25+ EASY Indian Side Dishes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 362kcal
Indian cuisine is known for its bold flavors and complex spices. But what many people don't realize is that Indian side dishes are just as delicious and versatile. From cooling chutneys to savory curries, there's an Indian side dish to complement every main course. Try this Instant Pot Dal. It comes together with minimal effort with the help of your electric pressure cooker.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves finely grated
- 1 2-inch piece ginger peeled and finely grated (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne more if you like your indian food spicy
- 1½ cups dried split peas rinsed
- 3 cups water
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
For Serving:
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped + extra for garnish
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked basmati rice
Quick Pickled Red Onion:
- 1 small red onion very thinly sliced into rounds, rinsed
- 1 lime zested and juiced
- Pinch of sugar
- Large pinch of salt
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to SAUTE, add heat the oil. Add onions and a pinch of salt and sauté until softened, 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, ginger, coriander, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Hit the CANCEL button and add split peas, water, tomatoes, salt and stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Cover and seal the lid - turn the vent to sealing. Press the MANUAL (high pressure) button and set the timer to 10 minutes. It will take about 15 minutes for Instant Pot to come to full pressure, then the display will show a countdown timer.
- Meanwhile, make your toppings.
- In a small bowl, combine lime zest and juice, red onion, sugar, and a large pinch of salt. Massage the onion for 1 minute to help it soften.
- Mix yogurt and 2 Tbsp. water in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Once the 10 minutes are up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid, stir in the cilantro and season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve dal over rice drizzled with yogurt and topped with pickled onion and additional cilantro.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 993mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 795IU | Vitamin C: 17.9mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 4.1mg