Moong Dal & Rice in Air Fryer (Honest Trial Recipe)

Introduction of my – Daal chawal in Air Fryer recipe

I tried making a simple moong dal and rice dish in the air fryer using a steel bowl. While the idea was to create a quick, one-pot meal, the result was not exactly as expected. Sharing the exact process and outcome so you can learn from it or tweak it better.

You can watch the recipe in action here:

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📝 Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons moong dal (without peel)

• 3 tablespoons rice

• Salt to taste

• ½ teaspoon turmeric (haldi)

• Water (as required)

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🔪 Preparation

1. Wash the moong dal and rice thoroughly.

2. Soak both together for about 15 minutes.

3. Drain and transfer to a steel bowl.

4. Add salt and turmeric.

5. Add water just enough to cover the mixture.

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🔥 Cooking in Air Fryer

1. Place the steel bowl inside the air fryer.

2. Set temperature to 180°C and cook for 20 minutes.

3. Open and check halfway. At this stage:

   • The mixture was partially cooked

   • Water had settled at the bottom

4. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.

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⚠️ Result & Observations

• The dal remained slightly hard from inside

• The water completely evaporated

• The rice turned dry instead of soft

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💡 What I Learned

Air fryers work on dry heat circulation, which is not ideal for dishes that require moisture and pressure like dal and rice.

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🔧 Tips for Better Results

• Increase soaking time to at least 30–40 minutes

• Add more water than usual

• Cover the bowl with foil to retain moisture

• Increase cooking time to 30–35 minutes

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✅ Final Thoughts

This method can work with adjustments, but for soft, perfectly cooked dal and rice, traditional methods like pressure cooking are far more reliable.

Still, experimenting in the kitchen is always worth it you discover what works and what doesn’t.