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Red lentil dahl

We love Dahl and have been cooking it at home and in our cafe for years! This red lentil Dahl is of our oldest and favourite recipes. Vegan, gluten free and made with no oil, yet so tasty and comforting. A great recipe for batch cooking too! We hope you try it!

Takes: 40 mins | Makes: 4 Servings | Difficulty: Beginner

This Red lentil Dahl recipe is delicious. Dahl is one of the most widely eaten dishes in the world, well in India anyway! A delicious smooth lentil based curry that melts in your mouth! It is like a warm hug on a cold day and definitely is comforting! We have been making Dahl for years. It is a real staple on our Happy Pear cafe menu most weeks in some form, whether made with red lentils or mung beans, with coconut milk or without, oven baked or cooked in a pot. There are so many ways to get from A to Dahl!This recipe is easy to follow and is a good basis to start your Dahl cooking adventure on.. As it is a recipe from our Happy Heart Course it is low in fat, high in fibre and full of heart healthy nutrition.

FAQ – frequently asked questions

Can I use tinned cooked lentils instead of dry lentils ?

Yes, it’s no problem to use tinned lentils. Just use 2-3 400g tins of lentils and drain and rinse before using. And only use approx 500ml of water.

What if I don’t have all the spices in the recipe?

No problem, simply use an equal amount of curry powder in place of all the different spices.

Can I freeze this dish?

Yes indeed it freezes really well and heats up great.

How am I best storing this?

Store it in a reusable tub in the fridge. It will last for 2 days in the fridge.

If i don’t have fresh tomatoes can I use tinned tomatoes?

Yes indeed, simply use a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes

How long does this dish last in the fridge?

It will last for 2 days in the fridge

Serving suggestions for this Red lentil Dahl

Our favourite Dahl recipes

Red Lentil Dahl


This smooth red lentil Dahl melts in your mouth and will leave you coming back for more. An easy homemade vegetarian curry recipe that is super simple, quick and comforting!

Takes

Serves 4

Ingredients
 

  • 500 g red lentils
  • 2 red onions
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • ½ a thumb-size piece of ginger
  • 1 courgette
  • 4 medium ripe tomatoes
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 3 tsp medium curry powder
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp tamari
  • juice of 1 lime
  • small bunch of fresh coriander

Instructions
 

  • Peel and finely slice the onions, garlic and ginger. Cut the courgette into bite-size pieces and roughly chop the tomatoes
  • Saute the onions, garlic and ginger in 4 tbsp of water in a large pan on a high heat for 5 minutes. Stir regularly, adding more water if they start to stick to the bottom of the pan. When the onions are soft, add the courgette, tomatoes and 1 tsp salt. Cover the pan and cook gently over a low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the lentils, spices, tamari, lime juice, the remaining salt and 2 litres of water, and bring to the boil. Reduce to a low heat and simmer for 25 minutes, or until you are happy with the texture of the dahl. Stir regularly, as lentils have a tendency to stick
  • Finely chop the coriander and sprinkle over the dahl. Serve with brown rice or toasted wholemeal pitta breads, cut into soldiers. Mango chutney is also a nice accompaniment

Nutrition

Calories: 536kcalCarbohydrates: 96gProtein: 35gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1189mgPotassium: 1836mgFiber: 42gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 1206IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 12mg

Video

Keyword plant-based, vegan
  P r i n t   R e c i p e

4 responses to “Red Lentil Dahl”

  1. Naomi says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for this brilliant recipe, so easy to make and total comfort food in a bowl : )

  2. Aylo says:

    Is the calories for the whole lot or per serving?
    Would soy sauce work for Tamari?

  3. Michelle says:

    5 stars
    Total success with this dish, sublime !

  4. Joan Jackson says:

    Will definitely be trying this now that I’ve got my new cooker!

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