Creamy Curry Lentils
Quick to throw into your pressure cooker, this meal has dynamite flavor and texture and is fit for serving to company! Serve with rice and cilantro or make homemade naan bread (recipe in post)!
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
Pour into pot of pressure cooker:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups dry brown lentils
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 TBSP turmeric
- 1 TBSP cumin
- 1 TBSP coriander
- 1 TBSP curry powder
- 2 TBSP grated fresh ginger (or 1 tsp ground)
- 1/2-1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Add after cooking
- 2 cans (14 oz each) tomato sauce or diced tomatoes* (can use 1 can for less tomato flavor)
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk (or use the whole can if not eating low-fat)
- 1-2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
For serving
- cooked rice
- cilantro sprigs
Instructions
Pressure Cooker Instructions
- Combine all the initial ingredients AND the diced tomatoes (they work well in the instant pot but not stove top or slow cooker since lentils don't cook well without pressure in high acidic liquid) into the pot of the pressure cooker. Set to high pressure for 23 minutes. Do a quick or natural release.
- Stir in the coconut milk, salt, and cilantro.
- Serve with rice and additional cilantro as garnish.
Stove Top Instructions
- In a large pot, saute the onion in a splash of water until fragrant and translucent. Add the garlic and cook about 2 more minutes.
- Add the spices and toast them for a minute before adding the water and lentils. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover the pot, and set timer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add additional water (about 1 cup) if it starts to get dry, as some will evaporate which doesn't happen with the pressure cooker method. Test lentils and cook until they are tender, it may take up for 45 minutes depending on how old the lentils are.
- Once the lentils are tender, stir in the salt, diced tomatoes, coconut milk and cilantro. Serve with rice and additional cilantro as garnish.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Stir together all of the initial ingredients in the pot of your slow cooker. Set to low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Stir in the coconut milk, diced tomatoes, salt, and cilantro.
- Serve with rice and additional cilantro as garnish.
Notes
*Blend diced tomatoes first if you don't like chunks of tomato.
