When you hear lentils, you probably don’t think of decadence. You probably think of healthy, nourishing, and if we’re being honest, maybe even boring. But, I’m here to change your perception of lentils with this ultra creamy, ultra indulgent Vegan Red Lentil Curry that comes together in a snap.
This recipe has been a fan favorite for the last 2 years, so I figured it was time to update the blog post and give it a video too!
Here’s why you’ll love this Vegan Red Lentil Curry
Weeknight ready: It’s ready in 35-45 minutes so you can easily make it for a weeknight dinner.
Creamy and dreamy: This curry is extremely creamy and indulgent. You can thank the full-fat coconut milk and the creamy almond butter for that.
Flavorful beyond belief: It’s packed with flavor thanks to the fresh garlic, ginger, and chili peppers, along with a generous dose of Indian spices.
Nourishing: This red lentil curry might be dangerously delicious and indulgent, but it’s also quite nourishing. The garlic, ginger, and turmeric boast tons of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while the lentils make this a hearty, protein-packed meal. Plus, you’ll stay full for hours due to the high content of healthy fat from coconut milk and almond butter.
And if you already love this curry, I have more delicious curries for you to try!
For more Indian flavors, this Vegan Pumpkin Curry with Tofu is packed with protein and totally delicious. Or if you’re looking for something different (but still in the curry family), this Thai Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas is a fan favorite. Like the Red Lentil Curry, both recipes are weeknight friendly and totally delicious.
And if you own an instant pot, I have a number of curries in my cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook.
Ingredient Rundown
Aromatics. This curry starts with fresh ginger, garlic, and green chili peppers to provide lots of those classic Indian flavors. My mom starts most Indian dishes with these ingredients (sometimes, onions too), so you can’t go wrong with this trio!
Turmeric. Most Indian lentil curry recipes contain turmeric. And why not? It’s a nutritional superstar with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The main active in turmeric—curcumin—not only blocks damage-causing free radicals in the body but also stimulates the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms.
I love using fresh turmeric in this recipe. It’s earthy and peppery, slightly bitter yet slightly sweet. It looks like ginger but its interior flesh is bright orange. You can find fresh turmeric at Indian and Asian grocery stores, health food stores, and the produce department of stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts.
That said, it’s totally fine to use ground turmeric in this recipe! I’ve made it both ways, and it’s always delicious.
Ground Indian Spices. While I love adding some whole spices to my Indian recipes, I wanted to keep this recipe weeknight friendly and very accessible. You’ll add the spices after sautéing the aromatics, and they need just 30 to 60 seconds to toast.
Red Lentils. The main ingredient in this recipe are red lentils, no surprise! You can use regular red lentils, or red split lentils. The split variety is more commonly available in South Asian grocery stores, and sold as masoor dal. The split lentils cook a bit quicker than the whole variety because their skins have been removed, but there isn’t a huge difference in cook time.
Need another use for those red lentils in your pantry? My 10-Ingredient Red Lentil Bolognese is a must-make (and pantry-friendly!).
Crushed Tomatoes. I prefer to use crushed canned tomatoes (instead of diced tomatoes or fresh tomatoes) because I love their thick, saucy texture in a creamy curry.
Coconut Milk. I use full-fat canned coconut milk in this recipe, and I must say it’s an essential ingredient. The creaminess and high-fat content not only makes this curry extremely luxurious, but they are also necessary to balance the spice and tanginess in this curry.
If you taste the curry before adding the coconut milk, you’ll notice it is quite acidic (from the tomatoes) and very spicy, almost too spicy to eat. But after the coconut milk cooks down for a few minutes, it transforms into a totally different dish.
Almond Butter. This is my secret ingredient! Almond butter is definitely not traditional in Indian curries, but many North Indian curries do rely on blended cashews to bring creaminess…so it’s not that different, right? The almond butter brings another level of richness to this curry, in addition to a subtly sweet nuttiness that is just lovely.
Lemon Juice and Cilantro. My mom finishes many of her Indian dishes with these ingredients—the lemon juice adds a pop of freshness and livens the flavors, as well as helps balance the spices, while the cilantro adds flavor—so I usually finish my curries this way too.
How to make this Vegan Red Lentil Curry
First, gather your ingredients.
Dice up your ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and turmeric (if using fresh).
Sauté the ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and turmeric (if using fresh) in hot oil for about 2 minutes, until fragrant.
Then, add the ground spices and cook for 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
Deglaze with the vegetable broth, then add in the red lentils and crushed tomatoes.
Simmer, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through.
Stir in the coconut milk and almond butter.
Continue cooking, uncovered, for 5 to 8 minutes, until the curry has thickened.
Finally, stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, and season to taste.
You can also view a web story of me making the the red lentil curry here.
Tips for Making this Vegan Red Lentil Curry
Don’t skimp on the garlic and ginger and spices. This is what infuses the dish with tons of flavor!
If you can’t tolerate spicy food whatsoever, you can omit the chili peppers. If you can handle a little heat, use one Serrano pepper (remove the seeds) or one jalapeño pepper (keep the seeds; jalapeño peppers are less spicy than Serranos). If you can handle a moderate amount of heat, try one serrano pepper with the seeds intact. And if you really like things on the spicy side, use two Serrano peppers, with seeds intact. This is what I do :)
If you can’t find fresh turmeric, just substitute 1 teaspoon ground turmeric and add it with the other ground spices. The easiest way to mince fresh turmeric (and ginger) is by using a microplane or a small cheese grater.
If your can of coconut milk is not mixed well (i.e., the solid cream part is very distinct from the liquid part), you might want to first pour the milk into a large bowl and whisk to break up the clumps. That’ll make it easier to whisk the milk into the curry.
Make sure you use smooth almond butter, as it’ll be harder to incorporate crunchy almond butter into the curry and you might end up with chunks of almond butter.
The cook time will vary slightly depending on the type of pan you use and the variety of lentils. When I make this in a wide, shallow pan like this, the lentils get softened and cooked through more quickly (about 20-22 minutes) than when I use a soup pot or Dutch oven (closer to 30 minutes). Also, as mentioned earlier, red split lentils will cook a bit more quickly than standard red lentils.
Vegan Red Lentil Curry Recipe Video
If I could only cook one dish for a vegan skeptic…
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use another nut butter besides almond butter?
Cashew butter would be the next best option, as it’s equally creamy and neutral in taste. Peanut butter might overwhelm the other flavors in this dish, but if it’s the only option you have, I recommend starting off with a smaller amount (1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons, instead of 3) and taste as you go. That said, many users have made it with peanut butter and enjoyed it. And for a nut-free option, you can try tahini.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
I’ve probably only frozen this recipe once because it’s my partner’s favorite, so he usually eats it within a day or two. That said, it does freeze pretty well, and I’ve had many readers freeze it with good results.
Can I use water instead of vegetable broth?
Yes! Just add a tad more salt, as needed.
Can I add vegetables to this curry?
Many readers have added sweet potatoes when adding the lentils (I recommend grating them so they melt into the texture-it’s so good!), as well as mushrooms or greens like spinach when adding the coconut milk. You could add in quick-cooking vegetables when adding the coconut milk, or for extra protein, you can add in a can of chickpeas at this time.
Can I make Red Lentil Curry in the Instant Pot?
Yes! I have a recipe for how to make this recipe in the instant pot in my cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook. The cookbook has 90 more nutritious (and colorful!) recipes you can make easily with the magic of an instant pot pressure cooker. It’s currently rated at 4.7 stars with over 2600 reviews on Amazon. Check it out!
More Recipes You Might Like
In the mood for more curries? Check these out:
- Thai Butternut Squash Chickpea Curry
- Vegan Pumpkin Curry with Tofu
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry
And if you’re looking for more lentil recipes, well, I have loads of those for you, too!
If you give this Vegan Red Lentil Curry recipe a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please comment with your feedback below!
Vegan Red Lentil Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon refined or virgin coconut oil, or a neutral-flavored oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh turmeric, or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1-2 serrano peppers, diced (see recipe note below on spice level)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon Indian red chili powder (if you only have regular chili powder, which is a blend, use 1 teaspoon)
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- Kosher salt or sea salt to taste (I use about 1 tsp kosher salt, and add more at the end)
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 cup (180-190g) red lentils, or split red lentils (the split variety will cook a bit quicker)
- 2 cups (480 mL) low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 (14-ounce / 400g) can crushed tomatoes (or half of a 28-ounce can)
- 1 (13.5-ounce/400 mL) can full-fat coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened creamy almond butter
- 1/2 a small lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup (~8g) fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- For serving: Basmati or Jasmine rice and Indian flatbread such as roti, paratha, or naan
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
- If you can’t tolerate spicy food whatsoever, you can omit the chili peppers. If you can handle a little heat, use one Serrano pepper (remove the seeds) or one jalapeño pepper (with the seeds), and if you really like things on the spicy side, use two Serrano peppers (with seeds intact).
This is one of the most flavorful, delightful, wonderful things I have ever cooked. One of my sons asked that it go on weekly rotation. Thank you for such a fantastic recipe.
We’re over the moon to hear you liked the recipe, Mel. Thanks for your kind words!
This dish is a staple in our household. I boost the vegetables by doubling the tomatoes and adding broccoli and carrots.
So cool to learn it’s a favorite, Kathy! :)
This curry has been on my meal rotation for years now and is always comforting to eat. It’s a great quick pantry meal that I was able to make even when I couldn’t do my normal grocery run during a winter storm we had last week in Texas.
P.S. I tend to use sunflower butter in this due to a tree-nut allergy.
So great to hear you’ve been loving the curry for years, Victoria! :)
Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
Nisha ,you are amazing!!
We’re honored you enjoy the recipes, Mihaela :)
I have made this recipe numerous times, and batch cook a big pot of it. I substitute the serano peppers for fresh green chillies, add a little extra chilli powder some extra heat and omit the almond butter. I also add some whole cashew nuts for a little extra texture.
My favourite lentil recipe, everybody I’ve served it too loves it.
Those sound like wonderful additions to the curry, Rishi! We’re honored this is your favorite lentil recipe :)
Is the nutritional info for the entire 4 servings the recipe makes, or just for 1 serving?
Hi Brenda, the nutritional info is per serving.
I made this dish twice and it was amazing …..
thank you so much for sharing it with us who are looking for something easy and exciting !
So good to hear you loved the recipe so much you made it twice, Kim! You’re very welcome for the recipe :)
Absolutely fantastic!
We’re delighted you think so, Ronda!
I’ve made this 3 times now. Wunderbar! (One serrano pepper with seeds is the right amount of heat for me.)
So great to hear this curry is a favorite, Anthony!
Excellent. Especially with add sour cream(more filling)…no Greek yogurt 😬
I’ve made this recipe several times. Yummy! I’ve added cubed sweet potato or butternut squash and spinach at the end. Everyone liked it. Freezes well for weekday lunches. Good recipe for beginning cooks.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Annette! And we’re glad you found it easy to make :)
We can’t do coconut do to allergies. I really miss the flavor and use of it as a dairy substitute. What could I use in curries instead of coconut milk?
Hi, I’m not from the team, but maybe this helps:
In the end, you can substitute any plant milk, although you might have to tinker a bit with quantities, as full-fat coconut milk is quite creamy. So maybe use less in the beginning, so as not to have a curry that’s too thin.
If cashews are an option, you can always substitute cashew cream. Which, of course, doesn’t have the taste of coconut milk, but is probably just as creamy.
You could also tinker a bit with mixing nut butter and their milk counterpart (eg: almond butter + almond milk) to get a creamier consistency and a nuttier taste.
Thank you for those ideas! I will have to tinker around with some different things. I love the taste of coconut but with allergies that will just have to be missed.
Hi,
I know that with every recipe we should adjust cooking times and this is just something I’ve been wondering, so maybe you can help.
Whenever I’ve seen a recipe in English that’s calling for red lentils, it gives the cooking time as about 20 minutes. The red lentils I have at home have a cooking time of 5-10 minutes, and if I cook them anything longer than 12 minutes, they completely disintegrate into whatever I’m cooking.
Any idea why that might be?
I’m still contemplating whether to add the lentils later, reduce the cooking time, or use a different kind of lentils (or a mix!). But this has definitely been added to my “want to cook”-list. :D
Thanks in advance!
Ellie
Hi Ellie, there are a number of factors that can affect lentil cooking time such as age of lentils, freshness of lentils, the temperature of the boil, your altitude and size of your pot. With this recipe, we’d recommend just keeping an eye on it and removing from the heat once the lentils have cooked to your desired texture. You can also try reducing the heat if you feel that may be the issue. We hope that helped!
Made this for a non-vegan friend who couldn’t imagine a satisfying vegan meal. It was an absolute hit and his mind is changed :)
The term “kari” is also used in South East Asia (Filipino, Malay, Indonesia and Singapore) the way we use it in the USA.
Constructed recipe exactly as written. So yummy! Thank you Nisha for all of your hard work and wonderful inspiring recipes!
Not a vegan at all but currently fasting from sweets and meat. Made this tonight for hubby, my 3 year old twins and I and we LOVED it!! Definitely going into our weekly dinner rotation!!
The best curry I have ever made!
Hi, can I substitute chopped tomatoes for something else? I’m not a big tomato fan. Thanks
Tomatoe paste will add flavor without being strong
Hi Elle, unfortunately if you don’t want to use tomatoes, many curry recipes aren’t for you. We just released this vegan thai green curry recipe that you may enjoy, though: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-thai-green-curry/
Great recipe
I omitted the Serrano peppers and chili powder because of young children
Blended the tomatoes really well
Omitted the almond butter
It was delightful for adults and young children under 8
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Nureia! :)
I never leave comments on a recipe… but this was so delicious I immediately made a second batch to freeze. Absolutely fantastic!
Yay, Sophia! We’re glad you were such a fan of the curry :)
Had to try with green lentils which meant an extra 15-20 min during the lentil cooking stage, but turned out great! This one is incredibly versatile. I’ve put it over rice, naan, and even egg noodles with some nutritional yeast sprinkled on top – delicious!
Lovely to hear you enjoyed the curry, Mike! Thanks for sharing, we’re glad you find it so versatile!