Indian Lentil Curry Food

INDIAN LENTIL SOUP (DAL SHORVA)

Steps:

• Rinse the beans or lentils.
• Bring to a boil with the stock, turmeric, Cayenne, cumin, cardamom and curry/bay leaves.
• Let simmer until the beans or lentils are very soft (ca 30 minutes).
• If using bay leaves, remove them now. Curry leaves can be left in the soup.
• Run the soup quickly in a blender to a not too smooth consistency (or mash the lentils/beans with a ladle).
• Sautee the garlic and mustard seeds lightly in the fat and add to the soup.
• Let simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Add salt, pepper and squeezed lemon to taste.
• Serve hot with pita or paratha bread.

LENTIL CURRY RECIPE

Steps:

• Rinse the lentil under cold water and set aside.Heat oi in a large pan/pot. Add chopped onion and sauté over medium heat, until lightly golden, about 5-6 minutes. Add crushed garlic, grated ginger, curry powder, cumin and turmeric. Cook for 1-2 minutes.Add tomato sauce, water, coconut milk, lentils, salt, pepper. Stir well, bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes.Lentils should be soft and the sauce should be creamy. If too thick, add more water, too thin, simmer for 10-15 more (with a lid off).Check the seasoning, if needed add salt/pepper. Turn the heat off add chopped coriander and stir.Serve with rice, naan or as is. Frequently asked questions:WHAT TYPE OF LENTILS ARE THE BEST FOR LENTIL CURRY?In this recipe I used green lentils, but to make the perfect lentil curry you can also use green lentils, red lentils, brown lentils, green lentil or any kind of dried lentils.HOW TO STORE LENTIL CURRY?Lentil curry can be stored, covered, in the fridge, for up to 4-5 days.CAN WE MAKE LENTIL CURRY WITHOUT COCONUT MILK?Yes, you can make lentil curry without coconut cream, but remember, the curry will not be as creamy, the texture and the taste will be totally different. Therefore, I would not recommend skipping coconut milk.MORE RECIPES:Chickpea CurryButter ChickenChicken Meatballs with Coconut CurryQuick and Easy Chicken Curry

DAL RECIPE (INDIAN RED LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils well until the water is clear and drain in colander. Tip: If using other yellow lentils instead of red lentils, then soaking in water for about an hour will help.
• In a medium cooking pot take the drained red lentils, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, sliced garlic, turmeric, water and bring it to a boil.
• Lower the heat and cook it for about 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to cook until most lentils start breaking down, become a bit mushy and turn into a thick sauce like consistency.
• Cook the dal until it reaches a consistency that is thinner than what is desired, because it will thicken further after cooking.

LENTIL CURRY - MEGA FLAVOUR LENTIL RECIPE!

Steps:

• Saute onion: Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger. Slowly cook, stirring every now and then, for 10 minutes until tinged with gold and the onion is sweet.
• Cook off spices: Turn heat up to high, add curry powder and turmeric, stir for 1 1/2 minutes.
• Add everything else: Add remaining ingredients and stir. Bring to simmer, then place lid on and adjust heat to low / medium low so it's simmering gently.
• Simmer: Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove lid and simmer for a further 10 minutes to reduce the sauce. {Note 2 for cook times of other lentils}
• Lentils should be soft, sauce should be thickened and creamy. Too thick, add water. Too thin, simmer with lid off - thickens quickly.
• Coriander: Stir through half the coriander, then taste and add more salt if needed.
• Serve over basmati rice, sprinkled with more coriander and a dollop of yogurt. (Low carb option - cauliflower rice).

INDIAN LENTIL CURRY WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, water and turmeric in a pot big enough to hold the spinach.
• Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, until the lentils disintegrate, about 40 minutes. Add a bit more water if needed. You are going for a thick puree consistency.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the oil. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the onion and cook until the edges of the onions start to brown.
• Stir in the green chili and garlic ginger paste and cook until the sputtering stops.
• Add the spice mix and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly. This is the critical step. You don't want your spices to burn.
• Add the tomato paste and stir. Turn the heat down and let it simmer 3-4 minutes.
• Stir the tempering into the lentils. Add the salt and taste.
• Mix in the spinach, a bit at a time, letting it wilt into the dal. When all the spinach has been mixed in, cover and let simmer 5 minutes.
• Adjust the salt and serve. You are going to need more. For sure. So creep up on it. Add a bit. Stir. Taste. Add some more. Keep going until you get it where you want it.

RED LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Wash the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear. Put lentils in a pot with enough water to cover; bring to a boil, place a cover on the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, adding water during cooking as needed to keep covered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onions in hot oil until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Mix curry paste, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, salt, sugar, garlic, and ginger together in a large bowl; stir into the onions. Increase heat to high and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato puree, remove from heat and stir into the lentils.

DAL (INDIAN LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Soak Lentils: Rinse lentils and leave to soak in plenty of water for 1 hour. Drain in colander.
• Heat ghee/oil in a heavy based saucepan over high heat. Add green chillies and fry for a minute until starting to blister.
• Add onions and fry until softened.
• Lower heat to medium, add garlic, ginger and curry leaves. Cook for 1 minute until garlic starts to turn golden and smells amazing.
• Add tomatoes and cumin, cook until tomatoes start to break down and thicken to a paste - about 2 minutes.
• Add lentils, water, tumeric and salt. Stir, bring to simmer, cover and simmer gently for 1 hour. Stir two or three times during the hour.
• Remove lid and simmer gently for 30 minutes to thicken, stirring every now and then. The dal is ready when it has a consistency like porridge - some lentils should be intact but some have broken down to thicken the sauce.
• Stir through garam masala at the end. Adjust salt if desired.
• Pour over Tadka, if using, and stir through.
• Serve Dal over rice, garnished with a sprig of coriander if desired.

SPICY RED LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• 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.

VEGAN INSTANT POT BUTTERNUT SQUASH LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils and drain them.
• Select the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and after a few minutes, add 1/2 tablespoon of the coconut oil, followed by the cumin seeds. Toss for 30-60 seconds until lightly browned and very fragrant.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, followed by the onion and 1/2 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Cook the onion for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned. Then add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
• Stir in the the curry powder, turmeric, and cayenne (if using) for 30 seconds, adding the 2 tbsp water to prevent the mixture from drying out too much.
• Add the chopped butternut squash and stir to coat it in the spice mixture. Pour in the vegetable broth and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Then add the remaining 1 teaspoon kosher salt, the lentils, and coconut milk. Scoop the cashew butter on top but do not stir. This helps prevent the nut butter from sinking to the bottom and possibly triggering the Instant Pot burn warning.
• Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook or Manual setting and set the cook time for 10 minutes.
• Once the timer goes off, allow a natural pressure release. Once the pressure has released, open the pot and stir in the baby kale. Select the Sauté setting and heat for about 2 minutes or until the kale has wilted, then select Cancel. Add the lemon or lime juice and the cilantro and stir to combine.
• Serve the butternut squash lentil curry over white rice or with flatbread.
• Heat a deep, heavy skillet or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon of the coconut oil, and once hot, add the cumin seeds and fry for 30-60 seconds until lightly browned and very fragrant.
• Add the onions and cook until they are translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant. Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, and cayenne (if using) until well incorporated.
• Add the butternut squash, vegetable broth, lentils, coconut milk, and cashew butter. Stir well to combine.
• Bring the curry mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender and the squash is cooked through, stirring every few minutes.
• Add the baby kale and allow to cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Add the lemon or lime juice and the cilantro and stir to combine.
• Serve the butternut squash lentil curry over white rice or with flatbread.

INSTANT POT LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the lentils, then set aside. Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add the coconut oil. Once the oil has melted, add 1 tablespoon water, the shallot, ginger, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until very fragrant and the shallot is soft, about 2 minutes. Add the curry powder, coconut sugar, salt, turmeric, and cayenne and stir vigorously. Stand back and try not to breath in any of the steam coming from the pot (it's spicy!). Add the lentils, coconut milk, and 1 cup of water. Stir to coat the lentils completely with the liquid.
• Hit cancel to stop the sauté function, seal the lid, then set to cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. (It will take about 8 minutes for the pressure to build, then the timer will begin.) Once the timer has stopped, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then vent to release the pressure completely. Open the lid and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired. If the curry is too thick, add a bit more water to loosen as needed. Serve hot with rice, sprinkled with cilantro.

LENTIL CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Season chicken - Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Place in a medium bowl and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp of curry powder - combine well and leave to marinate for 15 mins.Pro tip - This chicken can be left to marinate for up to 12 hours in the fridge.
• Saute chicken - In a heavy bottom saute pan or cast-iron skillet, add 1 tbsp oil. Saute the chicken on medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and keep warm. Pro tip -We want to get some color on the chicken, not cook it. It will cook later in the sauce.
• Saute - To the same pan, add remaining oil - Saute onions for a minute. Then add the curry leaves and bay leaves. Followed by the grated ginger and minced garlic. Saute for 2 minutes.
• Curry - Next, add the chopped tomatoes and curry powder. Saute until you get a nice aroma of the spices - about 2 minutes.
• Lentils - Then, add the lentils and 1/2 cup water or broth. Cover and cook for 7 minutes.Pro tip - Lentils take longer than chicken to cook so we cook them halfway before adding the chicken.
• Chicken - Next, return the chicken back to the pan along with the coconut milk and remaining water or broth. Cover and cook for 15 minutes until lentils are soft.
• Finish - Add the garam masala, tamarind paste (or vinegar). Return to a boil then taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve over steamed rice or Indian bread like chapati or naan

VEGAN RED LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear.
• Heat a large, deep skillet or large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the garlic, ginger, fresh turmeric (if using), and Serrano pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent garlic from burning.
• Add the cumin, coriander, chili powder, curry powder, garam masala, salt, and black pepper to taste, and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant, tossing frequently to prevent burning. If using ground turmeric instead of fresh turmeric, add the ground turmeric now, along the the rest of the spices.
• Pour in the vegetable broth, and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Add in the lentils and the crushed tomatoes and mix well. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through and have mostly softened. If you find that the lentils are not quite soft after 25 minutes, add a few spoons more of broth or water and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid and stir in the coconut milk, almond butter, along with salt and pepper to taste Continue cooking on low heat, uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes, until the curry has thickened and is creamy.
• Finally, stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, and turn off the heat. If you want your lentils to even creamier and more on the puréed side, use an immersion blender to lightly purée the curry.
• Serve the curry with rice and/or Indian flatbread and garnish with additional cilantro. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

SPICY INDIAN YELLOW LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• In a pressure cooker, put the lentils, tomatoes and 4 cups of water with a pinch of turmeric powder.
• Pressure cook until the lentils are tender.
• Heat 1 tablespoons of oil in a pot.
• Once its hot, add mustard and cumin seeds.
• Allow to splutter.
• Once they stop spluttering, add corriander seeds, asafoetida powder, curry leaves and green chillies.
• Stir-fry for 5 minutes.
• Add onions and stir-fry till they become golden brown in colour.
• Remove from heat.
• Open the pressure cooker.
• Add this mixture to the cooked dal.
• Stir well.
• Add tamarind pulp and salt to taste.
• Mix well and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Garnish with corriander leaves and serve hot over rice alongwith some plain yogurt on the side,or, with dosas and chutney.
• Enjoy!