Pink Lentil Curry

February 13, 2026

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This creamy purple lentil curry is flavored with coconut milk and purple curry paste and completed with a vibrant cilantro chutney. It’s a comfy, plant-based weeknight dinner!

Some recipes earn their spot within the rotation the very first time you make them. That’s what occurred with this purple lentil curry! I created this curry for my first cookbook, Fairly Easy Cooking and it rapidly grew to become a reader favourite. So, I made a decision so as to add a model of it on this web site, with just a few tweaks from testing it over time!

The lentils are all about cozy creaminess, simmered with coconut milk, tomatoes, and a spoonful of purple curry paste. However then you definitely add the cilantro chutney: tangy, vibrant, just a little candy from golden raisins — and it’s really magic (I’m undecided how else to explain it!) It’s grow to be one among my high plant based mostly recipes and vegan dinner recipes to suggest when folks want dinnertime inspiration.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Unbelievable taste: The tangy cilantro chutney balances the wealthy heat of the coconut curry to make one among my favourite meals ever.
A 30 minute meal: With a prep time of simply 10 minutes and a cook dinner time of 20 minutes, you must have the ability to end this in half-hour (in case you make the chutney whereas the lentils simmer).
Naturally wholesome. Pink lentils are loaded with plant-based protein, and your complete meal is vegan and gluten free
Meal prep pleasant. This curry is deal for packing lunches all week!

5-Star Reader Critiques

“That is fabulous! The cilantro chutney is tremendous tasty! It was such a unbelievable addition to the curry. So cozy and like a hug. We’ll be making this time and again.” -Tanvee

“This recipe got here collectively so rapidly! Excellent for a midweek meal. The cilantro raisin chutney added an ideal tangy pop of taste, don’t skip making it. SO good!!” — Renata & Steve

What You’ll Want

There are numerous methods to make a purple lentil curry. In truth, the phrase “curry” is a Western invention used broadly to explain any dish with a spiced sauce and meat or greens (examine curry historical past right here). It’s made in lots of nations with various taste profiles, together with India, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Nigeria, England and extra. Listed below are the important thing elements you’ll want for this spin on purple lentil curry:

Onion, garlic, and contemporary ginger: These fragrant greens present the flavour base.
Pink lentils: Also referred to as masoor dal, purple lentils cook dinner quicker than different varieties and meld right into a creamy, velvety texture. Keep away from substituting one other kind of lentil on this recipe.
Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste: The tomatoes add a tangy base right here.
Pink curry paste: This jar is a jarred paste that takes all the flavour of a Thai curry and concentrates it! Curry paste is made with chili peppers, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, cumin, coriander, and extra. It brings a large quantity of taste and lasts for months within the fridge.
Coconut milk: This curry makes use of coconut milk for a silky, easy taste.

Ideas for Utilizing Curry Paste

Listed below are just a few notes for utilizing purple curry paste on this recipe:

The warmth stage varies based mostly on the model. I typically use Thai kitchen curry paste as a result of it’s very gentle (and goes over nicely with our youngsters!). There are numerous nice manufacturers to strive: simply be certain that to style your curry paste earlier than utilizing it. If it’s very spicy, use rather less than the recipe specifies.
Discover it close to the Thai merchandise in most grocery shops. It retains for months within the fridge. You can too purchase it on-line: Thai Kitchen purple curry paste.

Find out how to Make Pink Lentil Curry

This purple lentil curry is fast to make! Listed below are just a few notes for the method (or bounce to the recipe for portions):

Step 1: Sauté the greens. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Add the diced yellow onion and cook dinner till translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and contemporary ginger and sauté for 1 minute extra till aromatic.
Step 2: Simmer the lentils. Add the purple lentils, crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, water, purple curry paste, tomato paste, and kosher salt. Carry to a simmer, then scale back to a really light bubble. Prepare dinner for 10 to fifteen minutes, stirring typically, till the lentils are fully tender and have melted right into a creamy consistency. Stir in just a few tablespoons extra coconut milk.
Step 3: In the meantime, make the chutney. Whereas the lentils simmer, mix collectively the cilantro, golden raisins, white wine vinegar, olive oil, water, and salt till a easy sauce varieties.
Step 4: Serve. Spoon the purple lentil curry over rice, high generously with the cilantro chutney, and garnish with additional cilantro leaves in case you’d like.

Methods to Serve It

Pink lentil curry is a whole meal over a scoop of rice, however the best pairing makes it even higher. Listed below are my favourite methods to serve it:

Jasmine rice: This meal is greatest served with white rice. I particularly like jasmine for its aromatic taste. (Right here’s tips on how to cook dinner jasmine rice.)
Basmati rice: Fluffy and light-weight, basmati rice is one other wonderful choice, particularly in case you’re leaning into Indian-style flavors.
Brown rice: A nuttier, extra healthful base with additional fiber. Right here’s tips on how to cook dinner brown rice.
Naan or flatbread: Heat garlic naan bread is nice for sopping up this curry.
Easy sides: A fast cucumber salad is a refreshing pairing.

Storing Leftovers

Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 1 week. The curry will thicken because it chills. To reheat, heat it gently on the stovetop over medium warmth, stirring to stop scorching and including a splash of water, vegetable broth, or coconut milk to skinny it again out to the specified consistency.

The cilantro chutney additionally retains for as much as 1 week refrigerated. To reheat rice, add it to a pot with a splash of water, cowl, and heat it over low warmth till heated by way of.

This curry additionally works nicely for meal prep: you possibly can portion it into containers with rice for straightforward weeknight dinners all week.

Dietary Notes

This purple lentil curry is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free. It additionally works as a Mediterranean weight loss plan recipe.

Incessantly Requested Questions

Can I add greens to this curry?

Undoubtedly! Spinach and peas are nice additions that don’t require additional cook dinner time. Add them in the course of the simmer time.
Cauliflower, carrots, and potatoes are different good choices, however require sauteing first (which provides prep time to this recipe).

Is purple lentil curry wholesome?

Sure! Pink lentils are one of the nutritious legumes you possibly can eat: they’re excessive in plant-based protein, fiber, and B nutritional vitamins. (See Advantages of Lentils.) Mixed with coconut milk and tomatoes, this curry delivers a balanced meal with wholesome fat. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Can I exploit brown or inexperienced lentils as an alternative of purple lentils?

I don’t suggest it for this recipe. Pink lentils (additionally referred to as cut up lentils or masoor dal) break down as they cook dinner, creating the creamy texture that’s excellent for curries. Brown and inexperienced lentils maintain their form, which supplies a really completely different end result. If you happen to’d like a recipe with brown or inexperienced lentils, strive my seasoned brown lentils or curry lentil soup as an alternative.

Can I substitute parsley for cilantro?

Completely. Italian parsley offers the chutney a contemporary, herby taste with out the polarizing style of cilantro. (My dad and mom are cilantro haters, so I get it if you’re too!) The general taste of the chutney might be just a little extra gentle, however it nonetheless works as a vibrant distinction to the curry.

Are you able to make purple lentil curry within the Instantaneous Pot?

In concept sure, although I haven’t examined this. You could possibly use the Sauté operate to cook dinner the onion, garlic, and ginger first. Then you could possibly add the lentils, tomatoes, curry paste, tomato paste, salt, and water (maintain again a lot of the coconut milk). Prepare dinner on excessive strain for 10 minutes, then enable a pure strain launch. Stir within the coconut milk after opening. The feel could also be barely completely different from stovetop, so proceed at your personal threat.

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