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5 from 2 votes

Trini Dhal (with & without pressure cooker)

Dhal is a tasty yellow split peas side dish or soup that is easy to make with few ingredients. It is so versatile and goes well with curries, stews, and more.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Cook time with pressure cooker12 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Caribbean, Indian
Keyword: dhal
Servings: 4
Calories: 204kcal
Author: Ros Singh

Ingredients

  • 1 cup yellow split peas (dhal)
  • 3-6 cups water
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • tsp salt
  • 2 cloves garlic (sliced)
  • 1 tsp whole geera (cumin) seeds
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • pepper (optional)
  • onion (optional)
  • green seasoning (optional)

Equipment

  • Pressure cooker (optional)

Instructions

  • Wash yellow split peas thoroughly and remove any bad peas.

Without Pressure Cooker (45 minutes)

  • Add 3 cups of boiling water to a pot on medium heat.
  • Add washed split peas and stir.
  • Skim off froth after five minutes.
  • Mix in turmeric powder, salt and optional ingredients like onion, pepper, and seasoning.
  • Stir occasionally and skim off froth often.
  • Add additional 3 cups of water if necessary.
  • Cook until the peas are tender.
  • Blend the peas (with dhal ghotni or immersion blender).
  • Heat oil in a small pot or ladle.
  • Add garlic slices and whole cumin to the oil.
  • Cook until the garlic slices become black or almost black.
  • Pour the heated oil onto the dhal.
  • Stir and serve hot.

With Pressure cooker (12 minutes)

  • Place pressure cooker on medium burner on high heat.
  • Add 3 cups of boiling water, washed split peas, turmeric, salt, and optional ingredients to the cooker.
  • Stir.
  • Cover the cooker.
  • Place weight on the lid when steam escapes through the top.
  • Lower the heat and leave to cook for 10 minutes.
  • Turn off heat after 10 minutes.
  • Depressurize the cooker completely.
  • Open the cooker and stir the dhal (if not completely cooked, pressure again, cook for 2 – 3 more minutes and depressurize again).
  • Heat oil in a small pot or ladle.
  • Add garlic slices and whole cumin to the oil.
  • Cook until the garlic slices become black or almost black.
  • Pour the heated oil into the pressure cooker.
  • Stir and serve hot.