High-protein, one-pot pulao that’s ready in minutes! 😍

No complicated prep. Just soak, cook and enjoy!

Rice + whole masoor dal + everyday spices = a flavourful, filling lunch with just one cooker and simple ingredients. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, and absolutely delicious with some raita on the side. ❤️

🍚 Why You’ll Love This Masoor Dal Pulao

✅ High in protein, thanks to whole masoor dal
✅ One pot, so very little cleaning up
✅ Ready in about 30 minutes (after soaking)
✅ Made with everyday ingredients and spices
✅ Perfect for lunch, dinner or lunch boxes
✅ Delicious with onion raita , boondhi raitha , plain curd

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make One Pot Masoor Dal Pulao

1. Soak 1 cup whole masoor dal for 3 hours or overnight. Drain and keep aside.
2. Soak the basmati rice and keep it ready.
3. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves and jeera.
4. Add 3 sliced onions and fry well.
5. Add green chillies and 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste. Cook really well.
6. Add 1 big sliced tomato and fry everything well.

7. Add 1 big chopped potato and mix well.

8.Add garam masala, chilli powder, coriander powder, Kitchen King masala, turmeric and salt. Fry until the raw smell of the masalas goes.
9. Add the drained masoor dal, 2 cups water and 1 cup soaked basmati rice. Mix well.
10. Close the cooker and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
11. Remove from the flame and let the pressure release naturally.
12. Serve hot with raita. That’s it! 😍

One Pot Masoor Dal Pulao

A high-protein, one pot pulao made with whole masoor dal, basmati rice and everyday spices in a pressure cooker. No complicated prep, ready in minutes.

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Prep Time 3 hours hrs

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Calories: 480

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• – 1 cup whole masoor dal soaked for 3 hours or overnight and drained
• – 1 cup basmati rice soaked
• – Oil as needed
• – 1 small piece of cinnamon
• – 1-2 cardamom
• – 1 bay leaf
• – 2-3 cloves
• – 1 tsp jeera cumin seeds
• – 3 onions sliced
• – 2 green chillies
• – 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• – 1 big tomato sliced
• – 1 big potato chopped
• – 1 tsp garam masala
• – 1 tsp chilli powder
• – 1 tsp coriander powder
• – 1 tsp Kitchen King masala
• – ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• – Salt to taste
• – 2 cups water

Equipment

• 1 pressure cooker

Method

 

1. Soak the whole masoor dal for 3 hours or overnight. Drain and keep aside.
   
2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves and jeera.
   
3. Add the sliced onions and fry well. Add green chillies and ginger-garlic paste and cook really well.
   
4. Add the sliced tomato and fry everything well.
   
5. Add garam masala, chilli powder, coriander powder, Kitchen King masala, turmeric and salt. Fry until the raw smell of the masalas goes.
   
6. Add the chopped potato and mix well.
   
7. Add the drained masoor dal, 2 cups water and the soaked basmati rice. Mix well.
   
8. Close the cooker and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
   
9. Remove from the flame and let the pressure release naturally. Serve hot with raita.
   

Notes

Soak the dal well so it cooks soft along with the rice.
Let the pressure release naturally for fluffy rice.

💡 Pro Tips

🫘 Soak the whole masoor dal for at least 3 hours, or overnight, so it cooks soft.
🍚 Soak the basmati rice and drain it well, so the grains stay separate.
🧅 Fry the onions well. They give the pulao its flavour.
🔥 Fry the masala until the raw smell goes away.
🤍 Mix gently after adding the rice and dal, so the grains don’t break.
⏳ Let the pressure release naturally for fluffy pulao.

🍽️ What to Serve With Masoor Dal Pulao

🥗 Onion raita (my favourite with this!)
🥣 Plain curd or boondi raita (my fav )
🥒 Cucumber salad
🫓 Crispy papad
🥭 Pickle

FAQ

Is this pulao high in protein?

It’s a protein-rich meal, thanks to the whole masoor dal cooked along with the rice.

Do I have to soak the dal?

Yes, soak the whole masoor dal for 3 hours or overnight so it cooks soft along with the rice.

How many whistles does it need?

2 whistles, then switch off the flame remove from stove and let the pressure release naturally.

Can I make it without Kitchen King masala?

Yes, you can use a little extra garam masala, though Kitchen King adds a nice flavour.

Can I pack this in a lunch box?

Yes, it’s a filling lunch box recipe.

A Note From My Kitchen ❤️

This is one of those recipes I make on busy days, when I want a filling, flavourful lunch without a lot of work. Just soak, cook and enjoy.

Serve it hot with a bowl of raita, and it’s perfect. 😍

💛 Did you try this recipe?

Let me know how it turned out in the comments below. 😍

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Looking for more easy lunch ideas? Don’t miss my and One Pot Garlic Biryani.
https://homebites365.in/one-pot-garlic-biryani-recipe-easy-aromatic-biryani-ready-in-30-minutes/

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