This is our favorite red lentil dal recipe! This is my version of the popular Indian recipe, made with red lentils and warming spices, like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric. I've worked on this particular recipe for quite some time, and our family loves it!
What is dal??
Dal, a thick, lentil-based stew, of sorts, is a popular Indian dish (also spelled dahl or dhal). It ranks as our all-around favorite meatless meal here at the Goslin house.
I first discovered dal on a vegan website over ten years ago now, at a time in my life when my allergies were pretty bad. Lentils were among the few foods I could eat.
I lived with my mom at the time and would make this for us a few times a week. It's delicious served with a side of fluffy brown rice.
The recipe has remained a favorite with me, and I now make it for my family!
While most traditional dal recipes call for tomatoes, coconut milk, or both, I created a more simple, allergy-friendly version.
Tomatoes are something we limit here, due to allergies, and I already consume SO much coconut milk.
I love the unadulterated taste of creamy lentils, and, for my taste, this recipe can be perfected no more!
Seems like something must be right, because this is one of maybe two meatless meals my husband eats that actually fills him up.
Because he is a 200-pound plus guy, that isn't an easy task!
I still enjoy it with warm brown rice or even quinoa, but I think our favorite accompaniment is my Homemade Spelt Flour Naan.
Recipe notes
I usually use split red lentils for this recipe, but the whole red lentils work as well.
Red Lentil Dal
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon coconut or olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger grated or minced
- 1 ½ cups red lentils rinsed well
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne or to taste
- 1 teaspoon sea salt added at the end of cooking
- 2-3 cup water
- 1 cup dark leafy greens, such as spinach or chard
Instructions
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan.
- Add in onion and saute 3-5 minutes.
- Add in garlic and ginger and cook ~30 seconds.
- Add in remaining spices (cumin-cayenne) and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in lentils and enough water to cover the lentils by about 1/2 inch.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 10-15 minutes.
- Stir the pot often, as this helps the lentils to break down.
- Add in more water if needed as the cooking process continues.
- Dal is ready when the lentils are creamy and almost pureed.
- Stir in dark greens and salt (to taste) and let mixture heat through until the greens wilt.
- Serve with brown rice or naan on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Strength and Sunshine
Well no one can turn down Dal or red lentils! My favorite variety!
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This looks delicious and simple! I will definitely make this! Thanks!
Lauren
Thanks Jen!
Monique
The Dal looks delicious and fast. I love Indian food and the healthy spices that are so good for you. You did a great job on your food photography. Look forward to making this delicious dish. Always look forward to your weekly postings:)
Lauren
Thank you Monique! 🙂
Ruth
I enjoy reading your blog and trying the recipes. Due to budget and health, I try to eat at home and use fresh, whole ingredients. Lentils have and always will be a go to food. This recipe sounds fantastic.
As a side note, I am allergic to tree nuts (for me, this includes coconut) and a variety of other things, however I love your low sugar recipes and easily swap out ingredients to make it safe. Thanks for all the great food ideas!
Lauren
That's great Ruth, I'm so happy you're enjoying the blog! 🙂
Bethany
Looks so flavorful and hearty!
Helen
I like this recipe doesn't have tomatoes and coconut milk, for a change. I don't have dark leafy greens (only a green cabbage). How does this taste without the dark leafy greens?
Lauren Goslin
You can just leave them out, I just add them for extra nutrition. 🙂
swathi
I make dal every other day love your version dal with red lentils, I use toor dal and mix of red lentils with toor dal, Really filling comforting dish, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning and tweeting.
Lauren
Thank you, that means quite a bit coming from someone who makes it so often! Thanks for visiting!
Richard R.
Amazing!
Debbie Clendon
Tastes amazing.
Mardhy
Are the spices in whole form or the powdered version?
Lauren
They are powdered.
Tara
For how long can you store this in the fridge?
Nina Leonard
this is an excellent tasting dish. I added frozen spinach at the end, for greens.It is so good that I am cooking this again in a double batch because it freezes so well. I want to know how much is in your serving size for this recipe- one cup?
Sarah
Cayenne is a chilli pepper and therefore belongs to the nightshade family (as all the chili powders and paprika spices. To add heat without nightshades, you could use wasabi or horseradish.
Beccabec
LOVED this recipe!
I only had french green lentils but I was able to get the right texture by mashing the cooked lentils with a potato masher.
Nancy
New to vegan cooking - can green lentils be substituted for the red lentils in this recipe? (I have green in the house).
Lauren Goslin
Hi Nancy,
I would stick with the red for both texture and flavor.
R
What is a serving size for this recipe?
Lauren Goslin
The nutrition facts are for 1/6 of the recipe. 🙂
Mikael
This is a great recipe and it checks all the boxes I need for my diet (Slowcarb). I searched long and hard for this very thing and now I’ve been using it for some time. Thank you, I love it, I always find myself going “mm!!” when I have that first bite.
Lauren Goslin
Thank you, Mikael! I appreciate that so much. 🙂
Laly
La hago sin leche de coco.y sin tomate. Riquísima!
Jeannie
Perfect! I've used this recipe many times now, it's great and even better the next day. I do add to mine though some curry powder, and at end, also coconut milk. Love this!
DENISE BELL
Absolutely delicious and super easy to make‼️
DENISE BELL
Absolutely delicious and so easy to make ♥️♥️‼️
Lauren Goslin
Thank you, Denise!
Penelope Gale
tasty and so easy