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Chana Dal Pulao, a one-pot Pressure Cooker Pulao made with soaked chana dal, rice and mild spices. A perfect recipe for Kid's Lunch Box Recipe! This is a very simple, yet delicious pulao only with 2 main ingredients Split Bengal Gram dal which is rich in protein and rice rich in carbs. A complete meal for a lunch or dinner!

Tips for making perfect Chana Dal Pulao:

Soaking Dal for 2 hours helps to cook the chana dal perfectly along with rice. If you forgot to soak, first pressure cook the chana dal for 2 whistles and then add it to rice and cook again
Soaking Rice for 20 mins makes the rice cook faster.
Mild Spices makes the pulao more interesting than overpowering masala's.
Pressure Cooking pulao is always tricky. Just allow 2 whistles in high flame and 1 in low flame. If we cook for long time, the rice will get mushy

Table of Contents

You may also want to try some Interesting Rice Varieties:

Recipe Card for Chana Dal Pulao Recipe:

Instructions with Step by Step Pictures:

SOAKING PROCESS

Wash and Soak Chana Dal for about 2 hours. Wash and soak rice for 20 mins

TEMPERING PROCESS

After 2 hours of soaking Chana Dal, start with tempering process. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add peppercorns, cumin seeds and allow it to sputter

Then add whole garam masala (cinnamon, clove, bay leaf, cardamom and Star Anise), slit green chili, ginger and give a mix

Add sliced onions and saute till translucent.

When the onions becomes translucent, drain water from soaked dal and add it to pressure cooker. Also drain water from soaked rice and add it to pressure cooker. Mix the dal and rice well without breaking the rice

Add mint leaves and water.

Finally add salt, red chili powder and garam masala and give a gentle mix.

Close the cooker and put on the weight. Allow for 2 whistles in high flame and then reduce the flame to low and allow for 1 whistle. Allow the pressure to naturally release.