Red Lentil Dahl Recipe
A comforting and flavorful Red Lentil Dahl made with a blend of warm spices, fresh vegetables, and creamy coconut milk. This easy, one-pot vegetarian stew is perfect for a nutritious meal served with rice or flatbread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 large carrot (finely diced)
- 1 small bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 4 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 heaped tbsp fresh ginger (minced)
Pantry Staples & Spices
- 1 1/2 cups dry red lentils
- 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cups vegetable broth (or water)
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1/2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp paprika
- Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 1/3 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Rinse the red lentils thoroughly under running water to remove any dust or impurities. Finely dice the carrot, chop the onion, bell pepper, mince the garlic and ginger to have all ingredients ready.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the vegetable oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Then add the minced ginger, garlic, diced carrot, and chopped bell pepper, stirring well to combine.
- Add Spices and Lentils: Stir in the ground cumin, curry powder, ground turmeric, paprika, sweetener, and optional red pepper flakes. Mix to coat the vegetables in the spices. Then add the rinsed lentils and pour in 3 cups of vegetable broth or water. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the Dahl: Reduce the heat to low and let the lentils and vegetables simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the lentils to cook and soften.
- Add Coconut Milk and Thicken: Pour in the canned coconut milk and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or until the dahl reaches your desired thickness, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Season and Adjust: Season the dahl with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Sample and adjust the seasoning as needed to balance flavors.
- Serve: Serve the warm dahl with basmati rice, boiled potatoes, or naan flatbread. Garnish with fresh herbs of your choice for added freshness.
Notes
- Finely dicing the carrot helps it cook evenly and blend well into the dal texture.
- Vegetable broth adds extra flavor, but water can be used as a substitute for a lighter taste.
- Canned coconut milk provides creaminess; light coconut milk can be used for a lower-fat alternative.
- This dish is naturally vegetarian and can be made vegan by ensuring the sweetener is plant-based.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
Keywords: red lentil dahl, vegetarian dahl recipe, lentil curry, easy indian dahl, coconut milk dahl, healthy lentil stew
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