I got introduced to Moth beans lentils or Moth bean(matki) by one of my good friends from Pune here in the US. It is basically a kind of lentil. She introduced me to the sprouted version and it was so yummy and healthy that I took an instant liking to it. I do sprout it once in a while and sautée it with onions, green chilies, and a little bit of spice and salt.
Moth beans lentils are loaded with nutrients like protein, potassium, iron, magnesium, and all the good stuff. However, if you forget to sprout the beans or don't have enough time to wait till it sprouts.No worries! you can pressure cook it after soaking it in water for about 5 to 6 hours or overnight. My version of the recipe for the soaked bean is very simple, just sautée all the ingredients in a pressure cooker, add the spices and salt, and pressure cook for about 3 whistles. The flavor of the moth is so delicious that it is impossible to resist a second helping! The details of the recipe are below. Hope you like it!
If you loved the Moth beans lentils recipe, you may also love another variety of simple dal with pigeon peas split dal, do check it out Phiki dal
Moth Bean Lentils (Matki or Moth dal)

A delicious and healthy lentil gravy based on Indian cuisine and loaded with nutrients.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of moth dal soaked overnight
- ½ an onion
- ½ tomato diced
- 3 to 4 green chilies
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Chilly powder
- 2 tsp Coriander powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ lemon squeezed
- salt to taste
- 3- 4 tsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- A pinch of asafoetida
Directions
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
- Add cumin seeds and asafoetida to the heated oil.
- Add the diced onions, green chilies and sautée for about 5 mins
- Add ginger-garlic paste and sautée again for couple more mins
- Next, add tomatoes and sautée till the oil leaves the sides of the cooker
- Lastly add all the spices sautée again, add water and salt
- Pressure cook for about 3 whistles or till done
- Garnish with finely cut onions and coriander leaves. The dal is ready!
- Serve it with rice or chapatis (wheat bread)

Moth Bean Lentils (Matki or Moth dal)A delicious and healthy lentil gravy based on Indian cuisine and loaded with nutrients.
- 2 cups moth dal soaked overnight
- ½ onion chopped
- ½ tomato diced
- 3-4 green chilies
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Chilly powder
- 2 tsp Coriander powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ lemon squeezed
- 3-4 tsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 pinch asafoetida
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
Heat oil in a pressure cooker .
Add cumin seeds and asafoetida to the heated oil.
Add the diced onions , green chillies and sautée for about 5 mins
Add ginger garlic paste and sautée again for couple more mins
Next add tomatoes and sautée till the oil leaves the sides of the cooker
Lastly add all the spices sautée again Aadd water and salt
Pressure cook for about 3 whistles or till done
Garnish with finely cut onions and coriander leaves.
The dal is ready!Serve it with rice or chapatis (wheat bread)

Good share...👍
Thank you so much Saumyaa!!
I love sprouts and what a wonderful way of cooking them. Lovely
Thank you so much Pooja!!
Hi Nisha,
You have a lovely blog 🙂 so I have nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award and here is the link https://spoonfulospice.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/mystery-blogger-award/
Congratulations! 😊
Thank you so much Pia for your kind words and for nominating me! I am truly inspired by fellow bloggers like you for your encouragement and support! I will definitely look into it !!
my pleasure 😊
love it!!
Thank you so much Mallika!
Hi my friend – just want to drop you a note to let you know that I have nominated you for Blogger Recognition Award. Please check out http://bit.ly/2yyH3h7 Congratulations
Thank you so much Esme! I am so honored .I am out the next two weeks but I will definitely work on it as soon as I get back !
No problem, enjoy your time away and I am looking forward to reading you post once done.