Vegan Red Lentil Dahl with Coconut Milk
This Indian red lentil dahl recipe is easy to make in less than 40 minutes with a handful of pantry staples.
About the Recipe
This lentil dahl recipe is inspired by the popular Indian dish and features red lentils, aromatic spices and coconut milk.
Lentil dahl is a thick stew that can be served on its own or with rice. It’s even better with naan bread for dipping and soaking up the coconut curry sauce.
Despite its simple ingredients, it’s a wonderfully flavorful recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or meal prep.
For a similar easy recipe, this Coconut Sweet Potato Red Lentil Curry is really nice. For more Indian recipes, this Creamy Vegan Vegetable Korma, Curried Tofu and Potato Cauliflower Curry are all delicious.
Ingredient Notes
- Oil: The recipe calls for coconut oil but any cooking oil like olive oil or avocado oil is a suitable substitute. For an oil-free recipe, omit the oil and use 1-2 tbsp water or broth.
- Onion: White or yellow onion is suitable.
- Garlic & Ginger: Use fresh garlic and ginger.
- Lentils: Use dry whole red lentils.
- Coconut Milk: You can use full-fat or light coconut milk. Use full-fat for a quick and creamy curry or light coconut milk to reduce the fat and calorie content.
- Liquid: Vegetable broth is recommended but water works too. Broth will add more flavor to the final dish.
This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.
Variations & Additions
This recipe is very forgiving and flexible. I usually add carrot, celery and spinach but pretty much any extra veggies work or you can even add rice, chickpeas or quinoa.
- Add Greens: You can stir in a couple handfuls of fresh spinach, collarg greens or finely chopped kale at the end for added nutrition.
- Additional Protein: Try serving with baked tofu or tempeh.
- More Veggies: If you want to add additional veggies, I’d recommend adding celery, diced carrots, cauliflower or bell peppers at the same time as the onions. You can also add veggies like diced butternut squash, zucchini or sweet potatoes.
- Soup: To make this closer to a soup, add an additional 2 cups of vegetable broth, or try this Vegan Mulligatawny Soup Recipe or Curried Lentil Soup.
- Chickpeas: For more bulk, fiber and nutrition, stir in 1 can of chickpeas near the end of cooking.
- Heat: The dahl is not overly spicy but you can cmit or reduce the red pepper flakes if you’re sensitive to spice, or feel free to add a little more if you really want some kick! One diced jalapeno or cayenne pepper work as an alternative to red chili flakes.
- To make this recipe oil-free: Omit the coconut oil and saute the onion, garlic and ginger in water or broth.
- Lemon or Lime: Some enjoy dahl with some fresh lime or lemon juice. You can stir a squeeze of lemon or lime juice in at the end or serve with lemon or lime wedges.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Cook the onions, garlic and ginger in the coconut oil for 6-7 minutes over medium heat in a large pot, Dutch oven or large saucepan, stirring often.
Step 2. Add the spices, coconut milk, dried lentils and broth or water. Give it a good stir to combine the ingredients and scrape any bits from the bottom of the pan.
Step 3. Simmer over low to medium heat for 20-30 minutes until it’s thick and creamy and the lentils are tender.
Step 4. Serve right away topped with fresh cilantro, on its own or over rice or quinoa. Lentil dahl pairs nicely with fresh pita, naan or roti.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Healthy red lentils are rich in fibre, plant-based protein, iron and other micronutrients. To make this recipe lower in fat and calories, use light coconut milk.
You can use any non-dairy milk such as unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk. You can also make a quick cashew cream like in this vegan butter tofu recipe.
Red lentils have a quick cooking time so they do not need to be soaked. You can give them a quick rinse in cold water before adding to the recipe to remove any debris, if you like.
Yes. Red lentil dahl is suitable for making in advance and will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat dahl in a pot on the stovetop or in individual servings in the microwave.
Yes. Let it cool then store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat stovetop or in the microwave as needed.
Red lentil dahl of course, is best with red lentils. You can substitute brown or green lentils though the dahl with have a different texture and be darker in colour.
Red lentils become soft and mushy when cooked, perfect for making dahl, a stew dish with a thick, creamy texture. Green and brown lentils remain firm when cooked to the dahl wouldn’t be as creamy. You’ll also need a slightly longer cooking time and may need to adjust the amount of liquid used.
More Curry Recipes
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Coconut Red Lentil Dahl
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A red lentil dahl cooked in coconut milk with a fragrant combination of spices. You’ll make this delicious staple dish time and time again. Luckily, it makes a big batch!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil
- 2 medium white or yellow onion, diced (approx. 4 cups)
- 4 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced
- 1 tbsp mild yellow curry powder
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 cups (375 g) dry red lentils
- 1 14 oz can full-fat coconut milk*
- 3 cups water or vegetable stock*
- fresh cilantro, for serving
- cooked jasmine, basmati or brown rice, optional for serving
Instructions
- Cook Aromatics: Cook the onions, ginger and garlic in the coconut oil for 5-10 minutes over medium heat in a large saucepan or pot, stirring frequently until soft.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add all of the spices, salt and pepper, coconut milk, red lentils and water or vegetable stock.
- Simmer Dahl: Bring to a light simmer over low to medium heat and cook for 25-30 minutes, uncovered, until lentils are tender and the dahl has thickened.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve topped with fresh cilantro over basmati rice, brown rice, quinoa, or on its own.
Notes
Broth or Water: You can use both with good results but the broth adds more flavour to the final dish.
Coconut Milk: Both light and full-fat coconut milk work well. Full-fat will result in an extra creamy dahl, light coconut milk is great for a lower-fat option that’s still delicious.
Storage: Let cool then store in a sealable container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat as needed stovetop or in the microwave.
Spiciness: Omit or reduce the amount of red pepper flakes if you’re sensitive to spice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th of recipe
- Calories: 330
- Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Protein: 19 g
This recipe was originally published on August 23, 2013.
I’m at a point in my life where I am wanting to eat more vegetarian and less meat so for now, we’re doing 50-50 (alternating for now but will slowly cut the meat out). Hubby is on board and I suddenly find myself in need a heap of tasty recipes to add to the rotation! After searching the internet, I decided on this as my first ever attempt at making Dahl. Not being super brave, I made it last night and sent it to work with my two best friends for their lunch and one messaged me her empty container and said “if it was polite to lick this clean at work, I would!” The other enjoyed it too so I had some for dinner tonight and YUM! Hubby also loved it so that’s a clean sweep! Thank you so much for helping us along on our journey, with this delicious recipe! Now I’m off to explore your other recipes. Let me know if there is anything I should definitely try!
That’s awesome! The dahl was a great place to start. Some other popular recipes are my chickpea burgers, panang curry, any of the soups and stews, farro salad bowls, chickpea wraps – there are too many, haha! Enjoy exploring!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this recipe. Even when my mum comes to town she’s made a large batch for me to freeze for busier times. Delicious & also good with added kale or spinach.
Lots of flavour and high in nutrients. Can be used as a base recipe and adapted with veg additions.
Glad you enjoyed it!!
I have shared this recipe with all my daughters, it has become a family favourite. Thank you!
Ever since I found this recipe, it has been my husband’s and my favorite meal! We have made it dozens of times and we always look forward to having it. We’ve started playing around with it and adding potatoes, carrots, etc. The flavors are delicious and it is so easy! Thanks so much for posting this.
That’s awesome! So glad you guys enjoy it! I love this recipe too. Enjoy experimenting with variations!
Made this Dahl tonight for the first time and OH MY!!! Amazing!! So easy and so delicious, I served it with roasted the cauliflower, parsnip and spinach. Will define toy be making this again, thanks so much!
I just made this, and it tastes delicious!
Very glad to hear it!
I just made this recipe, and it took me about 40 minutes, because of the prepping of the garlic ginger and onions. It’s really good, I made quinoa to go with it and avacado on the side. Love it, maybe I’ll have a glass of wine or a beer to go with it. I think this recipe deserve 5 stars.
Thanks! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Sounds perfect with a glass of wine or a beer 😉 Enjoy!
This was DELICIOUS!!!!!!! We upped the curry a bit, but the base recipe was just simple and truly yummy.
So very glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of my favourites too.
I love this recipe so much that I kept a written copy in my kitchen. I gave my hard copy to a friend who came over and loved it too. Back online the recipe looks a little different. Did an older version of it have chili powder in it?
Hey there, glad you enjoy this recipe! I updated this recipe maybe 3 years ago so the previous version might have had chili powder. I didn’t feel the flavor profile really fit with the rest of the ingredients. I don’t think I made any other changes! If you want a bit of heat to it, I’d recommend cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. Enjoy@