This healthy red lentil curry is prepared using flavorful Indian spices.ย Aย protein-filled, vegan, and vegetarian option perfect for lunch or dinner.

Lentil curry isย aย very commonย delicacyย in Indian households. I would sayย it is a staple diet forย manyย Indiansย andย isย popularly knownย asย Dal. Usually,ย lentils are cookedย separatelyย inย aย pressure cooker and then added to the curryย prepared with onions, tomatoes, and spices. And,ย it tastesย amazing with garlic naan bread or plain rice.
However, I decided to make this curry in oneย pot. Do you know why?ย It becomes very messy inside the pressure cooker (Indian one) after the lentils are done and I absolutely hate washing the cooker.ย Much to my dismay, my pressure cooker is not dishwasher safe.

Generally in India,ย dalย is prepared using split pigeon peas (also known asย toor dal),ย red lentils orย mungย beans, orย sometimes aย mixture of lentils.ย In this curry recipe,ย I used red lentils because it is commonly available in US local grocery storesย (I found it in the Mexican aisle).
And,ย making this lentil curry with Indian flavors is really simple. Prepare basic onion and tomato base with spices then add lentils, and water and simmer the mixture until cooked. It is our recent favorite dishย andย we loveย it.ย It is…
- flavorful
- tasty
- satisfying
- healthy
- one-pot recipe
We enjoy thisย red lentil curryย with fresh homemade naan bread. It also goes very well with plain rice.

How this Red Lentil Curry is Healthy?
- Red lentils areย packed with dietary fibers, healthy proteins,ย andย essential minerals
- This curry is prepared using very less fat. It does not contain added saturated fat

More Indian Curries You Will Love To Try
๐ Recipe
Healthy Indian Red Lentil Curry
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentil
- 4 cup water or use vegetable stock
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3-4 red tomatos chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder (mild for less hot curry)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-2 leaves bay
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- salt
- 1 teaspoon cooking oil
- FOR SERVING (optional)
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- 1 onion sliced
- Homemade Naan or Rice
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Add cumin seeds, garlic, ginger and sautรฉ until fragrant
- Add onions and cook until translucent. Add tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, garam masala and cook until tender or it gets to a sauce like consistency
- Now add red lentils and water; bring it to boil
- Add salt, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Simmer the mixture with lid on for 35-40 min or until the lentil is tender. Serve warm with naan or rice along with a lemon wedge and onion slices
i don’t see cumin seeds in the ingredients list
Thank you Shanna for pointing it out. I have made the necessary changes now.
Lentils are one of my favorite ingredients to cook with and I am constantly looking for new recipes. This looks incredible – I can’t wait to try it! Will it work with green lentils as well?
I guess this recipe will work with green lentils as well. However, cooking time may vary.
You had me at curry. AND THEN you said naan and I was like, “does she know my life and all the things I love to eat?!?!?!” LOL! Great post this looks absolutely delicious and your photos are lovely =]
Going to defo try this. ..yum yum! Excellent photography too!โฅ
So making this!
Yummm!
Lentil and curry soup is literally my favourite soup of all time. Saving this recipe! Thanks!