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    Home » All Recipes » Dinner

    Easy Red Lentil Dahl

    April 26, 2022 By Melissa Huggins / 16 Comments

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    This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Red Lentil Dahl is a full-on comfort meal that your whole family will love. It requires common ingredients, minimal prep, and it'll cook up beautifully in 30 minutes or less! 

    Overhead view of red lentil dahl in a gray bowl.

    I'm coming right at you with another easy dinner recipe to try out and I think you're going to love it. If you've never had Red Lentil Dahl before, you're in for a treat!

    It's fragrant, satisfying, and filled with soul-warming flavor! It's just as easy and flavorful as my Vegan Chickpea Curry that I posted last week. It is a great addition to your weeknight dinner rotation.

    Most of us are cooking at home full-time now which can be really hard. So, I want to help make it quick, easy, delicious, and FUN! This recipe fits the bill.

    Table of Contents

    • Ingredients + Substitute ldeas
    • How to make Red Lentil Dahl
    • Red Lentil Dahl Success Tips
    • Flavor Enhancing Ideas
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Recipe Video
    • Red Lentil Dahl

    Ingredients + Substitute ldeas

    This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. For the complete ingredient amounts and instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.

    All ingredients to make dahl on a table top.
    • Garlic – I prefer fresh garlic, but if you don’t have it, you can use frozen or jarred.
    • Ginger – Frozen, paste, or jarred will work fine.
    • Curry Powder – if you don't have it, you use 1 teaspoon each of cumin, turmeric, and coriander. A few pinches of cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper are a nice addition, too.
    • Crushed Red Pepper – Cayenne pepper is a great substitute. Just add a few pinches.
    • Tomato Purée – Crushed tomatoes or 1.5 cups of canned diced will work too. You can also dice 3 medium tomatoes and cook with their juices.
    • Red Lentils – You can use yellow lentils, but they will take longer to cook. Just simmer until tender.
    • Coconut Milk – You can use homemade cashew cream or any store-bought vegan cream that’s unsweetened. Lite coconut milk will work too. Just use 1 ¼ cups instead of the full can.
    • Lemon Juice – Fresh lime juice will work too.

    How to make Red Lentil Dahl

    See how to make this dahl recipe in just six easy steps and all in one pan.

    Six process photos showing how to make the recipe in a pan.
    1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened and lightly golden.
    2. Add the garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
    3. Add the curry powder, cumin, and crushed red pepper. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
    4. Now add the tomato purée.
    5. Cook the purée for about 5 minutes until it thickens up.
    6. Add the broth, coconut milk, red lentils, and salt. Gently simmer for 15-20 minutes or until thickened and the lentils are tender.

    Red Lentil Dahl Success Tips

    You'll love how easy this recipe is to put together. Here are some tips to help you along:

    • Don't overcook the lentils or they will lose their texture and become mushy.
    • For a thinner consistency, add a few splashes of broth or water to thin.
    • Keep everything at a moderate simmer. If you boil it, the coconut milk may curdle and the liquid will cook down too fast.
    • If you want a thicker consistency, reduce the vegetable broth and coconut milk by ½ cup each. Note: the lentil dahl naturally thickens up as it cools down a bit.
    • To make this dahl kid-friendly, you can reduce or omit the crushed pepper and reduce the cumin.

    Flavor Enhancing Ideas

    I kept this dahl recipe simple, but it still has a wonderful flavor. Just make sure to sauté the onions well until they are lightly golden, and sauté the garlic and spices until they are fragrant. Also, make sure your spices are not expired and choose a quality brand.

    If you want to add additional flavor, you can add ½ teaspoon of cumin, coriander, or garam masala to the curry powder.

    This lentil dahl is mildly-spiced, so if you want more heat, you can add 1 small jalapeño or serrano pepper with the garlic and ginger. Deseed the peppers first, then dice or slice them. You can leave some seeds for extra heat.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I freeze dahl?

    Yes, you can, but the texture may change slightly due to the coconut milk. However, if you're cooking the dahl specifically to freeze it, you can leave out the coconut milk and add it when you thaw and reheat. It'll keep in the freezer for 4-6 months.

    What do I serve with dahl?

    Dahl is very hearty on its own, but it pairs nicely with rice, naan, lemon or lime wedges, and fresh-cut cilantro

    This Red Lentil Dahl also goes perfectly with quinoa, salad, cauliflower rice, artisan bread, roasted or steamed veggies, Bombay potatoes, and more!

    Two bowls filled with red lentil dahl and rice with naan on the side.

    More Indian-Inspired Recipes To Try

    • Easy Vegan Chickpea Curry
    • Cauliflower Tikka Masala
    • Chana Masala
    • Aloo Gobi

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  rating and sharing your feedback in the comment section below. It would really make my day! You can also share your remake with me on Instagram. Just tag #veganhuggs and @veganhuggs so I don’t miss it! 

    ⭐️ Subscribe to the Vegan Huggs Newsletter and receive weekly recipes straight to your inbox! You'll also receive my FREE eCookbook featuring my top 10 recipes. 

    Recipe Video

    Bowl of red lentil dahl with rice and naan on the side.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    5 from 17 votes

    Red Lentil Dahl

    This Red Lentil Dahl is a full-on comfort meal that your whole family will love. It requires common ingredients, requires minimal prep, and it'll cook up beautifully in 30 minutes or less! 
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Dinner, Entree
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Melissa Huggins

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or preferred oil
    • 1 large onion , finely diced
    • 4 cloves garlic , minced
    • 1 tablespoon ginger , grated or minced (fresh, frozen or paste)
    • 1 tablespoon curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper , more to taste (sub ¼ teaspoon cayenne)
    • 4 cups vegetable broth , low sodium
    • 2 cups red lentils , rinsed well and drained
    • 1 cup tomato purée , jarred/canned (not paste or sauce)
    • ¾ teaspoon salt , more to taste
    • 14 ounces coconut milk , canned (full-fat)
    • 1 lemon , juiced (sub with lime)
    • ¼ cup cilantro , chopped

    For Serving (Optional)

    • Naan
    • Fresh-Cut Cilantro
    • Lemon Wedges
    • Rice  (about 3 cups cooked)

    Recommended Equipment

    • Large Skillet or Pot
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a large skillet (or Large Pot) over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add onion and sauté until softened and lightly golden. About 4-6 minutes.
    • Lower heat one notch and add the garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
    • Add the curry powder, cumin, and crushed red pepper. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
    • Now add the tomato purée. Cook for about 3-5 minutes until it thickens up. Stir often to prevent sticking or burning. Lower heat if needed.
    • Add the broth, coconut milk, red lentils, and salt. Stir well to combine. Raise the heat to get things moving, then lower the heat to maintain a mild-moderate simmer. Cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is thick and the lentils are starting to fall apart. Stir occasionally.
    • Remove from heat and add the lemon juice and cut cilantro. Let it sit for a few minutes to thicken up. Serve with rice, naan lemon wedges and more cilantro if desired. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Flavor enhancing ideas: ½ teaspoon turmeric, coriander or garam masala. Add to the pan with curry powder. A pinch of cinnamon or cardamom at the end of cooking is nice too. 
    To make this kid-friendly, you can reduce or omit the crushed pepper.
    For more heat, sauté 1 small serrano pepper or jalapeño with ginger and garlic. Seeded and sliced or diced (leave some seeds for more heat).
    If you don't have tomato purée, you can substitute with crushed canned tomatoes or 1.5 cups of diced canned tomatoes. You can also dice 3 medium fresh tomatoes. Cook with their juices, too. 
    *Nutritional info doesn't include rice or naan.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 799mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @veganhuggs and mention #veganhuggs!

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    About Melissa

    I’m Melissa Huggins – the creator of Vegan Huggs. I started this blog to share delicious vegan recipes that everyone will love. Yep, that includes carnivores, too! Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Emily

      September 18, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      This comforting red lentil dahl was delicious with basmati rice and homemade naan! I loved how easy it was to make with ingredients I already had in my pantry. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Support @ Vegan Huggs

        September 30, 2021 at 7:25 pm

        Hi Emily! We are so happy to hear that you loved the recipe - thanks so much for trying it 🙂

        Reply
        • Karina Mahoney

          May 28, 2022 at 1:32 am

          5 stars
          I just made this for my kids and they both absolutely loved it. I have portions in the freezer and they can't wait to have it again. I'll be printing and laminating this recipe for my collection, I will definitely be making this again and again. Maybe I'll learn how to make some kind of flatbread to go with it.

        • Melissa Huggins

          June 03, 2022 at 3:26 am

          Love the feedback, Karina! Thank you for the kind words. 🙂 It would be amazing with homemade flatbread for sure.

    2. Serafina J-W

      March 12, 2021 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      The absolute best Dahl recipe I've found! I'm only 17 but I make this for my family all the time and we all adore it!! It's incredibly comforting and is perfect in any season, whether it's a warm bowl by the fire in winter or a summer meal sitting outside with the crickets. We've been making this once every 1-2 weeks for a while now and it's always something to look forward to. The coconut milk adds the perfect touch of creaminess, while the onions are a crispy treat. I highly recommend this recipe!

      Reply
      • Support @ Vegan Huggs

        March 19, 2021 at 7:57 am

        Hi Serafina! What a wonderful compliment, and so nice that you are cooking for your family! We are so happy to hear that the recipe is a hit with everyone, thank you for stopping by to leave a review 🙂

        Reply
    3. Melissa

      September 06, 2020 at 9:23 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! I made this along with the Chickpea Curry and both were outstanding! I made Forbidden Rice with The Dahl and Saffron rice with the Curry!! My husband is asking if we have leftovers as he loved it! He said he feels like we were eating in an Indian Restaurant in India! Thanks so much, I’m excited to try more of your recipes!!

      Reply
      • Support @ Vegan Huggs

        October 02, 2020 at 2:34 pm

        Hi Melissa! This made our day, thank you so much for the review! We are so happy you loved the recipes 🙂

        Reply
    4. Mark Carboon

      May 17, 2020 at 2:09 am

      5 stars
      Having been a lover of Indian inspired food I cooked this for the first time tonight
      and not only did I love it, all of my family did too. Being vegan for 6 years this is
      not only a well balanced and beautifully textured meal, it is a family friendly dinner
      that all ages can enjoy. My rating is normally reserved to recommended or
      not recommended. On this occasion I feel compelled to change my rating to
      highly recommended. Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        June 02, 2020 at 5:50 pm

        Hi Mark, this is the nicest compliment. I'm so happy your family loved it! Thank you. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Russ

      April 28, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome!!! Came out incredible!!

      Have you made similar with green or yellow lentils? Would love to find a Dahl recipe like yours with green lentils!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        May 01, 2020 at 10:43 am

        I'm so glad you liked it! The yellow lentils are similar to the red ones in the way they cook (may take a few minutes longer) and their texture. The green ones will work, but the texture will vary. They will remain somewhat firm. It'll still be delicious though. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

        Reply
    6. HMC

      April 22, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow!!! Just made this. It’s so delicious! I added a like bit of cinnamon at the end like mentioned and it was so good. I am adding this to my recipe box!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        April 26, 2020 at 5:42 pm

        Yay! I'm so glad you liked it. Thank you for making it and sharing your feedback 🙂

        Reply
    7. Mercy Vegan

      April 19, 2020 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      Ive been vegan for over 30 years andI've made dhal lots of times, usually without a recipe, but not for ages and thought I'd give your recipe a go and I have to say that I would have given it 100 out of 100, it was so delicious. We even ate the leftiovers again the next day, it was so good. I've used coconut cream in curries a lot but never in dhal and it really added so much to it.
      I had to tweak the recipe as had run out of ginger and cumin (we are under lockdown and only shopping once a week) but I used a bit of extra curry powder.
      Well done and thank you so much for this lovely recipe, which all my kids loved too,

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        April 19, 2020 at 10:19 am

        This is the nicest compliment! I'm so glad you liked it so much (and the kiddos). Thank you for trying it out and sharing your feedback. Have a lovely Sunday! 🙂

        Reply

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