--- title: "Malwa Dal Recipe" url: https://www.whiskaffair.com/malwa-dal/ date: 2025-01-06 modified: 2026-06-24 lang: en author: "Neha Mathur" description: "Malwa Dal is a light and delicious Indian lentil recipe popular in the Malwa region (some parts of India's Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh). Make it for your everyday meals using this easy recipe." categories: - "Dal" - "Indian" - "Rajasthani" image: https://www.whiskaffair.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Malwa-Dal-2-3.jpg word_count: 788 --- # Malwa Dal Recipe **Malwa dal** is a light and delicious Indian lentil dish popular in the Malwa region of India (parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh). Make it for your everyday meals using this easy recipe. Here are some more kadhi and dal recipes that you may like: [dal maharani](https://www.whiskaffair.com/dal-maharani-recipe/), [shahi dal](https://www.whiskaffair.com/shahi-dal-recipe/), [lauki chana dal](https://www.whiskaffair.com/lauki-chana-dal/), [Punjabi yellow dal tadka](https://www.whiskaffair.com/punjabi-dal-tadka-recipe/), and [yellow moong dal](https://www.whiskaffair.com/moong-dal-recipe/). ![A bowl of Malwa Dal garnished with fried onions and spices, placed on a wooden board with sliced lime, green chilies, and fresh herbs around it.](https://www.whiskaffair.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Malwa-Dal-2-1-1-1200x1800.jpg) ## Quick Look: Malwa Dal **Prep Time:** 10 minutes **Cook Time:** 20 minutes **Total Time:** 30 minutes **Servings:** 4 people **Calories:** Approx. 200 per serving **Dietary Info:** Vegetarian. Can be easily made vegan and gluten-free. **Texture:** Thin and soupy with soft, melt-in-the-mouth lentils and a fragrant tempering finish. **Skill Level:** Easy **Tools Needed:** Instant Pot, stovetop pressure cooker, or regular pot; small pan for tempering. ## Table of Contents - Quick Look: Malwa Dal- Ingredients- Other Indian Recipes We Recommend- Malwa Dal Recipe Recipe **Malwa dal**, as the name suggests, comes from the Malwa region of India (the western and central parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh). It is a **light, easy lentil preparation,** perfect for everyday meals. Serve it with bafla, piping-hot phulka, or steamed rice, accompanied by a side of sabzi for a wholesome meal. ## Ingredients *See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.* - **Dal **- This recipe uses tuvar (toor dal, pigeon pea lentils). It is easily available in Indian grocery stores or online. - **Others **- You will also need fresh tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt, freshly squeezed lime juice, and cilantro (fresh coriander leaves). - **For The Tempering (Tadka)** - To temper the Malwa dal, you will need ghee, asafetida (hing), cumin seeds, fresh ginger, garlic, green chilies, and Kashmiri red chili powder. To make the Malwa dal vegan, replace the ghee with coconut oil or any other oil of your choice. You can avoid adding garlic to make a no-onion, no-garlic version. 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Make it for your everyday meals using this easy recipe. Prep Time10 minutes minsCook Time20 minutes minsTotal Time30 minutes mins Course: Main CourseCuisine: Indian, Madhya Pradesh, North Indian, RajasthaniDiet: Vegetarian Servings: 4 people Calories: 200kcal Author: [Neha Mathur](https://www.whiskaffair.com/about-me/) ### Ingredients #### For The Dal 1 cup toor dal (pigeon peas lentils)- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste- ½ cup chopped tomatoes #### For The Tempering - 2 tablespoons ghee - ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing)- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)- 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic- 2 green chilies slit into half- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)US Customary - Metric ### Instructions #### Cook The Dal - **In An Instant Pot**- Wash the dal and add it to an instant pot along with 2 and ½ cups of water, turmeric powder, salt, and tomatoes.- Secure the lid and set the valve to the sealing position.- Press PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 10 minutes.- Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.- Release the remaining pressure manually and open the lid.- Add lime juice juice to the dal and mix well.- Add some water if the dal is too thick for your liking. - Check for salt and add more if required.- **In A Traditional Pressure Cooker**- Wash the dal and add it to a pressure cooker along with 3 and ½ cups of water, turmeric powder, salt, and tomatoes.- Close the lid and pressure cook for 1 whistle on high heat.- Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes.- Remove the cooker from the heat and let the pressure release naturally and then open the lid.- Add lime juice juice to the dal and mix well.- Add some water if the dal is too thick for your liking. - Check for salt and add more if required. #### Temper The Dal - Heat ghee in a small pan over medium-high heat.- Once the ghee is hot, add asafetida and cumin seeds and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.- Add ginger, garlic and green chilies and fry until garlic becomes golden brown in color, stirring frequently.- Switch off the heat and add Kashmiri red chilli powder to the pan.- Immediately pour the tempering over the dal.- Garnish the malwa dal with fresh coriander and serve hot. ### Notes This dal is supposed to be thin and soupy. If you like a thicker dal, reduce the amount of water used to cook it. Add 2 cups instead of 2 and 1/2 cups if cooking the dal in an instant pot, and add 2 and 1/2  cups instead of 3 cups if cooking it in a traditional stovetop pressure cooker. To make the Malwa dal vegan, replace ghee with coconut oil or any other oil of your choice. You can avoid adding garlic to make a no-onion, no-garlic version. Avoid adding asafetida (hing) to make it gluten-free. ### Nutrition Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 739mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg