This Easy Indian Red Lentil Dahl recipe is a must-try if you’re looking for a flavorful curry, soup, or stew dish, that’s vegan and protein-rich. It’s delicious, healthy and one of the best lentil dishes to warm you up in winter or for cold weather.
You can’t go wrong with this Indian Lentil Dahl, it’s pretty easy to make and you can make various variations to fit your taste. This dish is also rich in micro- and macronutrients like carbohydrates and protein, so it nourishes your body perfectly. The ingredients are inexpensive and very simple. Let’s get started!
What is Lentil Dahl
If India has a staple dish, it has to be Dahl (also spelled Daal, Dhal, or Dal). Whether you’re rich or poor, everybody eats this dish. While “Dahl” is a term used for dried, split pulses or legumes such as lentils, dried peas, and beans, it is also the of the dish itself – A flavorful curry or rather soup that is more similar to a thick stew. And though lentil dishes have been around for a long time in India, the history of daal dates far way back in a period in which lentils were probably a staple food all over South Asian countries.
Lentil Dahl Recipe Variations
From ingredients to flavors, you can practically add your own twist to this recipe. While soft-boiled lentils give a wonderfully creamy, thick, soup-like consistency, many traditional Dahl recipes are also prepared with other split pulses such as beans, chickpeas, or peas. However, there are now a variety of newer recipe variations that include other spices, additional vegetables, and even meat or meat alternatives.
Here are some of the most popular dal variations you could prepare this recipe with:
- Chana Daal – are chickpeas that are cleaned, hulled, and split after harvesting. It’s a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic and Indian cuisine.
- Urad Daal – or known as the “black gram” is a staple ingredient in East Indian recipes. It has high protein content and the primary ingredient in south Indian dosa and idli.
- Panchratna Daal – means “five jewels” in Hindi/Urdu. Five varieties of daal are combined creating a distinct flavor.
- Masoor Daal – is characterized by its red color, these are split red lentils that cook fast and don’t require pre-soaking. This is also what we use in today’s recipe.
Now if you’re interested in trying out another dahl recipe, you would love my Yellow Lentil Dal! This Indian Lentil soup like today’s recipe is healthy and perfect for cold weather.
How to make Indian Red Lentil Dahl
Craving for something healthy yet filling recipe? Let’s start making this lentil dahl!
First, in a skillet or saucepan, heat the coconut oil. Toss the chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent. After that, add the garlic and ginger and sauté for another minute until fragrant. Lastly, add your spices and sauté for a few seconds to bring out the flavors.
Rinse the lentils under cold running water in a fine-mashed sieve. Then toss them in the skillet with the onion mixture. Pour in the vegetable broth and stir, bring to a simmer. For 8-10 minutes, cook covered until the water is almost absorbed by the lentils. Add the coconut milk and strained tomatoes (if using), simmer for another 5-10 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. (Tip: If the sauce is too thick or if you’d like to serve this Indian lentil dish as a soup, add a more broth or coconut milk until your desired consistency is reached.)
Then, season with salt, pepper coconut sugar, and lime or lemon juice to taste. And for the final touch, garnish your Indian red lentil dahl with a swirl of non-dairy yogurt, freshly chopped parsley or coriander, and sesame seeds or other toppings you like. You can serve it over rice or with homemade vegan naan or aloo paratha or use your Indian lentil curry as a filling for your favorite hearty pancake, crêpes, or tortilla recipe. Enjoy!
Can you make it ahead?
Yes! This is also a fitting meal if you’re doing meal preps. Just make sure to use fresh ingredients to preserve the taste once you refrigerate or freeze them. When you’re ready to serve it, you can simply reheat it on the stove with a little additional water or warm it in the microwave.
Storage and freezing instructions
Got some leftovers or did you set aside some for later? Here’s how to store it:
- Store in an airtight container and put inside the refrigerator, it will last for 3-5 days.
- Want to keep them longer? Freeze it for future meals!
Tips for making the best Lentil Dahl
Want to make the best lentil dahl? Here are some tips you can follow:
- Which lentils? – make sure to use fresh/new and high-quality lentils. This is an essential ingredient so this will affect the taste of the recipe. Basically you can use any kind of lentils you like. However, keep in mind that you may have to adjust the cooking time, as it can vary depending on the type. It is best to simply check the instructions on the package.
- Rinse – get rid of any husks or other debris before cooking your lentil dal.
- Timing is everything – cook the lentils until soft but not for too long or they will get mushy.
- Fresh ingredients – using fresh lemon juice, flavorful tomatoes, organic coconut milk, and high-quality seasonings can make a huge difference in taste.
This Indian Red Lentil Dahl Recipe is:
- Vegan, Plant-based
- Gluten-free
- Diary-free (lactose-free)
- Quick and easy to make
- Satisfying
- Protein-Rich
- Flavorful
- Creamy
- Comforting
- So delicious
- The perfect vegan weeknight dinner!
Did you enjoy this recipe?
If you loved this recipe, you might want to try these Indian inspired recipes:
If you try this Vegan Red Lentil Dahl recipe, please leave a comment and a rating on how you liked it! And if you take a picture of your Indian lentil curry soup and share it on Instagram, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka, because I love seeing your remakes! Happy cooking!
Indian Red Lentil Dahl
Author:Ingredients
For the Dahl
- 1-2 tbsp coconut oil or other neutral oil for frying
- 2 onions chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp ginger minced (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp red paprika powder
- 1 tsp garam masala or other curry powder to taste
- 1 ⅔ cups (300 g) red lentils
- 3 ¼ cups (780 ml) vegetable broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) coconut milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) strained tomatoes or chopped tomatoes, optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tsp coconut sugar or to taste
- 2-3 tbsp lime or lemon juice or to taste
To serve (optional)
- 4-6 tbsp non-dairy yogurt
- fresh parsley or coriander
- sesame seeds
- rice cooked
Instructions
- *Note: Check out the recipe video + step-by-step photos above for visual instruction!
- Heat the coconut oil in a skillet or saucepan. Add the chopped onions, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent. Then add the garlic and ginger sauté for another minute until fragrant. Lastly, add the spices, and sauté for a few seconds to unfold flavors.
- Place the lentils in a fine-mashed sieve and rinse until cold running water. Then add them to the onion mixture in the skillet. Pour in the vegetable broth, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer. Cook covered for 8-10 minutes, or until the lentils have absorbed most of the liquid.
- Add the coconut milk and strained tomatoes (if using) and simmer another 5-10 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. (If the sauce is too thick, add a little more broth or coconut milk, until the desired consistency is reached). Season with salt, pepper, coconut sugar, and lime juice to taste.
- Garnish your dahl with a swirl of non-dairy yogurt, fresh chopped parsley or coriander, and sesame seeds or other toppings you like. Serve over rice or with homemade vegan naan or aloo paratha or use it as a filling for your favorite hearty pancake, crêpes, or tortilla recipe. Enjoy!
Notes
- Storage & freezing: Store leftover dahl in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days or freeze for the future.
- Nutrition information doesn't include rice.
- Please read my blog post for tips, recipe variations, and further information.
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I have made this several times and it is a hit with my family!
Awesome! 🙂 Thanks for your feedback! ♡
That was really good, most things don’t come out that good on my first try
Great! 🙂 Thank you ♡
I have had some red lentils in a jar since I was a student in the 1990s. No joke, they have moved with me through about 20 houses over the years. After a while it became a point of pride not to throw them away, promising myself that I would do something with them. It seems that age does not matter, today I have cooked myself a delicious dal by following your recipe! (Mostly … I left out the citrus juice and I used jaggery instead of the coco sugar). Thanks for a great recipe that I’m sure I’ll cook again!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🙂
So yummy! We eat lentils all the time. Love that it’s so infused with ginger and tumeric, so good for your health! Made several changes to suit my husband’s diet ( no coconut products, no tomato, only used curry powder and the tumeric spices) but still so flavorful. My one year old loved it too!
Glad your one year old loved this dish too! ❤ Thanks for your great feedback! 🙂
So good! And so easy – my entire family (kids are 7 and 10) LOVED it. I am definitely adding this to my dinner rotation. Thank you!
That’s great! I’m so glad your entire family and kids loved this dish! Thank you! 🙂
Can you use tin lentils for this recipe?
I recommend using dry lentils as they absorb flavor during cooking.
I made this recipe for a group of friends and they loved it! Definitely a keeper. I garnished each dish with a slice of lemon and black sesame seeds in addition to the parsley and yoghurt.
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much ❤
One of the best lentil recipes I have seen. Easy to follow instructions and a lovely combination of ingredients making it a delicious curry.
I have definitely saved this to my favourites.
Wow, thank you so much! I am so glad that you love this recipe. ❤️
Absolutely love this, had all the ingredients apart from coconut sugar so substituted with brown sugar. Really pleased and easy to follow, definitely saved this for future use 😁 Will be looking at your other recipes too, I found this by a simple ‘red lentil recipe’ search on google …..
Great! ♡ Glad you love this recipe! I hope you’ll try some of my other recipes too! 🙂
Wow! This recipe was incredible. I mean excellent, restaurant quality exceptional. I know Indian food. I’m a white girl but I lived in India for a time, had older female Indian friends teach me to cook and I take Indian cooking classes here in the US.
I had this over Basmati Rice and also a Samosa with sweet Mango Chutney on the side! The flavors of this Dal all just all seem to appear at different times with each bite. It was so delicious.
Oddly, I just stumbled across this recipe online searching for a Dal. I had all the ingredients and thought, why not? I didn’t expect this! You are so right about watching the consistency of the Lentils.
I did use the lemon juice and salt I also used the yogurt and sesame seeds. I really suggest using all those because they add great flavor. Thank you! I’m your biggest fan now and DEFINITELY will try more of your recipes!!
Yay! Glad you found my blog and this recipe! Thanks for your amazing feedback! I hope you’ll love my other recipes too! 🥰
My first try, yet such a success! I added some extra spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom) and the flavor was beyond my imagination! Thanks, I found your recipe on google. Your website is now saved as a favorite. Can’t wait to try out some more of your recipes.
Glad you found my website and this recipe! Thanks for your great feedback! 🥰
So, so good!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥰
DELICIOUS!! MUST TRY!!
Glad you love it! 🙂
Delicious recipe! Sweet and Savoury! Only odd thing was in the instructions it didn’t tell you when to put in all the Indian spices so I just put them in at the end.
Glad you enjoyed it! The spices are mentioned in step 2.
Greetings,
Bianca 🙂
Delicious recipe, never fails, I also add black mustard seeds and chilli flakes.
Glad you love it! 🙂 Thanks for your amazing feedback!
Absolutely delicious – I would be delighted to eat this Dahl anytime of the day or night
Glad you love it! 🙂
She didn’t give the real recipe because she omitted the spices. She said to just “add spices” but did NOT specify which spices or even provide alternatives from which to choose
The spices are mentioned in the ingredient list!
Loved this recipe!! It’s like an Indian version of chicken soup for when you’re feeling tired or sick, in that, it’s so tasty and feels good for the soul. Can’t wait to make again!!
Glad you love it! Thank you! 🙂 ♡
Delicious! Lecker! Perfect 🥰
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
So easy and great taste. My family loved it.
Awesome! Thank you! 🙂
This was so tasty! The recipe was really easy to follow, and it was super helpful that the conversions were included in the recipe too (cups to ml). It was creamy, and the spice was nice and mild. Would highly recommend it!
Wow, that makes me very happy! 🙂
Thank you so much for your great feedback!
Much love,
Bianca ♡
I used the juice of one lemon to get about three tablespoons of lemon juice which was unfortunately a bit too much for the fish. Everything else was perfect though. Next time I’d add one tablespoon at a time to taste.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Feel free to use less lemon juice!
Love this recipe and was glad I could skip a similar recipe with less spices and using an instant pot!
I had to giggle when I saw the lemon juice was too much for the fish! I did a double take back up to recipe to ensure there was no seafood, lol! I am waaay to literal. So happy I found this soothing recipe for an evening when I’m not feeling my best!
Glad you like the recipe! Thanks for you feedback! 🙂
Simple and absolutely delicious recipe!
Awesome! Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
I wish you a great weekend!
Greetings,
Bianca
Wow, absolutely delicious! Thank you for great recipe!
That’s great! 🙂
Had to increase the spices by a lot. It was pretty bland.
This turned out so well. Didn’t have coconut sugar ,or coconut oil, but will get for next time.
My family loved it. Thank you so much. Shall try your other dishes. Lynn.
Glad your family loved this recipe too! 🙂
Thanks for your great feedback!
This is by far the best dahl that I have ever made! I don’t even know what to say or how to put in to words how delicious this dahl was. I will never use another recipe. This will be my go to forever!
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Awesome! Glad you love it! 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words.
The best dahl recipe to date that I have made ! Thank you Bianca ! Easy to prepare, spot on delicious taste – no adjustments needed. I have spread the word about Bianca’s webpage and dahl. Winner in our household !
Thank you so much! Glad you love this dahl recipe! 🙂
I had to sub a different milk for the coconut milk since I was out. It is absolutely delicious! I’m putting this on my meal prep rotation for sure.
That’s fantastic! Thank you so much for your great feedback! ❤️
Didn’t substitute or change anything on this recipe. Really delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Have a great weekend! ♥️
So yummy and easy to make! Love the continuity of proportions of spices! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Happy weekend! ♡
Just made this now!!! Delicious and so healthy! Love it. Thank you for the recipe!
Dolores
Glad you love it! 🙂
Thanks for your great feedback! ♡
Followed the recipe exactly, only skipped the tomatoes – it turned out fantastic! Really easy too – thank you!
That’s great! 🙂
Thank you so much! ♡
I randomly chose this recipe from google and it blew me away – it tasted soo good. I look forward to trying other recipes.
Yay, that’s great! Glad you loved it! 🙂
Thanks for your feedback! 💖
Great recipe, fantastic taste and cheap/easy to make. This is firmly my new Indian favourite
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!💖
This recipe is amazing–so delicious, nutritious, and easy to make! I loved every bite. Thank you for sharing!
Yay, that’s great! So glad you loved it! 🙂
Thanks for your feedback! 💖
I had red lentils in pantry and all the other ingredients on hand so I chose this recipe. Wow, I will definitely make again. Simple, flavorful, and perfect for a cold winter’s day.
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed it! Many thanks.
Wow! Very flavourful and super easy to make! Thank you!
Thank you!
This is a very good recipe. Thank you for sharing. The flavors are balanced and delicious.
This is my first time eating a dish with red lentils.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!
I love indian food, so I will try your recipe quite soon 🙂
I hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
Delicious! Even with my substitutions: no onions so I used 1 cup coarse chopped celery, 2 diced carrots, one shallot and 1/2 cup of asparagus (just fresh veggies I had on hand). No fresh ginger so I used 2 heaping tablespoons of garlic-ginger paste, and broth I had on the shelf. It could have been a disaster…but it’s wonderful stuff. Be sure to taste when you add salt, I added more salt than I thought I would because it needed it. I used my electric pressure cooker for about 6 minutes, then put it on Saute for the finishing steps. So glad I tried this recipe. I’m sure I’ll make this again and browse this website for more new dishes to try. 😀
Awesome! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it! Many thanks.
This was wonderful… thank you! I have never made dahl before and your recipe was easy and delicious. A fantastic compliment to my dinner.: dukkah crusted lamb and basmati rice with saffron and sour cherries… dreamy!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🙂
I made this recipe it was soooo good. My nine year old son enjoyed it too, that’s a home room from a picky eater. I didn’t have any red lentils so I used green lentils. This recipe will be a staple from now on.
Awesome! 🙂 Glad your son enjoyed it too! Many thanks.
Just tried this without the tomatoes as I didn’t have any on hand. It was delicious! I will definitely be making this again. Looking forward to trying it with tomatoes added next time.
Awesome! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it! Many thanks.
My favorite red lentil recipe! Love it!
I’m adding to my version also carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes, celery and kale 😉
That’s great! Glad you love it! Happy Weekend! 🙂 ♡
Oh my goodness, this was delicious! Too mild for my husband but perfect for me. So easy to make too!!
We had it with tortilla wraps as we couldn’t get any naan
Wrongly rated – sorry!
Many thanks! 🙂
Glad you love it! Thank you! 🙂
Really delicious easy Dahl to make!! I used all the spices but swapped coriander for dried basil (I prefer the flavour), added a bit more smoked paprika as it’s my fav and it worked out great!! Added some spinach and carrots which worked well. Made about 5 portions out of the quantities given. Would definitely make again!! Loved how easy it was.
That’s awesome! 🙂 Glad you love this recipe! Thanks for your great feedback! Much love ❤️
This was SO good. I altered it a little and basically ended up with a hearty curry at the end. I added in 5 small golden potatoes and one large sweet potato(all diced and boiled separately until soft), and also added a full can of chickpeas. The coconut milk I used was just the solids that had separated in the can. I also used half of a can of diced tomatoes. I wish I would have thought to add peas.
I did also change the spices a little because I was out of regular paprika, so I actually halved all the spices(because the amounts seemed excessive) and i added in 1/4 tsp of Indian red chili powder and 1/2 tsp of curry powder. I also used fresh squeezed lime juice and it made this beyond epic.
I am honestly shocked by how good this was. I think this may have been the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Thank you!
That’s great! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🙂
Great recipe. Super easy to make – and really tasty. I always avoided curry containing dishes because I thought I didn’t like them – turns out I just hated my mom’s cauliflower curry 😂
I left out the cumin and cilantro because I’m not a fan of those spices and I didn’t wanna ruin the dish for myself. But that’s just a personal preference and has nothing to do with the quality of the recipe!
Hi there,
so glad you love this recipe! 🙂
You can also try my cauliflower korma curry to see if you like it more than your mom’s! 😀
Thanks for your lovely feedback and happy new year! 🎊
Greetings,
Bianca ❤️
This is an amazing recipe! I tried making dal makhani several times but no matter how long I soaked the kidney beans they always seemed a little starchy but still good. This recipe is much quicker and I love the idea of incorporating yogurt. Still, I love a little cream for garnish. I have one question (curiosity): Do people ever use cream to garnish this dish? I think it would be great on this dal. Thank you for your inspiring and informative journey through this traditional recipe and sorry for the ramble. 🙂
*Edit – sorry, just noticed coconut milk in the ingredients so my question is answered. That sounds like a fantastic alternative. (There’s nothing like coconut and curry). Thanks again. <3
Thank you so much for this sweet feedback, Tyler! ❤️
Really excellent flavors. Mild heat even with hot Hungarian paprika. I added a touch of heat with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, which is just hot pepper with vinegar and it was perfect.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed your Dahl! ❤️
I made this recipe, and it was good, except the consistency was more like soup. I added the same amount of red lentils again and recooked it, and it was fine with some extra spices added. I don’t see from the comments that anyone else had a problem. Next time I will use half the amount of vegetable broth, as I ended up with enough dahl for 8 servings.
Hello. I’m sorry you had to deal with this problem. I don’t know why this has happened because normally it wouldn’t be thin like a soup but creamy. I hope next time it will work out better for you. Maybe you add the broth in portions whenever you got the feeling that the Dahl becomes too thick. 🙂
Can’t believe how quick this was and so yummy!
Thank you so much, Sarah! 🙂
I made this for my wife and adult son, just as directed and it was absolutely amazing. My daughter can not eat lentils, so I made the recipe again tonight for her, subbing in mukimame. It was alot soupier. Note to self…. edamame doesn’t absorb the liquid like lentils do…still amazing though…..thank you Bianca, you are brilliant
Thank you so much for this super sweet feedback. I am really glad that you all enjoyed this meal. 🙂
OH MY GOD!!!!
Thank you! 🙂
So tasty, easy to make and full of vitamins! Amazing for the cold seasons. Suitable with rice, ciabatta and many more!
The whole family liked it.
Thank you so much, Zosia! I really appreciate it 🙂
This was DELICIOUS! Served it with nann. I didn’t have coriander so that was omitted. I’ll add next go round. I’m not a hugh cilantro fan anyway.
Thank you so much! I’m happy you enjoyed it so much. 🙂
Taste wonderful. Made it exactly as the recipe.
Thank you so much! <3
My iron is low so I went looking for lentil recipes and found this delicious red lentil dahl. The spices make all the difference. Quick with ingredients on hand. Simple over rice. Thank you for a great recipe.
I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed it. 🙂
Wow! So easy and delicious. I made the naan as well and my whole family loved it (toddler included)! Thank you for the fantastic recipe.
Glad to hear that! Thank you so much, Cynthia. 🙂
Easy to make and delicious to eat. I love the creaminess that the coconut milk gives it. I added honey as I did not have coconut sugar and a dash of balsamic white vinegar as I had no lemon or lime
I’m happy that you enjoyed it. Thanks for your feedback, Maureen! 🙂
The lentil dahl was amazing. We served it with tortilla chips and it was so delicious. Thanks for sharing these beautiful recipes! Diana
Thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Hello, this recipe looks fab. Do you use whole lentils or split lentils? Thanks!
Hi Jessica,
I use whole red lentils. 🙂
So good and easy to make! Loved that it used so many items I already had in my pantry. You can definitely eat this as is but I Paired it with some garlic naan and it was 10/10!
Thank you so much, Paige! Cool that you enjoyed this Dahl, especially with naan bread. 🤎
I adore Indian dishes however my family doesn’t feel the same about the spice. With this recipe however I found a dish that satisfies my cravings and my whole family also enjoys! The recipe is so easy to follow and the ingredients are easy to always have on hand which is important to me as the closest grocery store is over a half hour away ( I live very rural). I added my own little spin to this recipe by simmering on low the coconut milk with lemongrass to infuse the milk with that lovely lemongrass taste.
Hi Bethany!
I’m super glad that both you and your family enjoyed this dahl. 🙂
Could I used dried lentils instead of canned in this recipe? Which step would I add them in?
Hi Justine. In this recipe I am actually using dried lentils. 🙂
I have just made this dahl to go along side a butter chicken, as I was in the mood for some cooking now the weathers turning. What can I say? This doesn’t deserve to be a side, I could eat a bowl of this all on its own. I used passata instead of chopped tomatoes and double cream as it was all I had. Perfectly balanced flavours. 5/5!
Thanks Katie! I recommend to have this dahl with my naan bread. I’m so happy you enjoyed it that much. 🙂
Hi, Tomatoes are optional? what do you recommend adding in its place to balance the overall flavor? Thanks!
I have a tomato allergy.
Hi Tori. 🙂
I’ve heard that some did it without adding the tomatoes and they were absolutely happy with that. When you want to add some flavour, you can decide for a little bell pepper powder.
Could you add tofu into this? If so, would you do anything particular with it? When would you add it in?
Hi Leigh!
Of yourse you can add tofu. I’d cut it, fry it in a little amount of oil and put it aside before starting with step 1. You can add it as soon as the tomatoes are added. 🙂
I’ve tried a few different on-line recipes for Dahl.
I added a teaspoon of dark mustard seeds to this recipe as well (just becasue I like them).
A M A Z I N G L Y tasty and easy to make!
“The best you’ve ever made”, was the response I recieved.
Wow, that’s so cool! Thank you so much for your feedback, Phillys. 🙂
Last time I ate Dahl I really wasn’t impressed but there was this jar of elderly lentils in the cupboard that needed to be used up and Dahl seemed to be the best way to do it. So today, somewhat reluctantly, I followed your recipe to the letter (apart from the sugar, had to add a pinch of ordinary as I didn’t have the coconut variety) and WOW!!! It was absolutely delicious – LOVED it and will definitely be making it again. Thanks, Bianca. x
That’s awesome. I’m glad you liked this dahl. <3
Great recipe. Easy and delicious
Thank you, Leslie! 🙂
super yummy and easy to make – i love it.
Thank you! <3
This is a brilliant recipe. I made it at my son’s request, he starts University next week and it got a big thumbs up from everyone. It tasted very authentic. Thank you for such a lovely recipe. I will certainly be making it again.
That’s like super awesome. Thank you so much! ❤️
Thanks for the recipe Bianca. My son is vegetarian and I struggle to find food that he really likes, but loved this. Couldn’t believe that I had made it from scratch. I didn’t have any good tomatoes so used a bit of Passata. All came together rich and creamy. Will definitely be looking to your site for more ideas.
Hi Ronda.
I’m very happy to hear that and hope you’ll find a lot more inspiration on my blog. <3
I made it the second time today in 2 days. I had tomatoes left over and needed to use them. I have to say, this dish is so tasty and good. We usually eat and like spicy which this isn’t but it does not matter because it’s so good anyway. With the second, I accidentally dropped too much ground ginger (about 1 tbsp) in the pot and it was a little bit better. Danke für das tolle Rezept!!!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed this dahl! Thanks for your lovely feedback, Lysann! 🙂
I just made it ,together with the naans that yoy recommended. Just delicious. I’m surely gonna make it more. Thanks!😘
Yay, that’s great! 🙂
Flavour-wise, this is really tasty, well-balanced and aromatic!
I didn’t quite understand what 1 cup of Strained Tomatoes was, so I just chucked a can of chopped toms in and it was fine.
Had a pack of green beans I needed to use up, so chopped and chucked them in same time as the veg broth, which gave some additional texture. Finished it with parsley, and a dollop of left-over sour-cream, served with rice.
Now saved in my recipes bookmark tab. Thank you!
Awesome, I’m glad you enjoyed this meal. 🙂
Amazing dahl recipe with easy steps and simple ingredients, so good made it twice in 2 days😂
That’s awesome. Thanks for your feedback, Esther. 🙂
I have tried numerous dahl recipes that were much more complicated than this one and they never turned out well. This was easy and absolutely delicious. I made mine without onions or tomatoes, so I might try that next time, but my whole family loves this, even my toddler.
That’s awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this with me. 🙂
This recipe was amazing! 😍 my favorite of all time, I love Indian Dahl and this turned out better than any I had in a restaurant. Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow, thank you so much! <3 I really appreciate your super sweet words. 🙂
Such a yummy meal that I turned to when I was in a pinch! My super omnivorous partner who thought it would taste like “the earth” said “ this is surprisingly good!” And had multiple portions. We served it with a side of rice. I added a dollop of sour cream on top (im not vegan) and it complemented it well. We were both so impressed at the flavours!!
That’s awesome. I’m super glad that you both enjoyed it. 🙂
So simple, so good!!
Thank you! <3
Really delicious and easy! I used light coconut milk to cut back on fat and it was still rich and creamy. Family doesn’t like tomato bits so I used crushed tomatoes, and only one large onion. At the end I stirred in 4 handfuls fresh baby spinach and cooked just until wilted. LOVED!
Awesome that you liked it that much. I’m so happy to hear that! 🙂
What if I leave out the coconut Milk and coconut sugar. Will it still be good ?
Should I sub something else?
Hi Michelle!
If you don’t want to use coconut milk, you can substitute it with any plantbased cream. The coconut sugar is not must, you can leave it out or choose another sweetener.
I would say I’ve made this recipe 20 times since i found it. I even alter is slightly and make it for my 8 month old son, its one of his favourites. So good. So easy! Love it!
Wow, that’s awesome! Thank you so much for your feedback, I really love to hear that. 🙂
this was the best recipe i tried. perfect balance between spices, the yogurt and lime, give freshness. Love it!!!
Thank you
Awesome to hear that! Thank you so much, Miriam! 😍
I made this dish today for my lunch, and it was absolutely delicious 🙂 I actually made it with only half the ingredients, and it made two extremely generous portions (I could easily have spread it to three if I wasn’t so hungry!). I used ground ginger instead of fresh, as I was out of ginger root, and smoked paprika instead of paprika, as I was out of paprika (this is what you get for cooking on a whim! :p ) ….I used half and half of coconut milk and cashew milk, and forgot to add coconut sugar at the end. IT WAS SO GOOD!!! ….next time I’ll be making some gf naan and buying some fresh coriander to enjoy it with for sure. Thanks so much for this beautiful recipe!! Made me miss living with my Indian housemate many moons ago, he used to make dishes like this all the time for us all to share 🙂
So cool that this dish reminds you of the traditional meals your Indian housemate shared with you! I really love to hear that. <3
I will make this again and again! Once you measure and prep the ingredients it is super quick to cook, This is a comforting meal that tastes like it took hours to make. I didn’t have any type of tomatoes, but it didn’t affect the flavor or consistency.
Thank you very much, Michelle! I really appreciate that. <3
This recipe tastes authentic its actually delicious and super easy
I am very happy to hear that. Thank you so much, Emma! <3
Can’t find red lentils, only split red lentils. Are these the same in this recipe? Thanks in advance.
Hi Sylvia,
when you read the blogpost, you’ll find out that I am using split red lentils. These do not need to be soaked before cooking the dahl. 🙂
Delicious and easy! I did a mix of brown and red lentils, which worked perfectly in the pressure cooker. Thank you for a great recipe!
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this Dahl! Thank you so much for your feedback, Melissa. <3
Amazing, tasty and super easy! Will make this again and again! Thank you for the recipe..
So happy to hear that! Thanks for your feedback! <3
good day, what a pity one cannot save it – and to print it out would be a mission –
from the recipe given i am sure i would like it
Hi Margret,
why would it be a problem to print it? When you go to the recipe card there is a print button which will generate a printable version of the recipe (without all of the text and pictures above).
Do you use split red lentils or whole red lentils?
I use split red lentils! 🙂
Loved it! I don’t really have experience with cooking Indian food so this was easy to follow and adaptable. Only had 1 onion, used store bought grated ginger, no tomatoes, carton coconut milk, and 1/2tsp light brown sugar instead of coconut sugar. Delicious! Ate it by itself topped with fresh cilantro and sour cream
Yay, that’s great! Thank you so much for your feedback. I’m so happy that you loved it! <3
Loved it – we did it two days ago and was sooooo good !!!
That’s awesome! 🙂
“Red lentil Dahl” Looks very good. I tried the recipe and really enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Delicious! Even my picky eater loved it! Thank you for the great recipe.
I’m happy to hear that! Thank you, Miranda. 🙂
Excellent recipe! Best Dahl I ever made.
I doubled the recipe, served with rice and sautéed spinach and garlic. If you want a little kick, the green dragon sauce from Trader Joe’s is complimentary to this recipe. Yet, the recipe is delicious all on its own. A keeper!
Yay, that sounds great! So glad you loved it! Thank you. 🥰
This was one of the first recipes we tried when we decided to go vegetarian and it’s still one of our favorites! We make it often and serve to friends. Everyone, vegetarian or not, loves it!
Hi Kira! I’m super happy to hear that you like this recipe that much. Thank you so much for your feedback. ❤️
This was an easy recipe to make and tasted divine!!! Perfect for a weekend treat or any day of the week for that matter!! Really enjoyed and will be making again along with trying some of your other recipes 🙂 have posted pics of the dish I made on my Instagram @ultimately_vegan https://www.instagram.com/p/CO-0vtKp3mu/?igshid=bmbvk6up7wuo
Thanks Kate! 🙂 Happy to hear that you liked the Dahl. <3
The whole family loved this meal! Will be making it a regular dinner!! So tasty!
Thanks a lot, Becky. I’m happy that you enjoyed this dahl! <3
I am so incredibly grateful to have found this recipe. Finally a dish that all 3 of my kids love, it really feels like a miracle. I omitted the tomatoes as my kids don’t like them, but kept everything else the same. I’ve made it 3x now and it has been a win each time. I’m going to give the black bean curry a go next. Thank you, again!
Thank you so much! Glad you love my recipes! 🙂
It has taken me three goes to get this recipe correct. We use this dahl dish to replace rice when we have a meat curry. It makes a feast out of a mid-week meal. I do add some chillies and use Greek Yoghurt.
What kind of problem did you have with this recipe?
So delicious! I made with heavy cream as that’s what I had at the time and also added tomato paste. Everyone loved it. Will be making again
I’m glad you all enjoyed this dahl. Thanks for your feedback, Heather! <3
Lentils are one of my favourite dishes since my childhood😊 so I always look for new recipies for me and my clients. It is easy, healthy and quick to cook and very delicious😋
I’m super glad to hear that. Thanks for your Feedback! 😊
Very good. I added fire roasted diced tomatoes and thought it added a nice smoky kick.
Will be adding to regular rotation!
Hi Beth,
that sounds really nice! I’ve never seen those tomatoes in Germany but I’m sure the taste is awesone.
Thanks for your feedback! 😍
Really easy and flavourful. Kids loved it
Yay, that’s amazing! Glad your kids loved it too. Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
Love this recipe!! 🥰 I added some frozen okra and it was delicious.
Awesome, I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Would this work without the sugar? Or can you reco a substitute? Thanks!
The sugar is added to balance the flavor. But it will still taste very good without it. 🙂
Super easy to prepare, healthy and really delicious and tasty! My husband loved it too! It’s another great recipe from Bianca.
Thank you so much! 😍
Wow! I made this for a dinner for friends and it was honestly so amazing they thought I ordered from Dishoom haha. Brilliant dish
Yay, that’s great! Thank you! 😀
I made the red lentil Dahl, it was clear and easy to follow instructions.
The final product was delicious, will definitely make this one again.
@rydonskitchen
That’s great! So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Many thanks,
Bianca ♡
Can I make it without the coconut milk?
Yes, but it won’t be as creamy and flavorful and not as delicious.
What could be substituted for the coconut milk, my partner hates coconut and this recipe is awesome so I would like to try it a different way. Thanks!
Hi Rachel!
I recommend to use a plantbased cream instead, e.g. soy cream or almond cream. 🙂
Really delicious recipe and my friends were all surprised it was vegan. 😄 Doubling the recipe fed two for an entire week! I also added a nice sprinkling of red chili peppers to turn up the flare in the Indian spice 🌶️
Yay, that’s great! 😀
Many thanks for your amazing feedback!
I really appreciate it!
Love, Bianca ♡
so delicious and easy – will be remaking it forever!
That’s awesome! So glad you love this recipe! ❤
Many thanks! 🙂
Super delicious! My husband who doesn’t like lentil loved it, top.
So glad your hubby loved it too! ❤
Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
This is my absolute favourite recipe❤️
It’s soooo tasty and delicious!
I used vegan crème fraiche instead of yoghurt. I made a lot so I can enjoy it again tomorrow 😉
Thanks for your great feedback! 🙂
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Happy weekend! ♡
I added sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, and some celery when I sauteed the onions.
Then I folded in a good portion of fresh organic spinach at the end. Combined with brown rice, this made a delicious and nutritious meal. thanks so much!
Sounds great! So glad you enjoyed this dish! 🙂
Could I use green lentils instead of red? This recipe looks amazing and the pictures of the dish are so eye-catching!!
Yes, sure! Just be sure to adjust the cooking time if they take longer! 🙂
First time I’ve tried this recipe and first time my family have eaten Dahl. They loved it! No leftovers. Thanks 👍
Hi Adam,
so glad you loved this recipe! 🙂
Thanks for your amazing feedback!
Greetings,
Bianca ♡
My new favorite lentil recipe! This is simple and delicious. I really liked cooking the lentils with the broth most of the way before adding the coconut milk and tomatoes. I used a can of tomatoes with slightly bigger chunks and that added a really nice texture element. The spice mixture was perfect also. Just loved this recipe and highly recommend making! I am not vegan so I didn’t worry about the vegan yogurt and just used sour cream and that was delicious!
I’m very happy that you love this dahl! 🙂
Thanks for your amazing feedback!
Greetings,
Bianca ♡
I made it firstly using exactly the recipe ingredients, but we weren’t keen on the coconut flavour and I find vegetable stock pretty bland. I have just made it again and made some adjustments and it turned out so flavoursome! I used chicken stock and full fat cream. I also added some curry leaves (about 10) and chilli flakes (needed a nice heat kick). If you decide to use cream, only use about 1/2 – 3/4 cup and make up the rest with extra tomato purée. Will definitely make again!
Hi Helen,
Thank you so much for your feedback! 🙂
I’m very happy that you loved this recipe!
Greetings,
Bianca ♡
Tried this recipe tonight and we can’t wait to make it again! Followed the instructions exactly. So comforting, healthy, and delish!! 🥰 thank you!
Thank you, Tamy! <3
The recipe was easy to follow and didn’t take much time to prepare and cook. Thanks to the good instructions everything went well and i enjoyed a wonderful nice looking and even better tasting dinner! Thank you for sharing that recipe!
Thank you so much for your feedback 🙂 .
I’m very happy to hear that you love this recipe!
Greetings,
Bianca ♡
Made it today! I don’t always follow recipes, but followed this one pretty closely (with the addition of fenugreek to the sautéd spices). It is fantastic. Thank you!
That’s awesome! Many thanks 🙂 .
I’m very happy to hear that it tasted good!
Best,
Bianca ♡
What non-dairy yogurt do you recommend for this meal?
Coconut yogurt is perfect! 😉
Delicious and simple recipe that packs a punch with flavour! I used chicken stock and added double the amount of ginger, plus chilli as we like things spicy. Will definitely make again. Thank you!
I am glad you enjoyed it! ♡
Many thanks 😊
Can I use regular dairy milk only because that is what I have on hand ?
You can add any milk but creamy coconut milk create the best flavor and consistency.
Great recipe tastes amazing added baby spinach leaves and a bit of cream at the end to give it that extra wow
Thank you for sharing! I’m happy you liked the recipe! Have a great day! 🙂
I was really craving a dahl today and came across this recipe. Simple yet delicious and filling! I used light coconut milk and stirred through some spinach at the end, but love having this as a base recipe I can adapt. Looking forward to the leftovers tomorrow. Will definitely be making again ❤
Thank you for sharing! I’m happy you liked the recipe! Have a great day! 🙂
Loved this recipe. So so glad I found it. Easy, quick and delcious. I had it with toasted pitta bread (just cause its all I had) but I see you have a flatbread recipe. Will try that next time xx
Thank you for sharing Janice! I’m happy you liked the recipe with pita bread! I hope you’ll love the naan bread recipe, too! 🙂
Can I use red split lentils?
Yes sure! I use them too! 🙂
I made this for my family and we absolutely loved it. The recipe is simple to make even on a busy night!!
I am glad you loved this recipe! ♡
Many thanks, Bianca!
This lentil recipe was so very good! My only complaint is I chose two big onions so I should have just used one but that was definitely my error.
Thank you for this simple yet yummy recipe. 🙂
I am glad you loved this recipe! ♡
Many thanks, Bianca! 🙂
This is SO delicious and SO easy! I used powdered onion and garlic because that was all I had on hand, so I skipped straight to combining in the pot. I topped with pickled red onions and sour cream. I am so appreciative of this recipe and can’t wait to continue to use it for a fast and satisfying meal as an (overwhelmed) college student this semester! Thanks!
Thank you so much! I am glad you loved this recipe! ♡
Sincerely, Bianca! 🙂
Thank you for this delicious and easy red lentil dahl recipe! Good instructions with beautiful pictures. Will be making again! 🙂
I am so happy about that! 🙂
Thanks for your great feedback! ♡
Fantastic dish, really easy to make and delicious. Thank you for sharing 🙏
Yay, that’s great! So glad you love it!
Thank you so much! 🙂 ♡
My 13 year old daughter and I made this together. It was delicious and super easy to make. We loved it and will definitely make it again!
So glad you loved it!
Thank you so much! 🙂 ♡
Thanks for sharing it! 🙂
<3
So delicious!
I ate it with some bread and all the spices added so much flavor which I loveeee! Combined with the lentils and coconut milk a perfect meal arised 😍
So glad you enjoyed this dish! 😀
Thank you very much for your feedback! ♡
I hope you had a great Christmas time! 🎄🎁
Ich habe heute das linsendal gekocht. Ich liebe es. Es geht schnell und einfach. Die Schärfe durch den Ingwer lässt es zu etwas ganz besonderem werden. Vielen Dank für die veganen Rezepte aus diesem unglaublich tollen Buch *veganfoodporn*! Es war der beste Kauf, ich möchte dieses Buch nie mehr missen.
Super! Es freut mich, dass alles geklappt hat und du begeistert bist!
Vielen Dank für dein großartiges Feedback zum Rezept und meinem Kochbuch.
Liebe Grüße, Bianca 🙂
I made this recipe. It was delicius. Thank you!
I am so happy that you loved this recipe!
Thanks for your great feedback! 🙂
This was absolutely delicious. The flavors worked together beautifully. I’ve made a lot of your stuff recently, it’s always great and easy to follow. I’ve been sharing your blog with anyone who will listen to me ☺️
So glad you love this dish! Thank you! 🙂
Love it! Very delicious recipe. Can’t wait to cook it again.
Thanks Bianca for sharing this dish with us.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🙂
I really loved this recipe. I have been cooking different cuisines especially Indian food since the lockdown started. This is so easy to make and lip smacking. Could you also share a flat bread or side dish that will go with this?
So glad you enjoyed this lentil dahl! 🙂
You can find my vegan naan flatbread recipe here!
so delicious 🙂
and so easy to prepare.
must try it!!!
Thank you! 😊
I absolutely loved your red lentil Dahl ❤️
Easy to make and so tasty!!
I Made Some garlic naan to eat on the side.
It was amazing, thanks!
Sounds great! So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you! 🙂