Dal Makhani is an exotic vegetarian dish made out of lentils and beans, which needs no introduction. A north Indian lentil dish specifically from the region of Punjab has been known and popular for its creamy, silky, and melt-in-mouth textures. It would be hard to resist a bowl of warm dal makhani when topped with cream and butter.
You will likely spot this so admired dal makhani on the menu of roadside eateries also known as ‘DHABA” to all high-end restaurants. Because of its likeness among all age groups, adults, as well as kids any special family events dinners, would be incomplete without having dal makhani on the menu. Dal makhani’s popularity is partly due to its versatility in a meal. This rich vegetarian dish can be served as a main meal, included as part of a buffet, or used as an accompaniment to a meal Thali.
The authentic dal makhani recipe calls for onion and garlic; however, a lot of people don’t use onions and garlic in their food for different reasons. Hence, sharing no onion and garlic version of this popular dal makhani.
Frankly speaking, the first time I might have cooked this without onion and garlic dal makhani out of compulsion, but now this version has become my choice over the authentic version of Dal Makhani. I am sure once you will try this recipe this will become your favorite way to cook as well, which I have only perfected and enhanced over years after many experiments and trials.
What is Dal Makhani?
Dal Makhani is a classic recipe from the Punjab or Peshawar region of Pakistan. It was brought to India by three friends who migrated to Delhi during partition time. After migration to Delhi these three friends, Kundan Lal Gujral, Thakur Dass, and Kundan Lal Jaggi opened a restaurant named Moti Mahal in the locality of Delhi and introduced this recipe. (Source; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dal_makhani)
Dal Makhani is the literal translation of Buttery Lentil, lentils cooked in a buttery sauce. Dal Makhani is made from a combination of whole black gram lentils (Sabut kali urad) and kidney beans (Rajma) cooked in an onion-garlic-tomato-based gravy with a handful of Indian spices. This dal is known for its signature dark color, thick creamy luscious texture, and intense flavors which are usually achieved from long-simmering in butter and cream.
Can Dal Makhani be cooked in an Instant Pot?
Traditionally, dal makhani is cooked over tandoor, on slow heat, and simmered for long hours. It would be hard to achieve the same flavor and texture when not cooked on the tandoor, but still delicious enough to relish and enjoy. No doubt, that Instant pot makes it faster and easier to cook with its pressure cook and sauté features. With Instant pot, dal makhani becomes an easy one-pot dish.
Tips to Cook Dal Makhani without Onion and Garlic
The recipe for dal Makhani is not difficult. In fact, it is quite easy to make but you need to be a little patient while cooking it. For a better understanding of ingredients, their respective roles, and the cooking process, let’s divide these into different categories:
- Lentils and Beans: Whole black gram beans are also known as Sabut Kali Urad and kidney beans, popularly known as rajma in the Indian subcontinent, are the main ingredients you would need to make dal makhani. But adding a fistful of split and dehusked black gram lentils aka Dhuli Urad Dal adds the creaminess to the end result.
- Base Sauce or Gravy: A combination of tomatoes, ginger, and soaked whole dry red chilis enhances the color and flavors of the base sauce. With this base sauce, you would not need to add any store-bought tomato paste or sauce. Make sure you cook the sauce until the oil starts oozing out.
- Spices: Spices used in this recipe can be divided into two categories. First are basic spices and second is enhancer spices which enhance the flavors further. These spices add more depth and fragrance. Dal makhani can be cooked without enhancer spices, however, I strongly recommend adding them as they add so much more flavors. You definitely can’t cook without basic spices. Adding a pinch of freshly ground nutmeg and kasoori methi at the end adds great depth of flavor in dal makhani. Cinnamon and cardamom add a little hint of sweetness to it.
- Mustard Oil: Since my childhood, I have been seeing and cooking all lentils recipes in ghee. But recently, just to experiment with flavors, I have started cooking my lentils in mustard oil. I must say mustard oil adds a more earthy flavor to this classic recipe.
- Butter and Cream: Dal makhani would be incomplete without any addition of butter aka ‘makhan’ which is responsible for its buttery and silky texture. It tastes out of this world with homemade butter. Coincidentally, I happened to have homemade butter this time as I make my own ghee, a scratch from malai. I know that would not be the case with everyone, so use any butter available to you. If possible, use cultured butter instead of sweet cream butter for better flavor. Further to bring out the creaminess, I have also added cream. I prefer to divide the quantity of butter between butter and cream. If you are really conscious of your calorie consumption, then reduce the amount of butter and cream but definitely don’t skip it.
- Slow Cooking and Simmering: Simmering on slow heat brings out the flavor in the dal makhani. The restaurant version usually takes anywhere from a day to two to make really good dal makhani. This recipe might have not simmered for hrs. but 20 minutes of overall simmering on a low heat sauté mode, results in a really good flavorful, creamy, luscious dal makhani. So don’t skip on this 20 minutes of simmering, if time allows you, then do increase the simmering time.
Why you should try Dal Makhani
- It has a creamy, buttery, and silky texture.
- Lace with intense and deep earthy flavors.
- Not high on spice level so enjoyed by kids as well.
- Provide a good amount of protein.
- When paired with rice makes a perfect Gluten-free meal.
- Makes a great freezer-friendly recipe for meal preps.
Some FAQs associate with No Onion No Galric & Vegan Dal Makhani Recipe:
Traditionally, dal makhani is cooked over tandoor, on slow heat, and simmered for long hours. It would be hard to achieve the same flavor and texture when not cooked on the tandoor, but still delicious enough to relish and enjoy. No doubt, that Instant pot makes it faster and easier to cook with its pressure cook and sauté features. With Instant pot, dal makhani becomes an easy one-pot dish.
Whole black gram beans and kidney beans, the two main ingredients in this dish are full of nutrition. They are rich in fiber, protein, calcium, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. The presence of fiber along with magnesium, and potassium makes it the perfect food for cardiovascular health. Dal Makhani makes a great hearty lentil dish.
Soaking lentils and beans are advisable and beneficial for many reasons:
1. Reduces phytic acids
2. Reduces tannins and polyphenols
3. Promotes production of beneficial enzymes (serves to further reduce phytic acids and polyphenols)
4. Improves the body's ability to absorb minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium
5. Makes proteins more available for absorption
6. Reduces anti-nutritional enzyme inhibitors
7. Removes gas-causing compounds
8. Decreases cooking time and improves food texture
Though soaking beans and lentils are highly advisable but once a while it would be fine if you have to cook them without soaking.
Yes, it can be cooked without soaking. However, without soaking, beans and lentils take longer to cook. To make sure they are fully cooked increase the pressure-cooking time to 35 minutes and follow the rest of the cooking process as is.
Note: I have used camellia brand red kidney beans and I have never face any problem in perfectly cooking them. However, people had issues in the past that Indian stores red beans, different brands, different batches cook differently and require different time.
Refrigerator – Dal Makhani keeps well in the fridge for almost a week. It may need to adjust the consistency when reheating.
Freezer – Dal Makhani makes a perfect freezer-friendly recipe for meal prep. Cook a big batch and freeze in portions in freezer-friendly containers. When ready to consume, transfer the frozen dal makhani container to the refrigerator the night before to get it to thaw and reheat using a microwave or stovetop.
To make Dal Makhani vegan cook in mustard oil which is a plant-based oil. If you don’t have mustard oil then you can use any plant-based oil available to you. Avocado oil would be great too. Substitute butter with your favorite vegan butter and cream with cashew cream. I would not recommend adding coconut cream as it will change the flavor profile of authentic dal makhani.
So, what are you waiting for? Try this amazingly delicious main dish recipe and enjoy with your loved ones.
Dal Makhani: No Onion No Garlic Instant Pot Recipe
Ingredients
Pantry
- 150 gm Whole Black Gram Beans Sabut Urad: ¾ cup/5.2 oz
- 50 gm Split Urad lentil Dhuli Urad Dal: ¼ cup/ 1.8 oz
- 50 gm Red kidney beans Rajma: ¼ cup/1.8 oz
Dairy/Fridge
- 28 gm Butter Makhan: 2 tablespoon / 1 oz
- 60 gm Heavy whipped cream ¼ cup / 2.1 oz
- 828 ml Water Pani: 3.5 cup/ 28 fl. Oz.
Produce
Spices/oils
- ¼ teaspoon Hing
- 1 tablespoon Cumin seeds Jeera
- 2 Bay leaves 2 in number
- 1 Cinnamon stick 1-inch piece
- ¼ teaspoon Cloves 6-7 in number
- ¼ teaspoon Green cardamom 4 in number
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder Haldi
- 2 teaspoon Coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder:
- 1 teaspoon Dry mango powder
- 2 tablespoon Kasoori Methi
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon Salt Namak: ½ teaspoon, adjust as per taste
- 2 tablespoon Mustard Oil Ghee / choice of oil
Instructions
- Wash and rinse whole black gram/ urad beans, kidney beans/rajma and dehusked black gram lentils/ dhuli urad dal 3-4 times in fresh water. Then let them soak in water for at least 5-6 hours or overnight.
- Once lentils and beans are thoroughly soaked, start preparing masala for dal makhana.
- To make masala for dal makhana, add roughly chopped tomatoes, ginger, green chili and soaked whole dry red chili in Nutribullet blender jar and blend everything into puree.
- Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and adjust the setting to ’Normal’ heat level. When the display reads ‘Hot’, add mustard oil or ghee to the inner pot.
- Now add hing, cumin seeds to the oil, when the cumin seeds start to splutter, add the whole spices – bay leaf, cinnamon stick, black cardamom, and cloves, fry them for 30 seconds.
- Cook the tomato puree until all the water is evaporated and oil starts oozing out from the sides of puree. Tip: while cooking, tomato puree splatters a lot, to avoid the mess cover the pot with lid.
- Once, tomato puree start separating oil add salt, turmeric powder, coriander powder and red chili or cayenne pepper. Stir all the spices into tomato puree. Masala is ready to add soaked lentils and beans into it.
- Now drain the water from the soaked beans and lentil and add to the tomato masala, along with 3.5 cups of water. Mix well.
- Close the Instant Pot, move the vent to the sealing position.
- Pressure cook or manual cook on high pressure for 16 minutes, NPR.
- It will take around ‘18 minutes’ to build the pressure and after pressure cooking is over around same time ‘18 minute’ to release the pressure.
- Once the pressure is released on its own, open the lid and stir.
- Now set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and adjust the setting to ’low’ heat level. Set the time for 15 minutes using ‘+ or – ‘ sign.
- Add two tablespoon of butter and let the dal simmer on low heat uncovered for around 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes of simmering ,add kasoori methi and freshly grated nutmeg and heavy whipped cream, let the dal simmer on low heat for another 5 minutes.
- Now add chopped cilantro, dry mango powder and mix well.
- Delicious Dal makhani is ready to serve.
- Garnish it with cilantro, some swirls of cream and a dollop of butter before serving.
- Enjoy with naan, paratha or with some rice pulao.
Video
Notes
How to make Dal Makhani Vegan?
To make Dal Makhani vegan:• This recipe is already getting cooked in mustard oil which is a plant-based oil. If you don’t have mustard oil then you can use any plant-based oil available to you. Avocado oil would be great too.
• Substitute butter with your favorite vegan butter and cream with cashew cream. I would not recommend adding coconut cream as it will change the flavor profile of authentic dal makhani. Note: I have used camellia brand red kidney beans and I have never face any problem in perfectly cooking them. However, people had issues in past that Indian stores red beans, different brands, different batches cook differently and require different time.
Equipment used in this Recipe:
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Van says
How do you make this dish kid friendly? Not spicy mostly. If I skip the fry red chills would it change the taste , color and texture completely?
Rupali Agarwal says
To make it less spicy skip the green chilies. You can still use whole red Kashmiri chilis since Kashmiri are supposed to be not spicy but add flavor and color to the overall recipe. Hope this will help you.
Alina says
Thank you for the recipe. I made this for my guests and served them using this servingspoon. They loved it so much. I am so happy with this receipe.
Rupali Agarwal says
Thank you so much Alina for sharing your experience, so glad that your guests enjoyed it! Hope you try other recipes as well?
Rupali Agarwal
VA says
My favorite dal makhani recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been looking for a no onion garlic recipe for long and have tried several before this one but this is my fav. So flavorful!
Rupali Agarwal says
Thank you so much for rating my recipe as your favourite. Hope you try other no onion no garlic recipes also. - Rupali