Have you tried my Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl yet? If not, you absolutely should! It’s one of our most frequently made (and praised) recipes on the blog.
Because I love it so much, I wanted to make an Indian-inspired version. My first attempt was too vegetable heavy and a little dry. I’m all about sauciness and big flavor in dishes, so it was back to the drawing board.
The more I thought about what I actually wanted in an Indian-inspired “Buddha Bowl,” I realized I wanted a few key things: heat, intense flavor, sauciness, lentils, and brown rice.
Mission accomplished.
This recipe is simple, requiring just 30 minutes, 1 saucepan (plus a pot for the brown rice), and 10 ingredients to make!
The base of the recipe is garlic, ginger, carrots sautéed in coconut oil, and red curry paste. Tomato paste and vegetable broth make a deeply flavorful sauce, while turmeric and coconut sugar add depth of flavor. An optional but recommended last step is a dash of light coconut milk to add creaminess and balance the heat.
Lentils not only add heartiness, but also nutrition. They are extremely high in folate, iron, and magnesium. One serving of this lentil curry boasts nearly 16 grams of fiber and 18 grams of protein! Add in some brown rice and you have an incredibly substantial plant-based meal.
If you try this recipe, let us know what you think! Tell us in the comments, rate it, and don’t forget to snap a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. We’d love to see your curry in action. Cheers, friends!
Spicy Red Lentil Curry
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (3 cloves yield ~1 1/2 Tbsp)
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 3 Tbsp red curry paste (ensure vegan friendly)
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste (a 6-ounce can yields ~1/2 cup)
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (DIY or store-bought)
- 1 cup water
- 2/3 cup dry red lentils (thoroughly rinsed in cold water + drained)
- 1-2 Tbsp coconut sugar (or maple syrup)
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric (plus more to taste)
- 1/3 cup light coconut milk (optional)
FOR SERVING optional
- Cooked brown rice (I love this method)
- Pita or naan (omit if gluten free // check for vegan friendliness)
- Pickled red onion*
- Fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Thoroughly rinse lentils in a fine mesh strainer and set aside. If serving with brown rice, cook at this time using this method from Saveur.
- Heat a large rimmed skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add coconut oil, garlic, ginger, and carrots. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add curry paste and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add tomato paste, vegetable broth, water and stir to combine. Then add lentils, coconut sugar, turmeric, and stir.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat slightly to low (or medium-low), and gently simmer for 20 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Stir frequently to incorporate flavors, and add more vegetable broth as needed if the mixture becomes too thick.
- An optional (but recommended) step: stir in coconut milk for additional creaminess, and to balance the heat of the curry paste.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more turmeric for depth of flavor, coconut sugar for sweetness/flavor balance, or a pinch of salt for saltiness.
- To serve, divide brown rice (optional) and lentils between 2-3 (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) serving bowls and garnish with cilantro, pickled onions, and pita or naan for dipping (optional).
- Store leftovers separately in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop, adding water as needed for moisture, or in the microwave.
Notes
*This recipe is inspired by both Thai and Indian flavors. You can learn more about the origins of red curry paste and turmeric by following the links.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with light coconut milk and lesser amount of coconut sugar and without additional toppings or rice.
Trista says
Just made this recipe on a whim right now because I had some tomato paste that I needed to use up and oh my gosh, I could not be happier. It turned out even better than I hoped it would! Wonderfully spicy, and all the flavours compliment each other perfectly. I used Aroy-D brand of red curry paste for anyone looking for a good one that is less expensive than Thai Kitchen! The only changes I made were by accident (distracted, whoops): an extra garlic clove, and about half the sugar. I also opted to leave out the coconut milk due to sheer laziness; I’ll try it in the future when I feel like I want the extra creaminess, but right now the spice is exactly what I want. I’m only halfway through my meal and had to rush to post this review, this curry is that darn good. So many kudos!
Aw, thanks so much for sharing, Trista! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! xo
Julie (UK) says
Considering this recipe is so simple, it tastes so good. In fact, this is quite possibly my favourite curry, ever. Tastes even better the day after and along with the pickled onions (which I highly recommend and again, leave them marinating overnight) makes it a combo that you’ll go to time after time
How lovely! Thanks for sharing, Julie!
Stephanie Howe says
Could I use brown lentils instead of red lentils?
Yes, it will just take much longer to cook.
Amanda says
This is terrific recipe, Dana. I made it tonight for my partner and I and we loved it. I followed the recipe exactly, save for adding a little more garlic + ginger and using only 5.5 oz of tomato paste. A really tasty, easy meal. We will be adding this into our weekly rotation. Thank you!
We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Amanda! Thanks for sharing!
Jaime R. says
Made this tonight and I absolutely love it! I added just a little more of the curry paste because the tomato flavor was a little overpowering. I will be making again !
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jaime! Thanks for sharing!
Nicola says
I wish I read comments prior to making. I also thought recipe called for 16 ounce tomato paste. This was still yummy, but not spicy, even after adding more turmeric. It was very tomato-tasting, hence the 16 ounce paste – excited to try again with 1 – 6 ounce can. I also used onions and eggplant rather than carrots
Oh no! Sorry that happened, Nicola! We added a note to indicate that 1 can is ~1/2 cup.
Tina says
I made this last night! It was delicious and I’m excited to have the leftovers for dinner. One issue I almost had was that when I write down my grocery list, I read 16 ounce can of tomato paste. I was very puzzled by this and bought 3 cans at the store. Thankfully, before starting to cook this, I read down to the comments and saw a number of people complaining that the recipe had too much tomato paste. I looked at the ingredients again and noticed the space between the 1 6 ounce can. The recipe calls for 1x 6 ounce can of tomato paste NOT a 16 ounce can. I wondering if I’m not the only one who made that mistake.
Thanks for pointing that out, Tina! We’ll see if we can make that more clear.
Cathy says
I made this last night and it was AMAZING!!!! I cooked it pretty much to the recipe; just added some red capsicum that I needed to use up and it was so good I’ve talked about it since – many times!
Thankyou!! 5 stars from me :)
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Cathy! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Natasha says
I love this recipe, make it all the time! I don’t add the tomato paste at all, and add some brown sugar to balance the salt. Will definately check out some more of your recipes this year <3
Kapi says
Honestly i didn’t really like it. It isn’t bad but the tomato flavor is way too strong and there is nothing to balance it out. I added some extra chilies, pepper, and turmeric to help it out a little and it’s more to my personal taste now. Some creamed coconut on top of the coconut milk is also really good imo.
Hi Kapi, sorry to hear this one wasn’t for you! What brand of red curry paste did you use? We wonder if it was more mild?
Gail says
quite delicious! i added a small diced onion when sautéing carrots. doubled the recipe (at least 2 cups of lentils) and used a lot more of the red curry paste. kept the tomato paste to 6 oz. it was delicious! everyone in our family enjoyed it very much! served with naan and brown rice and kale on the side. YUMMY and healthy.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Gail. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Stacy says
Gosh, I really wanted to love this recipe. But unfortunately, it tasted like tomato paste with a touch of curry flavor. I think it needs WAY more lentils, and maybe seasoning (?), to balance out all of the tomato paste. I’d be interested to try it again but with many modifications. Sorry. :(
Sorry to hear that, Stacy! We wonder what brand of red curry paste you used? Is it possible it was more mild? Adding more should help make it more flavorful!
Kaylee Destiny says
Thoroughly enjoyed. The family have requested it again. I added celery and onion in with the carrot, and some frozen spinach right at the end. No coconut milk, but served with a dollop of greek yoghurt. Thanks for the tasty recipe.
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Kaylee!
Wendy says
I’ve made this several times now and love it more each time. I think I’m gonna start adding more to it. Maybe some greens, maybe some chickpeas etc. I use all the tomato paste and extra turmeric and some salt and the coconut milk and I really love the flavor. I’ve been using the Thai and True curry paste and it’s outstanding! What a great meal Thank you!!
(Do you think this would freeze well??)
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Wendy! Love those additions.
Sharon says
This was awesome. I did cook for an extra 10 minutes to soften lentils.
Can’t wait to make this again!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Sharon! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Mariah says
My husband requests this for our weekly lunch prep alllll the time! We love taking this as a base and adding more veggies (broccoli, green beans, spinach) and sometimes even add chickpeas for some extra protein. I always make a double batch! Instead of using 2 cans of tomato paste when I double though, I add a can of roasted tomatoes and cut back on the water a bit. The lentils are always perfect. Thank you! One of our faves 🥰
We’er so glad you both enjoy it, Mariah! Thanks so much for sharing!
Erin says
Love it! Make it all the time.
Savannah says
I made it for lunch and it was SO GOOD! Here are some substitutions I made in case they are useful for anyone else: I used sriracha instead of red curry paste, maple syrup instead of coconut sugar, and I added in one Japanese sweet potato diced into small cubes. I didn’t have coconut milk so I left it out and it was still delicious. Served over brown rice.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Savannah! Thanks so much for sharing!
Lauren says
I have recently deemed Mondays as “Lentils for Dinner Day” to help balance our more splurge-y food choices during the weekends (and to save some money!) ;). I finally bought red lentils to try this recipe, and we made it tonight. It was really good, but we thought the tomato paste was too strong and took away from the Thai vibe it was trying to achieve. I doubled the recipe and quartered the amount of tomato paste (so an 8oz can) because that was all I had in the pantry. We really loved the red lentils; they were so tender & smooth! We will definitely try it again with less tomato. Thanks for a great recipe!
Kennedy says
I made this tonight and it was amazing! I added a jalapeno and used the coconut milk. Served over quinoa. I will definitely be adding this into the dinner rotation!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kennedy! Thanks for sharing!
Rob says
This is a great recipe. I’ve made it for friends and recommended it and everyone loves it. Followed exactly (using maple syrup). I’ve made this a couple times and have successfully added various roasted veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and sweet potato for some more body. The first time I made it it did take longer than 30 mins with all prep included, but the more you make it the faster it goes.
Jess says
This is so tasty! I did mine in my pressure cooker and left the sauce to slow cook for a few hours before adding the lentils. Soooo easy and delicious as always:)
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jess! Thanks so much for sharing!
Mary Jackson Mosley says
Red lentil nirvana. The ultimate plant based comfort food. I followed the recipe exactly. I was hesitant to open a can of coconut milk but in the end, I was glad I did!
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Mary! FYI- any leftover coconut milk can be frozen in ice cube trays for later use. Hope that’s helpful!
Ilona says
Hi I don’t have red curry paste but I have Massaman – assume ok to use as a substitute? Thanks.
We think that would work! Let us know how it goes!
Julia Chapman says
I am a big fan of yours! I have made a number of your recipes and have always had success. Some of your recipes are among our favorites and we make them often. Last evening I made this lentil recipe. I made a double batch last but only used 1 can of tomato paste instead of 2. It turned out soooo good. I will definately make it again. Thanks for providing such a terrific stream of reliably delicious and nutritious recipes! Bonus that you are in Portland, so am I.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Julia. We are so glad you enjoy our recipes! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Jenny L. says
We loved this! Made it last night and doubled because I was confident it would hit all the notes for us. Used 1 cup carrots and 1 cup sweet potatoes. Used a can of diced tomatoes instead of water. About a half can of full fat coconut milk. The entire jar of Thai Kitchen red curry paste went in. Loved the tomato-ey richness. REALLY excellent (perfect?) recipe, thanks so much! We ate it with white basmati rice and garlic naan from Trader Joe’s.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jenny! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Madeline says
Yummy! This is my favorite weeknight combo of delicious, nutritious and easy! Mine didn’t turn out as red as the pictures but I don’t think it matters, probably a difference in curry pastes. I am excited to try this with different brands! I skipped the rice and just went with naan. I will definitely make it again!
Michelle says
I made this for dinner tonight!! It was soo good, the flavours danced in my mouth! Amazing! I ended up adding 1 cup of red lentils with 3 cups of water (and Skinnymixers thermomix vegetarian stock paste!) Instead of using a whole can of tomato paste, I used a can of whole tomatoes instead, added 1 tbsp of tomatoe paste and 1 tbsp of coconut sugar. Because I love spice, I added a sprinkle of chilli flakes towards the end! This one is a keeper!
Dana, you are amazing! Every recipe I make that you own is always an absolute treat! I am grateful. Thankyou!
Aw, thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review, Michelle! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Chris says
This was an excellent dish! One of the best I’ve ever made! It will be a staple in our house. I made it exactly as written except I didn’t have vegetable stock so just used water. Amazing!
Erin says
I thought there was way too much tomato paste, but that could be my taste preference.
Thanks for the feedback, Erin! We’ll revisit the quantities. Perhaps next time, start with half and work your way up?
Stephen Willcock says
After a friend recommended the crazy delicious (and healthy) Roasted Cauliflower Tacos, and we took a leap of faith into our first Kimchi with your instructions, Minimalist Baker is our new recipe go-to site.
I doubled the ginger (love ginger) and carrots (can never have too much carrot) but otherwise stuck to the recipe, including the ‘pickled’ red onion. Another kitchen victory thanks to you guys!
Laura says
Delicious! I added the coconut milk and a squeeze of lime for freshness. Only complaint was it wasn’t spicy enough but I think it was my own fault with the additions! Also topped it with chives and cilantro. Five stars.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Laura! Thanks for sharing! It could be that your red curry paste was less spicy. You can add cayenne, chili flakes, or a serrano for more heat next time.
Debra says
Have made this so many times! It is a favorite!! Including the quick pickles!!! Love using the clean thai kitchen brand curry paste. This is a winner!!5 stars!
Thanks, Debra!
Kate says
Yum! I had to restrain myself from turning the whole pan into just one serving haha! Reduced the oil and the coconut sugar a little bit, added broccoli and cauliflower, otherwise followed the recipe just as written and it turned out great! Can’t wait to make it for my vegan mom. Thanks for a delicious recipe!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kate =) Thanks for sharing! xo
Kate says
Made it with just half spoon of the cury paste so its kid friendly and 2 spoonfulls of coconut milk full fat, i loved it but most inportantly the fussy kid I babysit loved it too :)
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing, Kate! xo
Dawn says
This was a great recipe. Really enjoyed it. As I was on a low sugar diet, I left out the carrot, and used a whole tomato instead of a can of tomato paste. Worked well even without using a vegetable broth. Threw in cilantro stems and root during the cooking as well and it added a great depth of flavor.
Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Dawn. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Nicole says
I followed the recipe exact, except I added some red peppers to it and it was just waaaaayyyy to tomatoey. Wish I added half the amount of tomato paste :(
Hi Nicole, sorry to hear it didn’t turn out how you were hoping! You can certainly reduce tomato paste next time or for this time, maybe try adding more coconut milk to balance out the tomato? Hope that helps!
RR says
This was really flavorful and good. I added a potato because I had one kicking around, plus half an onion. Do the coconut addition. Yummmmm
RR says
Forgot to add. I didn’t add any sugar, didn’t miss it.
Thanks so much for the lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Laura says
I made the spicy red lentil curry, quick pickled red onions, and easy vegan naan for dinner last night, and everything was delicious! I upped the turmeric in the curry as suggested for depth of flavor and gave the dish a squeeze of lime juice before serving. Thank you for the meal inspiration!
So glad you enjoyed it, Laura! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Ashley says
Just made this recipe, and it came out great! I will definitely be making this again. It was delicious, easy, didn’t require many dishes, and would be easy to scale up for meal prep!
In terms of the recipe, I followed the majority of the recipe, except that I omitted the coconut oil, used maple syrup instead of coconut sugar, and used the “Thai Kitchen” brand red curry paste instead of the suggested brand. Because I used the Thai Kitchen red curry paste (needed to use up what I had left in my fridge!), the lentils didn’t end up “spicy”, but they still had great flavor! This would be a great substitution if you’re making this dish for someone who doesn’t like spicy foods, but still wants a “red curry” flavor. But next time I make these, I will definitely try the red curry paste that you recommended!
Also, I served the with brown rice and pickled onions. I wasn’t sure if the onions would go with this dish, but it was actually really delicious together! Great serving tip!
So glad you enjoyed it, Ashley! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Jacky Surber says
Would totally make this again! So different and I like adding variety to my menus, lentils tend to get boring but this was fun and new.
You’re on a roll! Thanks, Jacky!
Lyn Wilson says
I made this today and it it very delicious, I also added spinach. I fried the Paratha Bread to accompany curry. So quick and easy to make as well. Next week this will appear on the menu for a group of 45 people.
Whoop! So glad you enjoyed it, Lyn! Thanks for the lovely review!
Sattin says
Best dhal is the world. Ever.
Catherine says
Made it tonight with yellow curry paste, which is all I had in the cupboard, and it was so outrageously good and satisfying. Added a little cayenne, wine the paste was lacking that red curry oomph. I made an eggplant basmati rice pilaf on the side for extra veggie goodness, and I swear you’ll make a vegan out of me yet, Dana. Thank you for this recipe.
Lisa Peters says
Sooooo delicious! Your recipes are always straightforward and easy to follow and yummy! I really appreciate it!
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Lisa! xo
Andrea says
So easy. So satisfying. It’s amazing on rice. No matter what you do, don’t skip the pickled onions. I usually add a bit more coconut milk than what recipe calls for, but I’m a bit of a coconut milk fanatic.
Judy says
Have made this many times – always delicious!!!
Kay Goad says
I googled this recipe to approximate a soup I love at a local eatery, and it fit the bill! Bonus that it’s so easy. Don’t skip the coconut milk. Also, I put fresh spinach leaves in the bottom of the bowl when serving, for added color and nutrition.
Thanks so much for the lovely review! We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Jonathan says
Hi MiniBaker,
I gave up meat this month to try something new and stumbled upon this lentil recipe. I’m new to cooking and it was easy to make!
Thanks for making life easier!
Thanks so much for giving it a try and for the lovely review, Jonathan. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Ana says
I made this but turned into a soup instead, by adding more water, vegetable broth and coconut milk. I turned out absolutely delicious ! My husband is not a lentil fan, so a blended the soup to get a smooth texture – he didn’t recognize any lentil at all and told me he loved it! Definitely will put in my favorite recipes list. Thank you!
amyex says
This is my new favourite. So simple to make but jam packed with flavour
We’re so glad to hear that!
Stephanie says
Oh man that was GOOD! I used the ingredients I had on hand – which was diced tomatoes, not paste, and no tumeric, and it was still delicious. I’ll eat this often!
Brynja says
Fantastic red lentil curry. I have tried a few recipes but this one is by far the best. Just a quick question; do you have any good tips to make this a bit more kid friendly (my five year old found it too spicy).
Kait says
I made this last night and we loved it! I doubled the recipe so we have some in the freezer for next time. We are looking forward to trying the chickpea buddha bowl next! Thanks for all your great recipes :)
Cindy says
Delicious, easy and uses ingredients I always have on hand! Perfect recipe to add to my rotation. Inexpensive to make as well, if you are on a budget, which I love.
Thanks, Cindy! xo
Helen says
I woke up this morning thinking I HAD to find a super delicious, easy to make with items in the pantry ‘red lentil curry’ recipe. I looked at a few recipes on line and then came across yours and I knew immediately that it ticked all the boxes for me. I didn’t have any broth handy so I dissolved a vegan stock cube in one of the cups of water. I had coconut sugar in the pantry so I used that and I had frozen cubes of coconut cream handy so I used them instead of coconut milk. Other than that, I stuck to the recipe.
I was thrilled with the final result – it is so yummy that I’m heading off the kitchen to have seconds. This is definitely going to be one of my ‘must make’ recipes.
Many, many thanks from the other side of the planet (NZ)
Helen
Yay! Thank you for sharing your modifications, Helen! We are so glad you enjoyed it!
jaycee says
Hi– this is delicious. Would be perfectly fine without any changes but… couldn’t help myself. Less tomato paste. Added Vidalia onion (sweet) — sauteed at beginning. A little cubed sweet potato. A couple handfuls of unsalted cashews– roasted 10 minutes or so until golden brown.
And how could the coconut milk be OPTIONAL??? It’s a MUST!!!!
Thanks for sharing your changes, Jaycee! We are glad you enjoyed the recipe :D
Laura says
So good! My whole family (including my picky 10 year old) ate it and loved it. Will definitely make it again.
Yay! We are glad to hear the whole family enjoyed it, Laura!
Tammera Giese says
This was good. I did add more tumeric. I really like it. I need to find a substitute for the tomato paste because I am not a huge fan. I am thinking diced tomatoes? I don’t know … suggestions? I am giving this a 5 star rating because it is easy and tasty. The tomato paste thing is just a preference that I need to work through, but I do really like your ideas for lentils. I have been a vegetarian for something like 26 years and have found that tofu doesn’t settle well with me, I often substitute lentils when something calls for tofu.
Tammera Giese says
Did some googling and think next time I may substitute butternut squash purée
Erin says
I love this dish and make it all the time! It’s super easy to make and had been one of our favorites for awhile now.
I’m wondering if this freezes well? I’ve never tried, but we have a vacation coming up and I was thinking of making a batch to put in the freezer before we go, so that we’ll have some easy pre-made meals when we get home.
Hi Erin! We haven’t tried freezing, but I would think it would work.
Jane Jones says
my first vegan recipe that was meant to be vegan! SOOO good. I did augment a few items….no tomatoes…extra chili pepper…..more coconut milk. served with shredded organic coconut and chopped peanuts on the top, over Jasmine brown rice.
Yay! Thanks for sharing your recipe changes with us, Jane!
Vibeke Vale says
I made this yesterday with Thai Kitchen red curry paste because I couldn’t find the Aroy-D paste that I would normally use. Because of the this the red lentil curry was simply flavourful, but not spicy. I thought it was delicious and definitely a good curry for beginners. Had I made it with the other curry paste it definitely would have been SPICY!!
Next time I will double the amount of carrots as they seemed like an afterthought.
Lana says
Great tasting, hearty dish and I can’t believe how quick and easy it is to make. Definitely a keeper! Thank you.
Vicky says
HI, do you think I can freeze these? I’m thinking of using full-fat coconut cream instead, thanks!
Hi Vicky! We haven’t tried freezing, but I would think it would work. Full-fat coconut cream will work nicely!
Elicia Bedell says
Wonderful!!! I used cauliflower in place of carrots bc that’s what I had wow it was amazing
Anne Boyd says
I love the 3 red lentil staple recipes – red lentil child, red lentil bolognese, red lentil curry – so good, so simple and quick to make. They are all go-to meals when we need a quick weeknight delicious option.
Russelle says
As promised, this recipe is insanely delicious. I made it last night as an accompaniment to Aloo Gobi and wow did it ever outshine! I made it exactly as directed, with a dash of real maple syrup. Can’t wait to make it again…
Megan says
Just made this for dinner tonight, and it was so good!
I used maple sugar since I already had it on hand, I doubled the carrots, and I didn’t have cilantro, but otherwise I followed the recipe exactly. The pickled onions were a fantastic touch and really brought the meal up a notch!
I will definitely be making this again!
Megan says
Maple syrup! Not maple sugar…
The meal was so good, I can’t comment properly :p
Nikki says
Hmmm… It was somewhat bland.
Chelsea says
Doubled it and we’ve been eating it all week. Delish!
Howard says
Dana when you say coconut sugar do you mean jaggery, aka palm sugar here? (I live in India : )
Guillemette says
I just made and ate this and it was sooooooooooooooooo good! I love your recipes, always simple and delicious, I make them often and I am never disappointed!
This was perfect, it IS spicy mind you, I would recommend adding the coconut milk if you are shy about spices. It was great served with brown rice and a few cashews nuts. I’d recommend adding fresh cilantro of course, but I hadn’t any on hand.
Thank you so much for all of your work, Dana and John!
A french vegan girl :)
Guillemette says
Oh! And I forgot, I added a sweet potato (at the begining with the carrots and garlic) because I wanted something more substantial and with a bit more vegetables, and it was awesome!
Alyssa says
This is a winter staple recipe in our house! My favorite addition is roasted cauliflower. Plus, it meal preps well.
Finally, I love any recipe that has me use an entire can of tomato paste so I’m not stuck with weird amounts of leftover paste. ;-)
Mary says
Hi, looks delicious!! Im allergic to red lentils – what do you think would work well instead?
Hi Mary! Not sure if you are allergic to all lentils, but if you are not you can use yellow or brown lentils. If you are then you can try yellow split peas, which we haven’t tried so we can’t say for sure! Good Luck!
Rachel says
I just made this for dinner, served with chapatis. It was amazing! Hubby loved it too. Thank you for such a tasy recipe, keep em coming :) x
Tamme says
I just wish it didn’t taste so much like tomato paste. What can I substitute instead of the paste?
Hi! You could use a little less tomato paste next time!
Tamme says
Lol. Ok
Mary says
I’d suggest using tomato puree instead. I totally hear you about the tomato paste taste and the puree seems to be better. You’ll use less liquid in the rest of the recipe then.
Sarah says
Made this tonight; it’s totally delicious! I had to simmer it for longer, but I can’t wait to make it again.
Susan D. says
I just made this and I have to tell you it is delicious! I love indian food…..I don’t know why my red curry paste isn’t “spicy” – even though it says it should be on jar – so therefore, I added some cayenne – which was perfect. Thank you for another wonderful dinner! I really enjoy your recipes!
Megan S. says
I love when I have everything on hand and can make a 30ish minute meal. It takes about that long to drive to a restaurant and place an order. I didn’t make any substitutions. Yummy and quick-ish lunch! <3 thank you!
Eileen Patterson says
I love this! I used the whole bag of lentils and 32 ounces of veggie broth, I sauteed some onions with the garlic and carrots at the beginning, and I used way more turmeric and curry paste (along with some cayenne, Chipotle chili powder, and garlic powder, because that’s how I roll) but this was very flavorful and filling. I love it!
Mary Greenwood says
Yum!!! I just made the spicy lentil curry. It is full of flavor and just what I was looking for. Thank you.
Lena says
170g of tomato paste sounds like a lot. Am I really supposed to put that much in it?
Yep!
Sky Ellen says
I made this today, and the flavors are delicious. However, I simmered the lentils for almost an hour and they still weren’t totally cooked through and soft. I’m not sure what I did wrong? I tried simmering both uncovered, and then uncovered, but they seemed very slow to cook…
Hi! I’ve read that the age of beans can dramatically affect the cooking time – generally the older your beans, the longer they’ll take to cook. I’m not sure that your water would be significantly affecting the cooking time. You might want to purchase some “fresh” dry beans to see how the results differ. I hope this helps!
Sky says
thanks!
Anne Boyd says
I find that anything takes longer when using tomato sauce/paste. If you want a really creamy red lentil texture soak them first, or cook them awhile before adding the tomato paste
Elle says
This was delicious!
Alanna says
This was really good. Didn’t have broth in the kitchen, and was too lazy to go get some, so spiced up some water with what I had in the pantry and still worked out.
Nita Siemens says
I am a juvenile type 1 diabetic and after having my second baby I’m venturing into the vegan world. I have looked over several of your recipes and never actually made anything until last night. This was amazing. If I can eat like this every night transitioning to a vegan lifestyle then it will be very enjoyable. I added some Smokey paprika and sliced limes for garnish/ serving. To be honest, I just ate leftovers for breakfast! :) I am going to make the sweet potatoes chickpea Judah bowl tonight! Thank you!!
Angela Cellitti says
This recipe was magnificent!!! My whole family loved it… Yummy! I will be doing this again. Thank you for providing so many awesome recipes on your site.
Jennifer says
I made this tonight with your garlic flatbread recipe and it was AMAZING. So flavorful and easy to make. I will definitely be trying your Thai Yellow Curry recipe next!
Yuliya says
I made this for the first time last week and bought ingredients to make it multiple times again. It’s sooo delicious and incredibly easy!! I couldn’t stop eating it!
Glen Buchner says
I am about to make the recipe. So will let you know how it turns out. But. Your photos show raw red onions, not pickled. Wassupwifthat?
Hi Glen! Good catch! Use whichever you prefer :D
Glen Buchner says
Jus’ messin’ wit ya. Great recipe. Smiles around the dinner table.
Jennifer says
Would this freeze well? Has anyone tried?
stefannie rose sotto says
i love your website! i started making some of your recipe it’s really good!
Joli says
I’m making this now and it smells great– also, tastes pretty good too, and I’m not even finished cooking it, just tested the lentils. This reminded me of a recipe I tried and loved a few years ago. Here’s the other recipe, which is quite good, except the boiled lentil method is tricky– my lentils always came out mushy. So I hope I have better luck with your method. Thanks!
Joli says
the other recipe was on Allrecipes site.
Dani says
Hi! I really want to make this but don’t have red curry paste and don’t have access to it, either. Would I be able to substitute yellow curry powder somehow? Thanks! :)
Hi! Yellow Curry paste or Massaman Curry paste will work as substitutes!
Jenni says
We had this for dinner tonight! It was delicious. I didn’t have the coconut milk to balance the heat, so it was a bit on the spicy side. But still delicious, nonetheless!
I added diced onions to it and subbed tomato sauce for paste (since it was what I had on hand).
It got a five thumbs up from my family. :)
Fiona Ryder says
I made it & it was perfect! A delightful light Buddha bowl with the pickled onions and brown rice a la Saveur. Thanks for the great vegan recipes!
Deb says
This is soooo delicious and relatively easy to make. Thanks for another excellent dish. I added Trader Joe’s coconut creamer toward the end since I didn’t want left over coconut milk from a full can (I often don’t use it up quickly enough and it goes bad). I make your vegan parmesan all the time subbing almonds for the cashews due to allergies and I sometimes just eat it by the spoonful! LOL.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Deb! So glad you enjoyed it! For leftover coconut milk, we like to freeze it in ice cube trays and then add to smoothies :)
Deb says
Great idea for left over coconut milk but I don’t have/use ice trays. I guess it could be put in small plastic containers and frozen just as easily. Thanks for the suggestion/idea.
VS says
By the way, I tried adding the rating to my comment above but was not able to click on the stars. For some reason I’m able to do so now though.
VS says
I was looking for a red lentil recipe online (I’ve only ever cooked with red lentils 2-3 times before) and yours came up pretty high in my search results. I’m so glad I tried it out!! I followed the directions to a T and it the taste was absolutely wonderful. My husband who isn’t a fan of red lentils surprisingly also really loved this! Even my 13 month old! He loved the first few bites but when the bit of heat kick in started to cry, so I mixed it with a bit of sour cream to cut the spice and he ate a ton!! My only comment about the actual recipe is that you must have massive garlic cloves where you are. haha :P I thought mine were big but I used 7 and it still only gave me a heaping tablespoon. I feel I would have needed about 10 large cloves in order to get 1.5 tablespoons as mentioned in your recipe. Thanks for the great recipe – I will definitely come by to look for more! :)
Joey says
Is the tomato paste in the recipe tomatoes that have been pureed, or tomato concentrate? Thanks!
Jennie says
I made this to bring to a brewery (that doesn’t serve food but invites it) for trivia night with friends. We paired it with brown basmati rice, salad and some store bought naan (and beer, of course). It. Was. Amazing. Everyone loved it. I especially loved the pickled onions and cilantro with it; those are wonderful flavors with the dish.
However, when I made it I had an issue with my gas stove and the burner turned off without my knowledge, so it took FOREVER. It was totally my fault, but after that happened, my thought is that I may try creating an INSTANT POT version of the recipe. I know that the liquid amounts and timing will likely change. I am excited to try adapting it and will report any findings for the IP/pressure cooker fans, but have you got any advice on such an endeavor? Thanks
Jen says
Would love your version in the Instant Pot. Thank you in advance!
یو پی اس apc says
Thank you. Good luck.
Dana says
Absolutely love this recipe! I make at once in a month because it’s so easy to do and very good for the spicy lover in me. I only use Naan bread with it.