Sweet potato pie meets red lentil dal and falls in love. ❤️
The result: this cinnamon and nutmeg spiced, brown sugar-sweetened, sweet potato pie dal soup.
I have a very special announcement to make.
Exactly nine months ago, Sweet Potato Pie eloped with Red Lentil Dal. While I was initially a bit resentful about not being invited to the wedding (considering the two met in MY kitchen), all hurt feelings melted away after meeting their new little one, Sweet Potato Pie Dal Soup.
I’m completely smitten and also thrilled about sharing this wonderful news with you (with their permission, of course). You guys. Their sweetie pie is such a doll dal.
(For the record, I feel silly calling this dish a “dal soup,” but it’s not quite dal, and it’s different from what you’d expect of soup. And yes, the name “dal soup” is the only thing I feel silly about. It’s totally normal that I’m imagining pies and soups, getting married, and having food babies).
My husband and I aren’t really sure which one of us our children look like (sometimes both, sometimes neither lol). But Sweet Potato Pie Dal is positively the perfect blend of both parents.
Sweet and smooth like mom and savory and spicy like dad dal. These two delicious recipes have produced a recipe that’s truly one of a kind: a thick and velvety red lentil soup.
I mean, it’s not every day that you find a bowl of dal that calls for both vanilla extract and brown sugar. These ingredients, along with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, ginger, and garam masala, create a uniquely flavored dal soup that is unlike anything you’ve tried before.
I can’t wait for you to meet this sweet and spicy little bundle of dal.
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Pie Dal Soup
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Pie Dal Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes peeled and chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup red lentils rinsed
- ½ cup frozen onion masala 2 cubes of this silicone mold
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Cilantro garnish
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the instant pot and mix well.
- Secure the lid, close the pressure valve, and cook for 6 minutes at high pressure.
- Naturally release pressure or wait 10 minutes then release pressure.
- Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. You can add water to the pot if you'd like a thinner consistency.
- Garnish with cilantro.
Video
Notes
Erika says
I made this on the stove top- it was super-easy! The only thing I changed was using 1 tsp of coconut sugar. This worked great! I will definitely make it again.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Erika, I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out for you 🙂
Sukhinder says
Ashley, I tried your lentil sweet potato recipe today; I made my own onion ginger garlic masala but all else was as per your recipe EXCEPT I did not want to add vanilla and brown sugar as I was afraid it may turn out too sweet. Soup turned out delicious but it was certainly missing something so I added little bit vanilla, just a tad and one teaspoon brown sugar,,it absolutely changed the taste,,,love it😋😋
My Heart Beets says
Hi Sukhinder, I’m so glad you made it! And happy you tried the vanilla and brown sugar! Thank you for letting me know how it turned out for you – and for trusting my unusual ingredients lol!
Archana says
Hi Ashley,
This looks interesting. Can I substitute pumpkin for sweet potatoes as there is a pumpkin season going on and I bought a pumpkin from farmers market. Actually I was looking for Indian style pumpkin soup recipe.
My Heart Beets says
Hi Archana, you can switch them out, but the flavor will be different. Pumpkin is more of a blank canvas in recipes – it tends to absorb other flavors but doesn’t add much of its own. I’m sure it’ll still be good, just different 🙂 I do have a pumpkin dal on my blog if you want to try that one – it’s not sweet: https://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-pumpkin-dal/
Anita says
Hello Ashley.
This is a great idea. Am going to try this.
So funny.. I just made Tovar daal and for the first time I put some red lentils and it came out lovely and had it with rice.
Thankyou
My Heart Beets says
Thanks, Anita! Let me know what you think of this one 🙂
Maneesha says
Never a daal moment on your blog, Ashley! I’m excited to try this! Perfect for fall!
My Heart Beets says
lol! You are my favorite reader, Maneesha – I love your comments! 😂
Maneesha says
Arey yaar, you’re my favorite food blogger! I love your blog posts and of course the delicious recipes!
Maneesha says
What a daalightful dish!! I love the creaminess of the soup and the flavors! So easy to make! I made it last night, and it was so effortless! I’ll definitely be making this again! Daalicious!
My Heart Beets says
Maneesha, hooray!! I’m so glad you found it daalicious lol! <3