Coconut Curry Lentils are ready in 20 minutes or less thanks to shortcuts like canned lentils, pre-minced garlic and ginger, and a simple spice blend.
Coconut Curry Lentils
I’m obsessed with lentils, and I’ll admit I almost never use canned lentils. But when the cravings hit and it’s one of those busy school weeknights, I’ve found just what a great time saver canned lentils can be! They especially work well in a creamy curry since they don’t need to be as firm to still be tasty (like you’d want in a lentil salad.)
These curried lentils are ridiculously simple to make with very minimal prep and the meal is incredibly nutritious and ultra flavorful. It’ll be hard to believe you whipped it all up in about 20 minutes or less! 🙂
Quick Tip
While this meatless meal may seem like it’s lacking protein, lentils are actually an incredible source of plant-based protein and fiber. 1 cup of cooked lentils yields about 19 grams of protein!
Coconut Curry Lentils Spiciness
As written, this curry is very mild (erring more on the sweet side than spicy depending on the coconut milk used).
If you’d like to add some more heat, I’d recommend some cayenne pepper (start with 1/8 teaspoon) and add that in with the other seasonings. Red pepper flakes are another option to add some kick.
Short-Cut Ideas
Here are the main shortcuts I use for these easy coconut curry lentils:
- Garlic & Ginger: I use frozen Dorot garlic and ginger cubes or refrigerated garlic paste or minced garlic for quick flavor.
- Shallot: I dice a shallot or pulse it in a food processor to save time.
- Canned Lentils: Canned lentils skip the extra pot and long simmer time.
- Simple Seasonings: I kept the spices minimal but flavorful to make things faster and easier.
Coconut Curry Lentils Ingredients
Beyond the aromatics and lentils, here are the other main ingredients:
- Coconut milk. I highly recommend using full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and thickness. Additionally, the natural sweetness in the full-fat coconut milk will balance the spiciness of the seasonings. Lite coconut milk doesn’t thicken quite as nicely and won’t give the rich full flavor that regular coconut milk provides. Look for shelf-stable, unrefrigerated cans of coconut milk. You’ll find canned coconut milk on the international aisle, with Latin or Asian products. Here’s an article outlining the best brands to use. I personally use Imperial Kitchen® since I can find it easily at my local grocery store.
- Yellow curry powder. Curry powder is another ingredient that varies a lot from brand to brand. We’ve tested this curry with Great Value®, Simple Truth Organic®, and McCormick® — all work similarly and are mild. If you’re not a heat lover, add curry powder slowly and to taste. You can always add a touch of sugar at the end to balance spiciness if needed.
- Lemon juice. A little bit of fresh lemon juice is the perfect finishing touch for these coconut curry lentils. It adds vibrancy, freshness, and ties everything together! A citrus juicer makes adding fresh lemon juice a breeze.
This curry comes together so quickly that we don’t want to be spending loads of time on the sides, right?!
Coconut Curry Lentil Serving Suggestions
When we make Coconut Curry Lentils, we generally serve them with rice and naan. But in true “back-to-school recipe lifesavers” fashion, the sides need to be just as easy. Here are our secrets to the quickest sides:
- Toaster naan. Store-bought naan is definitely best warmed through, but instead of taking the time to char it over an open flame, just toss it in the toaster right as you’re finishing the curry. You can purchase smaller-sized naan that is made for the toaster. (Stonefire® makes this; it’s usually labeled as mini naan.)
- Boiled rice. If you haven’t boiled rice before, you are going to be thrilled with the ease and speed. All you’ll need to do is throw some basmati rice in boiling water, boil it for 5-7 minutes, and voila — perfect rice!
Quick Tip
Want to save even more time (and dishes?) grab ready/microwaveable basmati rice instead!
Storage
Coconut Curry Lentils Storage
One of the best things about this recipe is how well it stores — it tastes even better on day 2! So, if you’re in need of true lifesaver recipes, make a double batch and save one half to serve later on in the week — that way when your family inhales batch #1, you can let them know more is coming later. 🙂
- Store: Cool the curry and store it in air-tight containers in the fridge.
- To reheat, use a large pan or skillet with a pat of butter or coconut oil on medium-high heat. Add the curry, cover, and warm for 5-10 minutes, stirring often. Avoid overcooking to prevent mushy lentils. If necessary, thin with coconut milk or vegetable broth, as it thickens when stored.
- Freeze: let curry lentils cool, place in a air-tight container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Curry Recipes To Love:
Coconut Curry Lentils
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 cup shallot diced, 1 to 2 shallots
- 2 tablespoons minced ginger see note 1
- 2 tablespoons garlic cubes
- 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder see note 2
- 1-1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 3 tablespoons red curry paste see note 3
- 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk full-fat
- 2 (15-ounce) cans lentils drained and rinsed
- Optional additions see note 4
- Serving suggestions see note 5
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil in a large pot (cast iron will cook quicker) over medium-high heat. Once melted, add diced shallot, ginger cubes, and garlic cubes. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add in curry powder, cumin, paprika, turmeric, red curry paste, and salt to taste (I add 1 teaspoon fine sea salt). Sauté for 1–2 more minutes or until very fragrant.
- Shake the can of coconut milk and pour it in. Stir, heat still over medium-high, until the coconut milk begins to bubble and thicken, about 3–5 minutes. Meanwhile, thoroughly rinse and drain the lentils. Add the lentils in and stir.
- Remove pot from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons optional lemon juice. Add sugar (if needed and to taste preference—it will depend on how sweet your coconut milk is or how spicy curry paste is). Adjust seasonings; add more salt, curry powder, etc. to taste depending on how bold you like your curry. Serve over rice with warmed naan if desired (see note 5) and with fresh cilantro if you have any on hand! Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Fill a large pot with water and set it to boil.
- Once the water is at a rolling boil, salt the water and add in rice (as much as you’d like!).
- Cook without reducing the heat for 6 minutes (taste test to ensure it is tender), then drain and fluff with a fork. Easy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What would the equivalent be using dried lentils?
I’d do around 1 cup of dried. For using dried lentils, you could try this recipe instead: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/lentil-curry/
This was SO good! I added some frozen broccoli as well
Yay! So happy to hear this!