For those nights where all you want is a hearty & healthy dish: this Easy Vegan Red Lentil Dhal is your friend!
You probably know by now that I'm all about hearty & delicious comfort foods - but with a healthy twist (mostly!). This easy Vegan Red Lentil Dhal is a firm favorite in my kitchen - cause it's super easy & quick to create. So when I'm really hungry for a warming & more-ish dish without the fuss, then this dhal is just absolutely perfect!
What you'll need
Ingredients
- red lentils (dried)
- coconut milk: making this dhal super creamy!
- chopped tomatoes
- curry powder: you can use your favourites or whatever you have to hand at the time. I usually go with a mild curry powder
- garam masala
- garlic
- onion
- a little oil: you can also use water, if you want to keep this dish a little lower on calories.
- salt & pepper: season to your own taste
- chilli powder (optional): in case you like it spicy or your curry powder it not spicy enough! 😉
Equipment
- large frying pan
- spatula or wooden spoon
- measuring jugs or scale
Nothing crazy or fancy is needed for this recipe, that's why I love it also!
How to make Easy Vegan Red Lentil Dhal
To start with this recipe simply add a splash of oil to a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add your chopped onions and cook for a minute or until they start to become translucent, then add in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Sprinkle in the curry powder and garam masala - I like to use a mild curry powder for this recipe - quickly stir it with the onions & garlic, then pour in the dried red lentils. Gently stir to combine everything and if you like it on the spicy side, add in some chili powder (totally optional!). Pour in the tin of chopped tomatoes and the tin of coconut milk, then reduce the heat to low and allow everything to simmer for 20-25 minutes. Stir regularly to allow for the dhal to evenly cook.
In the meantime, you can prepare some delicious, fluffy rice to serve the dhal with! I love adding a tablespoon of shredded coconut into my rice when boiling, simply delicious!
Your dhal is cooked when the red lentils are completely softened and have soaked up the majority of the liquid in your frying pan. Serve the simple dhal with rice, coconut yogurt, and fresh herbs & enjoy!
How to serve dhal
There are different options for how you can enjoy this recipe. You can totally eat a dhal on its own and without any sides of rice, however, I find it tastes best served with delicious, fluffy white rice.
Coconut yogurt is also a great addition to the dish, it simply adds something fresh and creamy to the meal - and if your dhal is on the spicier side, then it wonderfully balances out the spice. Yogurt is definitely my favorite addition to any dhal or curry!
In addition, I love adding fresh herbs - mostly either coriander or parsley to the dish - the little splash of green also looks wonderful and delicious on the dish!
Finishing off with some sesame seeds for a slight crunch (yes, I simply love adding them to all my dishes, ha!)
This recipe is:
- 100% vegan
- naturally gluten-free
- more-ish
- hearty
- warming
- full of flavour
- easy to make!
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Vegan Red Lentil Dhal
Equipment
- 1 large frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 brown onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon canola oil for frying
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon curry powder or to taste
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 120 g dried red lentils
- 1 can chopped tomatoes (400 g, 7 oz)
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk (400 ml, 7 oz)
- salt and pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes optional
To serve:
- fluffy rice
- fresh coriander
- coconut yogurt
- spring onions diced
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add a splash of oil to a frying pan over medium heat and add your chopped onions. Cook for a minute, then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Next sprinkle in the curry powder and garam masala, followed by the dried red lentils. Gently stir to combine everything. If you like it spicier, add in some chilli powder (optional).
- Pour in the chopped tomatoes and coconut milk, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. In the meantime you can prepare some rice to serve the dhal with!
- Your dhal is cooked when the red lentils are soft and have used up the majority of the liquid in your pan. Serve with the rice, coconut yogurt and fresh herbs & enjoy!
Looking for more vegan recipes? Why not try one of these?
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