Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry
This Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry is extremely budget friendly and feels far more indulgent than it actually is. It’s made with simple pantry ingredients but delivers a rich, comforting flavour that hits every time. Perfect for busy nights when you want something nourishing, affordable and genuinely delicious.
Ingredients
- 250 g puy lentils
- 1 large brown onion finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 red chilli deseeded (optional), finely chopped
- 400 ml coconut milk from a can, ayam coconut milk is best but any brand is fine
- 1 ½ tablespoon curry powder I used regular organic curry powder
- kosher salt or fine sea salt
- 1 cup basmati rice dry, then cooked to packet instructions
- 1 tablespoon ghee or any neutral oil, or light flavoured olive oil
Instructions
- Optionally, soak lentils in cold water for 3 hours (or up to 24 hours) before starting the recipe. It will reduce cooking time and likely make you less gassy lol.
- Bring a large pot to medium heat with the ghee then add in the onion with a big pinch of salt and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chilli and sauté for a further minute, then add the garlic and curry powder and sauté for a further 60 seconds. Don't go over here, we don't want to burn the spices.
- Add the can of coconut milk, then fill the can with warm water and add that too. Then add the drained lentils and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and places the lid on the pot. Depending on soaking, the lentils will take anywhere for 15 - 35 minutes to cook and soften. Once the lentils are cooked and the curry is thick, turn off the heat.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice to packet intructions, in a rice cooker or the way I like to make it is by washing the rice until the water runs pretty clear, add the rice to a saucepan and fill with water so to water sits about 2.5 cm above the rice. Place a lid on the pot and turn on low/medium heat. Let the rice come to a simmer and cook to about 90%, then turn off the heat, leave the lid on and let the rice sit for another 10 - 15 so it steams and becomes fluffy.
- You can serve this with soft herbs, a side salad etc but to keep this budget friendly, the recipe is fabulous as is.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!