Warm, comforting dahl. The humble lentil does not get enough credit! This creamy bowl of Indian lentils will make anyone’s belly happy. Don’t let the lack of meat deter you – there is a ton of flavour packed into this curry!
Health Benefits of Lentils
Lentils are a great health food. They are packed with fibre, protein, potassium, antioxidants, and so much more. Eating lentils as part of your diet will help provide many health benefits and as a plus, you can feed a crowd for very little money.
One cup of cooked lentils boosts the following nutrition profile:
Calories: 230
Carbs: 39.9 grams
Protein: 17.9 grams
Fat: 0.8 grams
Fiber: 15.6 grams
Iron: 37% of the DV
Magnesium: 17% of the DV
Plus a ton of B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Adding lentils to your diet is a win-win situation for your health. Even when combined with something high in fat, like coconut milk, this dish is still a nutritional powerhouse. Plus, the aromatic curry is a great way to ease into trying the humble lentil.
Check out the recipe below, plus my video tutorial to see just how easy and laid back it is to make this yummy dish!
Red Lentil Dahl
Ingredients
- 400 grams red lentils, dry
- 1 whole onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 can (796 mL) diced tomatoes with juice
- 2 cans (400 mL each) coconut milk
- 5 whole cloves
- 4 whole green cardamon
- 1 whole bay leaf
- 0.5 tbsp whole cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1-2 tbsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp cayenne powder optional, adds heat!
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
- 3 cups chicken stock to cover and cook the lentils. May need a bit more to cover them completely. Use low sodium to control the salt, or replace with water.
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Drain and rinse your lentils several times. The water will be cloudy, just do it a few times until it is mostly clear.
- Place lentils in a medium pot and cover with chicken broth. Bring to a hard simmer. Stir occasionally and skim off foam until lentils are cooked. Set aside.
- In a large pot, melt some oil on med-low heat, and add in the bay leaf, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, cardamon, and about 1 tbsp curry powder. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add diced onion and stir. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened. You may need to add a bit more oil to keep the spices from burning.
- Add garlic, stir and cook for about 30 seconds, then add in the can of tomatoes. When the lentils are done, add them along with any remaining liquid in the pot. Turn up the heat to medium.
- Add the remaining ingredients and let it simmer until the coconut milk has melted. Wait about 5 minutes and taste. Adjust seasonings to your liking.
Video
Notes
Have you ever made dahl? What about other types of Indian food? Let us know in the comments below!
Great recipe, thanks for sharing.