Lobia is a nutritious and delicious, popular Indian curry made with black eyed peas, simmered in an onion, tomato base sauce, and some aromatic Indian spices. Enjoy this vegan and gluten free lobia dal over steamed white rice or some naan.
Soak the dried black-eyed peas overnight or a minimum of 4 hours.
Chop all the veggies - onion, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, keep it aside.
Punjabi Style Lobia Masala Recipe
Enjoy convenience and flavor with this pressure cooker lobia recipe:
Heat oil in the pressure cooker and add cumin seeds, bay leaf, and a pinch of asafetida. Allow the seeds to splutter.
Add finely chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown. Stir in ginger and green chilies, cooking for a minute.
Add ground spices – coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, amchur, and tomatoes.
Cook until tomatoes soften, breaking down to form a thick and flavorful base.
Add the soaked lobia and sauté for a couple of minutes.
Pour in enough water to cover the lobia, add salt to taste, and mix well.
Secure the lid of the pressure cooker and cook on medium heat. Once the pressure builds up, lower the heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, allowing the lobia to cook thoroughly.
Once done, let the pressure release naturally, and open the lid. Add garam masala, fresh cilantro, and lemon juice (optional) for an extra burst of flavor.
Serve the aromatic pressure cooker lobia with rice or bread.
Enjoy a delicious and wholesome meal in no time with this quick pressure cooker lobia recipe! I love to serve Gobi Aloo (Cauliflower Curry) as a side dish, Raita, or homemade yogurt and some homemade roti (Indian flatbread).
Lobia Instant Pot
Drain the water from the soaked black-eyed peas, rinse and keep it aside.
Turn on Instant Pot to sauté mode (high), add oil, cumin seeds, bay leaf, and chopped onions. Sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are translucent.
Add chopped garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add chopped tomato, ginger, and green chili. Dry spices - coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, dried mango powder. Sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft.Note: Add garam masala after pressure cooking the beans.
Add beans, water, and salt to taste. Close the lid with a vent in the sealing position.
Turn on Instant Pot to Manual / Pressure Cook (high) for 15 minutes. Let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes, and then release the remaining pressure manually.
Open the Instant pot, and check if the beans are soft and cooked. If required, add a few minutes of pressure cooking.
Turn on Sauté mode (more), add garam masala, lemon juice.Note: Simmer for a few minutes or until desired thickness. The sauce thickens as it cools.
Garnish with some fresh coriander. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Notes
My homemade bhuna masala (Indian curry sauce) makes preparing lobia incredibly simple. I combine the ¾ cup of bhuna masala with lobia, add salt and water, and pressure cook for an easy and delicious meal.
For Canned Black-eyed Peas: Drain and rinse the beans. Add beans to the pressure cooker, along with 1 cup of water. Pressure cook for 5 minutes, followed by natural pressure release.
Forgot to soak beans? How to make lobia? Yes, you can. Soak the beans in hot water for 45-60 minutes, covered. After 60 minutes, discard the water beans are soaked in, rinse the beans with fresh water and they are ready to be used in the recipe.You may have to adjust the cooking time, since these may take a little longer to cook than those that have been soaked overnight.
For Dried Black-eyed Peas PEAS: Rinse the dry beans well, add them to the pressure cooker, and 3 cups of water. Pressure cook for 30 minutes. Followed by natural pressure release
Tips for Best Lobia Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Lobia | Lobia Dal | Black Eyed Peas Curry
Amount per Serving
Calories
233
% Daily Value*
Fat
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
5
g
Sodium
59
mg
3
%
Potassium
621
mg
18
%
Carbohydrates
32
g
11
%
Fiber
6
g
25
%
Sugar
5
g
6
%
Protein
11
g
22
%
Vitamin A
360
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
75
mg
8
%
Iron
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.