the table to go with anything. In weddings or birthday parties or weekend family gathering, indeed the black dal adds a life to the menu.

Let us without utilizing any another minute, note down how to make best Dal Makhani Recipe at home

Some of the best Restaurant style Punjabi Recipes you may love try are:

Paneer Makhanwala

Palak Paneer Restaurant Style

Restaurant Style Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer Pasanda Recipe Restaurant Style

Step by Step instructions

Preparation:

To begin with, first, mix 1 cup of black lentils or urad dal and ¼ cup rajma together. Clean, wash and soak it for at least 8-9 hours. I usually soak it for 12 hours. (photo 1)

After soaking it, drain the water completely. In a pressure cooker, add soaked dal and rajma along with the 1 tsp of chopped ginger, 1 tsp of chopped garlic and 1 bay leaf. (photo 2)

Then add, 4 cups of water. Boil the dal and rajma mixture with chopped ginger-garlic, bay leaf until done well. It will take good 10-12 whistles to cook the dal thoroughly. If the dal and rajma is still not cooked, then add more water. Cook it for some more whistles until it is easy to mash. (photo 3)

Once the dal is cooked, allow the pressure to release on its own. After that, mash the dal with back of the ladle or potato masher to break them partially. (photo 4)

making dal makhni

In another handi or pan, heat 3 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp ghee together. (photo 5)

While the ghee and butter heats, add 1 tsp cumin seeds and allow it to crackle. (photo 6)

Then, add ½ cup chopped onion and fry until soft and pink. (photo 7)

Add 2 chopped tomatoes and fry on high until they are soft, this will take 3-4 minutes. (photo 8)

Next, add 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp garlic paste and sauté on high heat for another minute. (photo 9)

Then, add 1 and ½ tbsp tomato puree, 1 teaspoon red chili powder and mix well. (photo 10)

After the masalas is cooked well, then add the boiled dal mixture, ½ cup fresh cream, salt, and 1 tsp garam masala and mix well. (photo 11)

Then add 3 cups of warm water and mix, bring it to a boil. Allow it to simmer for at least 30 minutes on a very low flame, stir occasionally to avoid burning. (photo 12)

Note: If the water dries up in between while the dal is simmering, then add little water at a time, stir and allow it to simmer again. Usually, I simmer it for 45 minutes, because the more slow cooked dal, the better is taste.

Finally, add 1 tsp of crushed kasuri methi, mix and simmer for another minute. Garnish with cream and coriander leaves. Serve hot with nan, phulka, kulcha or pulao/rice.

Instant Pot Dal Makhani

First, clean, wash and soak 1 cup of black lentils and ¼ cup of kidney beans in enough water overnight. (photo 1)

Then, place the inner pot and switch on the IP. Press Sauté button and allow it to heat. Once the IP displays Hot, add 3 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp ghee together and heat. (photo 2)

Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and allow it to crackle. (photo 3)

Then add ½ cup of chopped onions and sauté until soft and pink. (photo 4)

Add 2 chopped tomatoes and sauté for 1 minute. (photo 5)

Then, add 1 tsp ginger paste and 1 tsp garlic paste and mix. Sauté for 1 minute or until raw smell goes off. (photo 6)

Add 1 tsp red chilli powder and 1 and ½ tbsp tomato puree and mix. Sauté for another 1 minute. (photo 7)

Drain the water and add soaked rajma dal mixture, 1 tsp chopped ginger, 1 tsp chopped garlic, salt to taste and 1 bay leaf, mix. (photo 8)

Add 3 cups of water and mix. (photo 9)

Close the pot with lid, with vent in sealing position, cancel the Sauté mode and press Manual/Pressure cooker mode. Set the timer to 30 minutes on high pressure. (photo 10)

After the IP beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then carefully quick release. Open the pot and mash the cooked dal with back of the ladle or potato masher to break some of them partially. (photo 11)

Now, add ½ cup cream and 1 tsp garam masala powder and mix. Switch on the Sauté mode and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Ensure the stirring of the dal in between to avoid anything getting stuck as the bottom. Dal will thicken gradually. (photo 12)

Add kasuri methi and simmer for another minute or 2. Delicious creamy dal makhani is ready to serve, garnish with cream, dish out and serve.

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