This Coconut Lentil Curry packs a punch: it’s a quick and easy dinner idea that’s healthy and full of flavor. Perfect for weekdays!
Alex and I have been working on our repertoire of quick and easy dinner ideas for years. Finding dishes that are quick, healthy and delicious is a constant challenge! This Coconut Lentil Curry was born out of an idea I had one night while trying to figure out what to make with some kale from the garden. I added some lentils and a can of coconut milk we had on hand, added some curry paste and voila! It was found Then delicious that we decided to share it here. Read on for this Coconut Lentil Curry recipe.
Another great curry? Vegetable curry, chickpea curry or quick vegan curry
How to Make Coconut Lentil Curry
This Coconut Lentil Curry is a quick way to bring something to the table that tastes like it’s been cooking all night! This is not an authentic Indian or Thai curry, just a coconut and lentil curry-inspired dish that’s a quick dinner idea. It has a fairly short list of ingredients, so it’s possible to make it in a weekday. The base of the curry is simple: just lentils, coconut milk, Thai curry paste, and tomato paste. (If you need a coconut milk sub, head over to our Curry Coconut Milk Substitutes.)
It’s also a great way to eat your dark leafy greens! You can add a handful of your favorite green vegetables. It’s easiest to throw in a handful of pre-washed canned baby spinach: or you can add chopped kale or Swiss chard as well. When we tell people about delicious ways to eat leafy greens, a curry is one of our top dishes because the veggies take on all the flavor of the lentil curry!
A secret ingredient: Thai curry paste
The secret of this coconut and lentil curry is the use of red Thai curry paste. Thai curry paste has wonderfully fresh flavors: garlic, lemongrass and ginger make curry recipes a breeze. Pick up a jar from the international aisle store and it will keep in the fridge for months. Some Thai curry pastes are hot and some don’t have too much hotness. Our favorite brand of Thai curry paste is Thai Kitchen, and they don’t add much heat to the whole dish. If you can’t find it at your local grocery store, here is a link to Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste on Amazon.
Have you tried our coconut lentil curry yet? What are your favorite weeknight dinner recipes? Let us know in the comments below.
Related: 28 Day Healthy Meal Plan | 15 best lentil recipes
This lentil curry recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based and dairy-free.
The description
This Coconut Lentil Curry is an easy 30 minute dinner idea that’s healthy and full of flavor; It is a herbal recipe flavored with Thai curry paste.
- 2 cups uncooked white or brown basmati rice, for serving (or Instant Pot basmati rice)
- 2 cups brown or green lentils
- 8 cups chopped leafy greens: spinach, kale, or Swiss chard
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 13.5-ounce coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Prepare the rice according to the instructions for cooking basmati rice (or instant rice).
- Place the lentils in a saucepan with 6 cups of warm water. Bring to a simmer, then cook until tender, about 20 minutes (taste to judge doneness). Drain, then add a few pinches of salt.
- Meanwhile, wash the vegetables, remove the stalks and chop the leaves. (If you’re using pre-washed baby spinach, you can skip this step.) In your largest skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and sauté for a few minutes until tender and light green.
- When the lentils are cooked, add them to the pan with the vegetables. Stir in coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, tomato paste, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper over medium-high heat. Simmer for a few minutes until warmed through and the sauce thickens.
- Taste and add a few pinches of salt if you like. Serve with rice.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: Thai inspired
Keywords: coconut lentil curry, lentil curry, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, healthy dinner ideas, healthy dinner recipe,
Looking for more plant-based dinner ideas?
Aside from this Coconut Lentil Curry recipe, here are some other popular healthy dinner ideas (all vegan/plant-based recipes!):
Looking for quicker and easier dinner recipes?
And here are a few more of our favorite quick and easy dinner recipes:
