Vegan Coconut Lentil Dahl (Printer-friendly)

A creamy blend of lentils, coconut milk, spinach, and lime delivering nourishing and vibrant flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Lentils & Legumes

01 - 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed

→ Aromatics

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated

→ Spices

05 - 1 tablespoon curry powder
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
09 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional for heat
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Liquids

11 - 1 can full-fat coconut milk, 14 fluid ounces
12 - 2.5 cups vegetable broth
13 - 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil

→ Vegetables

14 - 3 cups fresh baby spinach
15 - 1 medium tomato, diced

→ Garnish

16 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
17 - Fresh cilantro, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Heat the coconut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until soft and translucent.
02 - Stir in the garlic and ginger; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
04 - Mix in the rinsed red lentils and diced tomato.
05 - Pour in the coconut milk and vegetable broth. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle boil.
06 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are soft and creamy.
07 - Add the fresh spinach and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
09 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with lime wedges and chopped cilantro.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in one pot, which means fewer dishes and more time to actually enjoy your meal.
  • The creamy coconut base feels indulgent without any dairy, and honestly tastes better than most restaurant versions.
  • It's naturally nourishing—lentils and spinach do the heavy lifting while the spices make it taste like you spent hours on it.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the red lentils—I learned this the hard way when my first pot came out with a gluey texture that no amount of time could fix.
  • The dahl will thicken as it cools, so if it looks a bit loose when you're cooking, that's actually perfect; it'll firm up beautifully.
  • Lime is not a garnish here—it's essential to the flavor, so squeeze it generously over each bowl.
03 -
  • If your spices are older than a year, grab fresh ones before you cook—they lose their potency and you'll taste the difference immediately.
  • The depth of flavor comes from toasting the spices in oil before adding liquid, so don't rush that step even though it feels like nothing is happening.
Return