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    Home » Instant Pot

    How to Cook Dal and Rice Together In Instant Pot (Pot in Pot Method)

    Published on December 10, 2020 · Updated on December 10, 2020 - This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclosure policy.

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    Learn how to cook Instant Pot Dal and Rice together using the pot in pot method. And get a full meal ready under 30 minutes, using only one pot.

    In this recipe, I have made a konkani style dal (dalithoy) along with rice, but you can use the same method to make the dal of your choice.

    a close up shot of a kadai of rice and a smaller kadai of dal with instant pot in the background

    There is no denying that when it comes to simple, classic comfort food, at-least for Indians, dal rice is as basic and homey as it gets. Of-course depending on the region there are many different ways of making dal, by using different kinds of dal like toor dal, moong dal etc, and many different kinds of tadka / tempering.

    And I know we all have our set ways of making rice and dal. Most of us either use some kind of rice cooker or the good old pressure cooker for rice, and use pressure cooker to boil dal too, and then finish off dal in a pot on the stove. I used to do that too. Until I found out how to cook dal and rice together in the Instant Pot.

    And at first I used to only use the Instant Pot to cook rice, both white sona masoori rice (which is our default rice) and brown rice. But when I figured out the pot in pot method of cooking, I started cooking rice and dal together in the Instant Pot – and it’s been a real gamechanger!

    Because this way, you can cook rice and dal in the same pot at the same time, and have a full meal ready under 30 minutes, with lesser utensils and even lesser hassle. And how can anyone not love the ease, right?

    Which is why, I’m especially glad to share this with you!

    How to Cook Rice and Dal Together in Instant Pot

    The best way to cook rice and dal together in the Instant Pot is by using the pot-in-pot method.

    What is the Pot-in-Pot (P-I-P) method?

    Pot in Pot method is where you place another pot in the main inner pot of the Instant Pot (on a raised trivet), and cook your food in that pot inside the main pot of the Instant Pot.

    This can be used many different ways. You can stack two pots on a raised trivet, and cook two different things in the two pots inside the main inner pot. Much like you would do in the Indian pressure cooker, when you need to cook/ boil/ steam two different things at the same time.

    Or you can cook one thing in the main inner pot of the Instant Pot, and the other in a pot placed on a raised steel trivet. Which is how we are going to cook dal and rice together in the Instant Pot. By cooking the dal in the main inner pot of the Instant Pot, and the rice in a small pot placed on the steel trivet.

    Depending on the size of your Instant Pot, trivet, small pots you use, and the items you are cooking, you might even be able to cook / boil / steam 3 things at once using the pot in pot method.

    The key thing to note here is that anything / everything you cook together need to have Instant Pot cooking times that are the same or close, and then you tweak them to ensure they all cook well together. Like for dal and white rice, the cooking time is not the same, but it’s close and there are a few tweaks you can do (which I’ll share with you) to ensure that they both cook well together.

    Instant Pot Dal Rice (using P-I-P method)

    • The best way to cook dal and rice together in the Instant Pot is by cooking dal in the main inner pot of the Instant Pot, and rice on a pot placed on the raised steel trivet.
    • Turn on the Instant Pot on saute mode, and start with the tadka. Once done, switch off the saute mode, add the uncooked dal & water, place the trivet, and on it place the steel pot which has the rice and water to cook the rice.
    • Then just close the lid, and pressure cook for the desired time (see detailed note on cook time below).
    step by step photos of cooking dal and rice together in the instant pot using pot in pot method - from making the tadka to adding raw dal and rice in the instant pot
    • When done, you’ll have perfectly cooked rice and dal. Though you’ll need to use a whisk to smoothen out the dal. Especially if you don’t prefer the soft dal chunks.
    • And at this point you can also finish out the dal by adding chopped coriander or other greens you prefer, depending on the kind of dal you are making. I just made a basic konkani style dal, called dalithoy, in which we don’t put coriander leaves, so I was done after the whisking.
    step by step photos of instant pot dal and rice after being cooked using pot in pot method - from removing the rice pot, and then whisking the dal till the desired consistency is achieved

    Important Notes on Pot in Pot Cooking Times for Dal Rice

    • Like I mentioned earlier, the best things to cook together in the Instant Pot, using the pot in pot method are items that have cooking times that are similar or close. Dal (Toor Dal) & White Rice do not have the exact same cook time, but they are close, and there are tweaks that can be made to get them to cook together without overcooking / undercooking one or the other.
    • To begin with, as I shared in this post here, it takes 6 minutes to cook white rice in a pot on a raised trivet. However 6 minutes is not enough to cook dal properly. Dal requires 8-10 minutes of pressure cooking time.
    • 8 minutes if you don’t mind the soft dal chunks in your dal, the kind of chunky dal that is popular in northern India, and 10 minutes if you want a more smoother dal.
    • I personally prefer a super smooth dal, which almost has the consistency of sambar, which is tricky to get even after 10 minutes of pressure cooking. So I give dal a headstart by soaking it in warm water for 30 minutes before adding it to the Instant Pot, and that does the trick for me.
    • If you are wondering whether the rice will get overcooked in the 4 extra minutes, trust me, it will not. A few additional minutes will not matter.
    • Mostly because, after 10 minutes of pressure cooking, I let the pressure release naturally only for 10 minutes, and then manually release all the pressure from the pot. As opposed to when I am cooking the rice for 6 minutes, I let all the pressure release from the pot naturally, which can take longer than 10 minutes.
    • Also, since the rice is raised on a trivet, further away from the source of heat, it doesn’t cook as fast as the dal does. And needless to say, I don’t pre-soak rice before cooking. You can also cover the rice pot with a lid to further slow down the cooking.

    Try this method, and you’ll too be able to cook dal and rice together in the Instant Pot with ease. Saving time and all those extra utensils! (see detailed recipe with exact measurement & times in the recipe card below)

    a top-down shot of rice and dal served in a white plate, along with a chana dal chilla, some crunchies, chopped veggies, and Indian pickle, with an additional katori of dal on the side

    Video Recipe

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you cook brown rice and dal together in the Instant Pot?

    No, because for two things to be effectively cooked together using the pot in pot method, they need to have approximately the same cook time. Which is not the case with brown rice and dal – dal has a cook time of 8-10 minutes, and brown rice has a cook time of 22-25 minutes.

    Can you cook white rice and other lentils, pulses and beans together?

    This depends on the cooking time of the lentils, pulses and beans you are considering. For instance you can cook white rice and toor dal or moong dal together, but you cannot cook white rice and chickpeas or kidney beans together. As chickpeas and kidney beans have a cook time of 30 minutes, and white rice has a cook time of 6 minutes. But you can cook chickpeas and kidney beans along with brown rice, which has a cook time of 25 minutes.

    More Instant Pot Indian Recipes to try!

    ⭐ Instant Pot Brown Rice
    ⭐ Instant Pot Palak Paneer
    ⭐ Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
    ⭐ Instant Pot Ghee

    As always, I hope you found this recipe useful. If you did, please let me know your rating ⭐️ and feedback 📲 in the comments below, or simply rate the recipe right on the recipe card. I’d really appreciate it. ❤️ 

    a close up shot of a kadai of rice and a smaller kadai of dal with instant pot in the background

    Instant Pot Dal and Rice (using pot in pot method)

    step by step recipe to cook dal and rice together in the instant pot (using the pot in pot method)
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 268kcal
    Author: Shantala Shenoy Nayak

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Duo Nova

    Ingredients

    For making dal

    • ½ cup toor dal / yellow split pigeon peas
    • 1 tablespoon ghee
    • 1 teaspoon rai / mustard seeds
    • 7 cadipatta / curry leaves
    • 1 green chilli slit into two
    • ⅛ teaspoon hing / asafoetida powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1.5-2 cup water divided

    For making rice

    • 1 cup sona masoori rice white
    • 2 cup water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Start with the tadka / tempering

    • Start Instant Pot on saute mode (normal), heat up the ghee (or you can use oil), and add in the mustard seeds.
    • When the mustard seeds start to flutter, add in the cadipatta , and slit green chillies.
    • Then in a minute or so, add in the hing powder. Let it roast for a minute or so, then turn off the saute mode.
    • The tadka /tempering for the konkani style dal I am making (dalithoy) is ready. You can go with the tadka of your choice to flavor your dal.

    Add the dal in the main inner pot

    • Now add in the (washed & drained) dal, fresh water to cook the dal (dal to water: 1:3), and salt. Mix well.

    Place rice in a pot on the trivet

    • Place the trivet in the main pot.
    • Then in a small pot, take (washed & drained) rice, and water to cook the rice (rice to water: 1:2), and place the pot on the trivet.

    Pressure Cook Dal Rice

    • Close the Instant Pot lid, ensure it's sealed, and pressure cook for 8-10 minutes (see detailed note on choosing the cook time below).
    • Once the pressure cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, and then manually release all the pressure from the pot.
    • Then open the Instant Pot lid, take out the pot of rice using a pakkad (pincer tong), and next take out the trivet.
    • At this point, you'll still be able to see the soft dal chunks in the dal. You can use a whisk to get a smoother, less chunky dal.
    • This is also a good time to add any herbs like coriander. I am not adding because the dal I am making does not need coriander.
    • Finally, depending on the consistency of dal you want, you can also add more water, and adjust the salt if required, and turn on the Instant Pot on saute mode for a couple of minutes.
    • Instant Pot Dal and Rice is ready to serve!

    Notes

    1. This specific dal recipe is for making a konkani style dal (dalithoy) along with white rice, you can use the same method to make the dal in your preferred way with your choice of seasonings.
    2. Use a longer trivet if possible, so that only the base of the trivet is in the dal.
    3. You can use any steel pot to cook the rice, so long as it fits in your Instant Pot. I use the same utensils I used inside my regular Indian style pressure cooker. 
     
    Important Notes on Pot in Pot Cooking Time for Dal Rice
    • The best things to cook together in the Instant Pot, using the pot in pot method are items that have cooking times that are similar or close. Dal (Toor Dal) & White Rice do not have the exact same cook time, but they are close, and there are tweaks that can be made to get them to cook together without overcooking / undercooking one or the other.
    • To begin with, as I shared in this post here, it takes 6 minutes to cook white rice in a pot on a raised trivet. However 6 minutes is not enough to cook dal properly. Dal requires 8-10 minutes of pressure cooking time.
    • 8 minutes if you don’t mind the soft dal chunks in your dal, the kind of chunky dal that is popular in northern India, and 10 minutes if you want a more smoother dal.
    • I personally prefer a super smooth dal, which almost has the consistency of sambar, which is tricky to get even after 10 minutes of pressure cooking. So I give dal a headstart by soaking it in warm water for 30 minutes before adding it to the Instant Pot, and that does the trick for me.
    • If you are wondering whether the rice will get overcooked in the 4 extra minutes, trust me, it will not. A few additional minutes will not matter.
    • Mostly because, after 10 minutes of pressure cooking, I let the pressure release naturally only for 10 minutes, and then manually release all the pressure from the pot. As opposed to when I am cooking the rice for 6 minutes, I let all the pressure release from the pot naturally, which can take longer than 10 minutes.
    • Also, since the rice is raised on a trivet, further away from the source of heat, it doesn’t cook as fast as the dal does. And needless to say, I don’t pre-soak rice before cooking. You can also cover the rice pot with a lid to further slow down the cooking.

    Please note: The nutrition values are best estimates provided as a courtesy. The exact values can vary depending on the exact ingredients or brands used. If you rely on them for your specific diet and/or health issues, please consult a registered dietician or nutritionist.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 647mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

    Video Recipe

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    Comments

    1. Jnanesh Shenoy

      December 14, 2020 at 10:59 am

      5 stars
      Recipe well explained so that anyone can follow and prepare for a delicious dish 👌👏

      Reply
      • The Love of Spice

        December 14, 2020 at 11:27 am

        Thank you so much.

        Reply
    2. Bilkis

      December 10, 2020 at 5:01 pm

      Love the way you explained
      Thanks

      Reply
      • The Love of Spice

        December 14, 2020 at 11:29 am

        You are very welcome. Glad you liked it. 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi there, I am Shantala, an Indian foodie in an American kitchen. Welcome to The Love of Spice - my food blog, virtual home & passion project, all rolled into one. On here I share Easy-to-Follow Family Recipes, along with tips on Indian Meal Planning & Lunch Box Ideas for Kids & Adults. I hope you enjoy the site, and find it useful. :) read more

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