Description
Comforting spicy red lentil curry delivers warm Indian flavors that dance across your palate with remarkable depth. Hearty lentils simmered in aromatic spices create a nourishing meal you’ll savor with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200g) red lentils, rinsed
- 1 (14 ounces/400g) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (14 ounces/400 milliliters) can coconut milk
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) vegetable broth or water
Aromatics and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or coconut oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance flavors)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime wedges
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pour olive oil into a spacious cooking vessel, warming it over a moderate flame until it shimmers with potential heat.
- Introduce finely chopped onions to the pan, gently coaxing them into a translucent, golden state through careful stirring, allowing their natural sweetness to emerge.
- Mince fresh garlic and ginger, releasing their aromatic essence directly into the sweating onions, letting their pungent notes infuse the developing flavor profile.
- Incorporate vibrant red lentils, transforming the mixture into a rich, rustic landscape of culinary promise, stirring to ensure each legume is kissed by the aromatic base.
- Pour in vegetable broth and coconut milk, creating a luxurious, creamy foundation that will embrace the spices and develop a velvety texture.
- Sprinkle in turmeric, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper, whisking the spices to distribute their fiery and earthy notes throughout the simmering liquid.
- Reduce the heat and allow the curry to gently bubble, periodically stirring to prevent scorching and encouraging the lentils to soften and absorb the complex flavor symphony.
- Once lentils reach a tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency, season with salt and fresh cracked pepper to elevate the dish’s final taste profile.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of bright lime juice, adding a final layer of freshness and zest to the warming curry.
Notes
- Choose a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent burning and ensure even heat distribution during sautéing.
- Use fresh ginger and garlic for maximum flavor intensity, avoiding pre-minced versions that can taste flat.
- Adjust the cooking time for onions based on their moisture content, watching for a translucent and slightly golden appearance without browning too quickly.
- Consider using a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to prevent scratching the pot’s surface while stirring ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg