Dal Dhokli Rajasthani Style Pressure Cooker Instant Pot Method

Being a Rajasthani ( Marwari) I grew up eating this comforting one-pot meal. My mom made this traditional dish at least once a week. Hence this meal is close to my heart. Dal Dhokli is one of the most popular traditional dishes from the State of Rajasthan as well as Gujarat. In simple words, it is the “Best Indian Lentil Pasta ” ever!!! A nutritious pressure cooker meal that comes together with 20 minutes of preparation time, rest leave it to the Instant Pot to do its work! Dal Dhokli is a healthy food choice and hence preferred for everyday meal menu plans for lunch or dinner. Dal Dhokli is a vegetarian one-pot meal option, apt for a “no onion no garlic” diet, can easily be made oil-free and is a staple for the ones who follow the JAIN diet. It is an appropriate meal option for Jain tithis like Aatam , Chaudas, and Paryushan as well. I like to make Dal Dhokli on a gloomy rainy day when I don’t feel like cooking much. As fall is setting in this will be our comfort food all season long. A big bowl of this nutritious piping hot Dal Dhokli just makes up for a complete meal. I have always used my Stove top pressure cooker to make Dal Dhokli. But now I make all my pressure cooker meals in the Instant Pot as I own one. The method is exactly the same for both stove-top and an electric pressure cooker (The Instant Pot).

Ok, so what does Dal Dhokli mean?

Dal means lentil and Dhokli means Spiced wheat flour dumplings. The dumplings are made at home and then the two are simmered together with some spices to form a nutritious and filling one-pot meal. You may very well call it “Indian Pasta” where the Lentil base acts as a sauce without tomatoes or dairy and the dumplings are like freshly rolled pasta like gnocchi without potatoes. Imagine freshly rolled pasta without eggs !!!! This recipe is completely vegan if you just substitute coconut oil for ghee. It’s amazing how all cuisines of the world have some similarities. I sometimes wonder why this humble Indian comfort food isn’t well-known worldwide!!!

What is the difference between Rajasthani dal dhokli and Gujarati dal Dhokli?

Traditional Rajasthani recipe for dal dhokli uses Chilka moong dal / Split green lentil or sometimes yellow moong dal or urad dal as the base sauce. Spiced whole wheat flour dough is rolled between the hands and dumplings are made. Whereas Gujarati Dal Dhokli is typically made using Toor dal / Tuvar dal also known as Pegion Pea . Moreover, Gujarati-style dal dhokli is sweet as well as spicy and uses peanuts too. Whereas Rajasthani dal dhokli isn’t sweet at all. Instead of wheat flour dough dumplings, it is made by rolling the dough in big rotis and cutting it vertically and horizontally to attain ribbon-like rectangular stripes which refer to dhokli. I love both versions of Dal Dhokli and savor each style at least twice a month for lunch or dinner.

Can I add vegetables to the Dal Dhokli?

Traditional Rajasthani dal dhokli recipe calls for no vegetables. But there is no right or wrong about modifying a recipe to your taste. You can definitely add vegetables to this recipe. I do it sometimes. Because everything is pressure cooked, the choice of vegetables used matters. You do not want to use vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower which can turn into a mush (unless you prefer that way). The vegetables that I sometimes use in this Dal Dhokli recipe are – Seasonal vegetables like peas, Spinach (or other greens chopped), diced carrots, chopped cabbage, and diced onions.

Can Dal Dhokli be a complete meal?

Whenever we are bored of the regular Indian Thali meal that has Roti, subzi, dal, and rice I simply make Dal Dhokli instead. It is so much easier than cooking a full Indian meal. As I mentioned above I add veggies to the pot or toss up a quick salad like a cabbage slaw, Cucumber Tomato Kachumber, or some steamed vegetables on the side for a complete meal. Needless to say, fewer pots and pans to clean. Dal Dhokli is a one-pot meal and as filling as a wholesome.

Can I make Dal Dhokli / Indian Lentil Pasta ahead of time?

Yes, you can. It is a great make-ahead-of-time lunch or dinner. Good for office meal prep and lunch packs. Ideal lunch option for kids too.

Can I freeze this Dal Dhokli / Indian Lentil Pasta?

Yes, I have frozen dal dhokli a couple of times. Just freeze in freezer-safe containers or freezer-safe ziplock bags. It freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or over the counter for a few hours. The consistency will be thick as lentil sauces tend to thicken after cooling. You can add some warm water to get the desired consistency. Once thawed do not re-freeze. Have piping hot with a generous squeeze of lemon.

How do I make Dal Dhokli?

Given below is a pictorial step by step making of the Dhoklis aka dumplings. I know what are you thinking. Hmmm making freshly rolled pasta seems like a lot of work, I am not sure I want to make these dhoklis. Sorry to say that You are wrong!!! It takes no more than 15 minutes of your time to make a ton of these dumplings. In fact, the entire recipe comes together in less than an hour with only 25 minutes of your active time.

Steps by step instructions.

The first step is – Rinse the lentils soak and keep them aside for 1-2 hours.After this, knead the dough which takes less than 3 minutes. Let the dough rest covered for 10 minutes. Now I switch on my Instant Pot, season it with ghee, and spices, and pour enough water and lentils that are called for.Loosely cover it with a lid so that it comes to a boil. Next step I get back to make the dhoklis.Once the dough is rested I knead it for 10 seconds to make it smooth and divide it to make long logs.

Then I pull small rounds and make an impression in the center of each round to form a disc as shown in the photo. Once all the dhoklis are made I simply have to put them in the pressure cooker with the simmering lentil. Close the lid and it will be done in minutes.

Why can’t I put everything together in one go?

I let the water boil first and then put the dhoklis to avoid them to clump together. You know how we handle pasta especially freshly made ones. We add the pasta when the water comes to a rolling boil. The same rule applies to these dhoklis. If I would put the dhoklis in room temperature water then these freshly rolled dumplings would stick to each other giving you a big lumpy outcome.

How do we eat Dal Dhokli ?

PIPING HOT or at least warm. We love it with a dollop of achaar/ pickle and a side of Papad.

Can I make this recipe ghee free / oil free?

Definitely. Just put water, spices, and lentils into the pot and let it come to a boil. Rest follow the recipe as is.

Don’t have an Instant Pot?

Simply use your stove top (medium size ) pressure cooker and follow the recipe above. Cook on medium heat for 4 whistles like you do it for making Dal. If the whistles of the pressure cooker tend to go quickly (some pressure cookers whistle continuously or within 30 seconds )then disregard it and just cook in total for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. KEEP IN TOUCH – Are we friends yet? Let’s connect on Facebook| Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter. Never miss a recipe. Please subscribe to my blog. It is free! Check out easy recipe videos on my YouTube channel now! Pin this photo for future reference.