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5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Dosakaya Pappu | Yellow Cucumber Dal

This Instant Pot Dosakaya Pappu or Yellow Cucumber Dal is a flavorful lentil curry prepared with split pigeon peas and yellow cucumber - so comforting!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course, sides
Cuisine: South Indian, Telugu
Keyword: Dosakaya Pappu, Instant Pot, yellow cucumber dal
Servings: 4
Calories: 106kcal
Author: Srividhya G

Ingredients

  • 2 tsps Oil
  • ½ tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1 tsps Cumin seeds
  • ¼ tsp Asafoetida / Hing
  • 2 Green chilis slit
  • 1 inch Ginger chopped
  • 5 to 10 Curry leaves
  • 1 cup Onion chopped (approx. 150 grams)
  • 1 Tomato chopped (approx. 90 grams)
  • 3 heaped cups Yellow Cucumber (approx. 500 grams)
  • 1 tsp Red chili powder
  • ½ tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 ½ tsps Salt or to taste
  • 1 cup Toor Dal
  • 2 Dried Kokums
  • 3 cups Water
  • 2 tbsps Cilantro

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and add the oil. Once hot, add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafoetida. When the mustard seeds crackle, add the curry leaves and chopped ginger. Sauté for a minute, then add the onion and cook until translucent.
  • Add the chopped tomato and yellow cucumber. Mix well.
  • Add the toor dal, turmeric powder, salt, and red chili powder. Mix again.
  • Add the kokum and water. Stir, set to manual mode, and cook for 12 minutes.
  • Let the pressure release naturally. Once dropped, open the lid carefully.
  • Set back to sauté mode, add the cilantro, and simmer for two more minutes. Serve hot with rice and any dry curry.

Video

Notes

  • If you don't want the cucumber mushy, cook the dal separately in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Once the onion turns translucent, add the cucumber with the kokum (or tamarind water) and salt, and cook until tender, then add the cooked dal and spices.
  • In the Instant Pot, after adding the cucumber, you can use steam mode or manual mode with a quick pressure release.
  • Adjust salt and spice levels to your preference.
  • I skip garlic, but you can add two to three cloves if you like.
  • Ginger is entirely optional.
  • You can make this in a stovetop pressure cooker too: follow the same method — temper, add all the ingredients, and cook for just a few whistles.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 969mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 477IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg