6 Different Ways To Lentil Curry

Lentils are power foods and should be included in your diet. They are easy and quick to prepare and absolutely delicious. Lentils are good sources of folate and magnesium and help to lower cholesterol. They also boost metabolism thereby helping to reduce body fat. Lentil curries are alien to most people, but try these 6 different ways to prepare lentil curry and I am sure you will wonder why you haven’t tried it before.

1. Lentil and sweet potato curry

The lentil and sweet potato curry is not only healthy and delicious but also easy and can be prepped in no time. First, in a vessel add oil and mustard seeds, once the mustard seeds have popped add cumin and onions. Saute the onions till softened, then add any lentil you like or you can also use a mixture of all the lentils you like. Add the vegetable stock and curry powder and further cook for 50 minutes. Then add the cut sweet potato and chopped tomatoes and further cook till nice and tender. Garnish with coriander and serve hot.

2. Creamy coconut lentil curry

This is my absolute favourite curry to have with rice, it is rich, creamy and simply mouth-watering. I use coconut oil for this recipe as it just gives a lovely taste to it if you are not a fan of it you can just give it a skip the coconut oil and use your regular vegetable oil. In a vessel add oil, saute garlic, cumin, and onions, then add tomatoes and cook till the done and the oil separates from the sides. Then add brown lentils and vegetable stock and cook for 30 to 40 minutes till the lentils have cooked. Then add the can of coconut milk and further cook for another 15 minutes and garnish with coriander.

3. Red lentil curry

If you want a curry with spice, then the red lentil curry is the way to go. The process is pretty similar to other lentil curries but has a lot of spices involved. You can also adjust the spice according to your liking and put in as much or as little as you want.  To a vessel, add oil and saute garlic, onions and green chillies. Then add turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chilli powder. Then add the red lentils and vegetable stock and a can of tomatoes and pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles or you can also leave in it the vessel to cook for about 60 minutes. Then add strips of fresh ginger and further cook for another 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh ginger and onion rings and serve.

4. Lamb and lentil curry

Did you know lentils are great to form a base of a curry? And are perfect accompaniments with meats. I did not know this recipe actually existed until I tried it out by chance and it turned out really tasty and that is when I happened to look for this recipe on different websites and realized it does exist. First, take a large vessel and add the lamb pieces, onions, and ginger-garlic paste and pressure cook for about 5 whistles. The add yellow or red lentils which you prefer, meat curry powder, garam masala and salt, and pepper to taste and pressure cook for another 4 whistles. Garnish with freshly cut coriander.

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5. Lentil and spinach curry

The lentil and spinach curry should be included in your 1 of 5 a day meals. They are high in proteins, iron and fibre and a definite yes to healthy eating. You can have them with rice or naan bread whatever you like really. They do not require a lot of ingredients to prepare and are definitely affordable. So to prepare the spinach and lentil curry you need to do is saute onions till they are nice and golden brown, then add tomatoes and saute till soft and the oil separates from the sides. Then add ginger-garlic paste and fry till the raw smell of the garlic goes away. Then add the lentils, madras curry powder and cumin powder. Add 4 cups water and cook till the lentils are almost done. Then just add the washed spinach leaves and cover the vessel and cook for 5 minutes. Add coriander for garnish and serve while hot.

6. Chicken lentil curry

The chicken lentil curry is my family’s favourite dish. My kids love chicken so add lentils with it is an absolute bonus. It is pretty quick and easy to prepare as well. Add the cumin and coriander seeds to a dry saucepan and toast for 1-2 minutes. Add the oil and the onions. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly until browned. Add the garlic, ginger, green chillies and chicken pieces and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the chilli powder, garam masala, and turmeric powder along with the lemon juice, tomatoes, and 500ml water. Bring to the boil, mix well, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the lentils and simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring regularly, until cooked.

So do not wait any longer to try out these easy and delicious lentil curry recipes. They are healthy and super tasty and can be had for lunch or dinner or also a great dish to serve at parties. The good thing about lentil curries is that you can make a big batch and freeze for whenever you want next and also they are so affordable to make for large quantities.

Have you tried any of these recipes? There are some which are easy to cook and some which are a bit more time-consuming. I’m sure if you really enjoy cooking, you will give them all a try. It surely is a very healthy diet and mixed with rice or Indian naan bread, is a fantastic combination. Are there any other recipes you have tried besides these? Tell us which of these lentil curries are your favourites and how often do you make these?

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