Easy Vegan Red Lentil Dal Recipes

EASY VEGAN RED LENTIL DAL

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil, then add lentils and coconut milk. Return mixture to a boil then reduce to simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, until the lentils have softened, then stir in spices and cook another 5.!
• Serve with quinoa, cauliflower rice, white/brown rice or flatbreads!

EASY VEGAN DAL

Steps:

• Stove Top Instructions - Place all your ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil on the stove.
• Once boiling cover and reduce heat to low.
• Simmer for 30 minutes or until the dal has thickened.
• Serve with brown rice and a sprinkle of cilantro on top.
• Instant Pot Instructions - Place all your ingredients in the instant pot, turn the vent to sealed and cook on manual for 18 minutes.
• Once it is finished cooking, let it naturally release for 10-15 minutes.
• Move the steam release handle to venting to release the remaining steam.
• Serve with brown rice and a sprinkle of cilantro on top.

RED LENTILS CURRY (MASOOR DAL)

Steps:

• Start the pressure cooker in sauté mode and let it heat. Add oil and cumin seeds. Sauté for 30 seconds.
• When the cumin seeds change color, add green chili, onions, ginger and garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes until the onions become golden brown while stirring frequently.
• Add tomato and spices. Stir and sauté for another 2 minutes.
• Add the lentils, water and stir well.
• (For pot-in-pot rice) Place the trivet. In a bowl, add all ingredients for basmati rice and place it on top of the trivet. Close the lid with vent in sealing position.
• Press cancel and close lid with vent in sealing position. Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode at high pressure for 5 mins.
• After the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then release the pressure manually (5 minute NPR).
• Open the pot. Add the lime juice and stir the dal.
• Garnish with cilantro. Serve dal with roti, naan or rice.

THE BEST RED LENTIL DAHL

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and red chilli and cook for a few minutes.
• Grind the cumin, coriander and mustard seeds lightly in a pestle and mortar, then add to the pan, along with the turmeric and garam masala and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the lentils, tomatoes with their juice, coconut milk and broth/stock, then stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper and cook on a medium/low heat for 15-20 minutes until reduced and thick. If you have time, you can leave it a little longer on a very low heat for even more flavor (just stir often and check it doesn't scorch on the bottom of the pan).Taste and add more chilli if desired.
• Stir in the lemon juice and spinach until it wilts.
• Serve warm with rice, naan bread or poppadoms.
• Set the Instant Pot to 'saute' setting and heat the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for about 4 minutes until it gets soft but not browned. Add the garlic, ginger and red chilli and cook for a minute, then turn off the Instant Pot.
• Grind the cumin, coriander and mustard seeds lightly in a pestle and mortar, then add to the pan, along with the turmeric and garam masala and cook, stirring, for 1 minute (there will be enough heat left in the Instant Pot to do this).
• Stir in the lentils, tomatoes, coconut milk and broth/stock. Put the lid on the Instant Pot, close the steam vent and set to Manual (Pressure Cook)/High Pressure pressure using the manual setting, then set the time to 8 minutes.
• After the time is up, wait for 10 minutes and then carefully use the quick release valve to release remaining pressure, or let the pressure release naturally. Stir in the lemon juice and the spinach until it wilts and serve!
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and red chilli and cook for a few minutes.
• Grind the cumin, coriander and mustard seeds lightly in a pestle and mortar, then add to the frying pan, along with the turmeric and garam masala and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the onion mixture to the bowl of the slow cooker, along with the lentils, tomatoes, coconut milk and broth/stock. Place lid on slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours.Taste and cook longer if necessary for the lentils to be lovely and soft. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the lemon juice and spinach.

EASY RED LENTIL DAHL

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils carefully under running water.
• Place all of the dahl ingredients including the lentils in a large saucepan.
• Bring the pot to a boil on a medium-high heat, then turn it down to a simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent anything sticking on the bottom. Taste and season as you go.
• Cook for 15-20 minutes, until the lentils are soft and the dhal has thickened. Taste and season again before serving. Add more water if you want a thinner dhal.
• Meanwhile if you're adding the shallots as an optional topping, fry them in a frying pan with the butter, ghee or oil. Cook on a medium low heat stirring occasionally, until golden brown, around 10 minutes.
• Serve the dahl. Optionally top with the golden shallots, thin sliced jalapeno and fresh cilantro/coriander.

EASY SLOW COOKER DAL

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ginger, curry powder and cumin. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. (Alternatively, combine everything, including the spices, in a heatproof bowl and microwave on high, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4-5 minutes.) Scrape the mixture into a 4- to 7-quart slow cooker.
• Add the lentils, coconut milk, water and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until the lentils are tender (they should be slightly firm but not crunchy), about 5-6 hours on low (it takes 6 hours in my KitchenAid 6 quart model); do not use high heat. Squeeze in the juice from 1/2 lime, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the dal as-is as a side dish, or turn it into a full meal by serving it with rice and/or naan bread and sautéed greens. Let people garnish their dishes with cilantro or mint, toasted cashews and/or mango chutney.

VEGAN RED LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear.
• Heat a large, deep skillet or large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the garlic, ginger, fresh turmeric (if using), and Serrano pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent garlic from burning.
• Add the cumin, coriander, chili powder, curry powder, garam masala, salt, and black pepper to taste, and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant, tossing frequently to prevent burning. If using ground turmeric instead of fresh turmeric, add the ground turmeric now, along the the rest of the spices.
• Pour in the vegetable broth, and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Add in the lentils and the crushed tomatoes and mix well. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through and have mostly softened. If you find that the lentils are not quite soft after 25 minutes, add a few spoons more of broth or water and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid and stir in the coconut milk, almond butter, along with salt and pepper to taste Continue cooking on low heat, uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes, until the curry has thickened and is creamy.
• Finally, stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, and turn off the heat. If you want your lentils to even creamier and more on the puréed side, use an immersion blender to lightly purée the curry.
• Serve the curry with rice and/or Indian flatbread and garnish with additional cilantro. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

VEGAN DAL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lentils, tomatoes and 3 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the curry powder, curry paste, garam masala, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, turmeric and some salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the coconut milk.
• Serve with the basmati rice, lime wedges and cilantro.