Gujarati Daar (Pigeon Pea Lentil Soup)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Serves: 4-5
Ingredients
  • 1 cup washed/rinsed toovar daal (split pigeon pea lentils)
  • ¼ teaspoon methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)
  • 1 tablespoon ground/grated ginger
  • ½ teaspoon jeeru (cumin seeds)
  • ½ teaspoon rye (mustard seeds)
  • ¼ teaspoon hing (asafoetida)
  • 1 tablespoon lal mirchu (red chili powder) - adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon dhana powder (dry coriander powder)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ cups tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon + 2 teaspoons oil (to use at different times)
  • 3 cups water
  • Dhana (cilantro)
  • Small pot to use for tempering on the stove top
  • Hand blender
Instructions
  1. Add the toovar daal (pigeon peas) to your Instant Pot
  2. Add the methi (fenugreek seeds) to the Pot
  3. Add the water to the pot
  4. Add 1 teaspoon oil to the pot
  5. Stir Well
  6. Set pot to MANUAL mode
  7. Set to HIGH PRESSURE
  8. Set timer to 15 minutes
  9. While the lentils cook, follow the next steps for the tempering
  10. Heat a small pot on High on the stovetop and add 2 teaspoons oil
  11. Add the rye, jeeru, hing (cumin, mustard, asafoetida) into the pot and cover the pot and allow to pop
  12. Once the popping slows, add in the tomato sauce- BE CAREFUL as the sauce will splash
  13. Turn down the heat to medium
  14. Add in the ginger, red chile powder, coriander powder and sugar
  15. Squeeze lemon into the mixture
  16. Stir well
  17. Allow to simmer on low for 5 minutes
  18. Once the timer goes off on the Instant Pot, allow the steam to release naturally for 5 minutes
  19. After 5 minutes, manually release the steam by opening the vent. The silver prong will drop back into the lid. BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM
  20. Press CANCEL on the Instant Pot
  21. Open the lid to see that the lentils are soft
  22. Using your hand blender, blend up the daal to get a smooth consistency
  23. You may add extra water if you want a thinner daar
  24. Add the tomato sauce mixture into the blended lentil mixture
  25. Stir well
  26. Turn on the Instant Pot to SAUTE mode
  27. Taste the daar and add salt accordingly
  28. Saute for 5 minutes
  29. You are now ready to serve the Daar
  30. Garnish with cilantro if you would like
Notes
Serving suggestion:
This dish can be served with rice or roti and your favorite dish. You can also serve it as a soup.

Variations:
Substitutejaggery (palm sugar) or any sugar substitute for regular sugar.
You can blend up fresh tomatoes instead of using canned tomato sauce.
You can add fresh or dried curry leaves when tempering the tomato sauce mixture.
Garnish with fresh cilantro right before serving.
Recipe by Instapottin' With Poonam at https://www.instapottinwithpoonam.com/gujarati-daar-pigeon-pea-lentil-soup/