Green moong dal or green gram curry made in instant pot in 30 minutes. Comforting, simple, wholesome dish to serve with rice. Vegan and gluten free.

This simple curry with green mung beans are known as sabut moong dal in India, meaning whole mung bean. Made with simplest of ingredients, this curry is do delicious and flavorful. Goes well with rice or roti.

Lentils and legumes are absolute staples in Indian cooking. Most Indian homes prepare one kind of dal or lentil curry almost everyday. Be it south Indian sambar or north Indian dal fry, dal makhani or rajma, these are biggest source of plant protein for us.

Green mung bean or whole moong dal is another popular legume used very widely in Indian cuisine in recipes like pesarattu, chilla, salad and this sabut moong dal is a one more healthy dish.

You can make this green moong dal curry in flat 20 minutes using an instant pot or pressure cooker. Moong beans is one of the fast cooking legumes.

This curry with green moong dal is super tasty, flavorful and very comforting too. There are many ways to make this and my recipe is an easy, flavorful and quick one.

About Sabut Moong Dal Curry Recipe

Sabut moong dal is a delicious Indian lentils curry made with whole green gram or moong beans. It is a tasty one pot dish where soaked green moong are cooked with delicious tomato onion masala and few spice powders.

This green moong curry is thick, hearty satiating and can be served as main meal or side dish in any Indian meal.

To make green moong dal curry you need very few simple ingredients. The only prep work involved here is to soak the moong beans beforehand.

You can make this curry in pressure cooker or instant pot or stovetop too. I have included the instructions for making green moong dal in a pan on stovetop too.

The taste of this sabut moong dal is very home style, comforting, mildly spiced and suitable for all ages. This is a naturally vegan and gluten free but you can use ghee instead of oil for more flavor.

Do try out this green moong dal curry and enjoy. It is

easy to make

ready in 20 minutes

delicious

healthy

flavorful

comforting

vegan

gluten free

Ingredients for Green mung dal curry

Green moong– The lentils used in this curry are whole mung beans also known green lentils. These are called as sabut moong dal while the split ones are commonly called as moong dal.

They are easily available in grocery stores and online.

Curry base-onion & tomatoes– the base of this green gram curry is tomato onion masala like most of the Indian curries and dals. Use fresh ripe and red tomatoes. If you want more tangy flavor you can add one more tomato.

Ginger garlic– Add as per taste. You can leave out garlic and add just ginger if you like. You can also use store bought ginger garlic paste for this recipe.

Spice powders– This is a very spiced curry where I have used just 1/2 tsp garam masala powder, coriander powder and red chili powder. of course turmeric powder is a must in all my curries.

You can add more garam masala powder or even add 1 tablespoon curry powder if you like.

Mustard oil– I have used mustard oil for that pungent taste and flavor. You can use any vegetable oil or canola oil or avocado oil too. Ghee or butter can also be easily used.

Coriander leaves– Adding freshly minced coriander leaves or cilantro leaves perks up the flavor of this green moong dal recipe. For a restaurant like flavor you can add a pinch of kasuri methi.

Other ingredients– green chili, cumin seeds and salt to taste.

How To Make Green Moong Dal Curry

Preparation

Pick and rinse 3/4 cup green mung dal well twice. Soak in enough water for 4-6 hours. Drain excess water from soaked moong beans and set the green lentils aside. Also chop 1 onion finely and 2 large tomatoes finely. set aside.

Making sabut moong dal – instant pot

Place the steel insert inside your instant pot and switch it on. Press saute button.

Once it displays hot, add 2 tablespoons oil. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and saute for few seconds. Now add finely chopped onions and saute for few seconds until it turns a bit soft. Next add minced ginger garlic and slit green chili. Saute well for few more seconds.

Next add finely chopped tomatoes. Also add 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder.

Mix well, saute and cook until the spice powders turn aromatic and tomatoes become soft.

Now add the drained moong beans to it.

Add 2 cups of water and salt to taste.

Cancel saute, close the instant pot and press pressure cook or manual button. Set timer for 12 minutes and pressure valve to seal.

Once done let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Open the lid and add lemon juice chopped coriander leaves. Mix well

Serve green moong dal warm with roti or rice.

Pressure cooker Method

Follow the recipe as such in a pressure cooker. After adding water, close the cooker and pressure cook for 6-7 whistles in medium flame.

Once the pressure settles down, open the lid, add lemon juice and coriander leaves. Mix well.

Green moong dal curry- Stove top method in a pot or pan

Follow the same green moong dal recipe in a heavy deep pan or pot with lid. Add 3 cups water instead of 2.5 cups and mix well.

Cover the pan and cook in medium flame for 20-30 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

With rice– serve sabut moong dal as main dish with steamed basmati rice, jeera rice, peas pulao, biryani rice. You can also add a raita or salad to make it a complete meal.

With naan, paratha– this green moong dal tastes very good with flatbread too.

As soup – make it a bit thinner and serve as soup with a piece of crusty bread and a salad.

Pro Tips To Make Green Moong Dal

Soaking- There are many theories for soaking moong dal. while you can make this lentil dal with just one hour soaking or even without soaking, I suggest you soak the lentils at least one hour.

Soaked lentils cook faster, use less water and easier to digest.

Flavorings– this green moong dal curry is minimally spiced with 1/2 teaspoon powder garam masala only. If you want to make masaledar subut moong dal go for 1 teaspoon or use whole spices like cloves, cardamom and fennel along with cumin seeds.

Consistency– I like to make this a bit thin as I mostly serve this with rice. For a thicker curry add 1.5 cups water instead of 2 cups in instant pot and 2.5 cups instead of 3 cups if making in stovetop.

Storage- this green gram curry keeps well for 2-3 days in refrigerator. Gently reheat before serving.

Additional tadka– If you wish you can make an additional tadka with 2 teaspoons oil before serving. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a small pan and fry 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 dried red chilies and 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic. Add this tadka to the green moong dal and mix well. Serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to buy green moong dal?

It is commonly available in all grocery stores here. In the USA or UK and other countries you will find it in Asian stores or Indian stores or in stores like costco in the name mung bean or green gram. You can also order it from online.

Is green moong dal good for health?

Yes they are rich in protein, aids weight loss, rich in anti oxidants and fiber and an excellent body coolant.

Is this a vegan recipe?

Yes, but if you like you can use ghee instead of oil.

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Chole masala

chana dal

Gujarati dal

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