Description
This Slow Cooker Red Lentil Dahl is a hearty, creamy, and comforting vegetarian curry packed with fragrant spices, coconut milk, and tender lentils. It’s the perfect easy fakeaway for cozy nights or meal prep days.
Ingredients
1 Onion, peeled and chopped
3 Cloves Garlic, or 3 tbsp of frozen/jar garlic
2 tbsp Ginger, fresh or frozen/jar
2 tsp Ground cumin
4 tbsp Curry paste (choose mild or spicy as preferred)
250 g (9 oz) Red lentils, rinsed
400 ml (12 fl oz) Reduced fat coconut milk
400 g (14.5 oz) Tinned chopped tomatoes
300 g (11 oz) Butternut squash cubes, fresh or frozen
100 ml (0.5 cups) Vegetable stock
2 tsp Sunflower oil (for frying paneer)
225 g (8 oz) Paneer, cut into large chunks (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the red lentils thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Place the lentils, onion, garlic, ginger, ground cumin, curry paste, coconut milk, chopped tomatoes, butternut squash, and vegetable stock into the slow cooker.
- Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 8–9 hours, until the lentils are tender and creamy.
- If the dahl looks too thick, stir in 100–200 ml (0.5–1 cup) extra vegetable stock to reach your desired consistency.
- For the topping, heat the sunflower oil in a frying pan and fry the paneer pieces until golden and crispy on all sides.
- Serve the dahl warm, topped with crispy paneer and a sprinkle of fresh coriander if desired.
- Enjoy with basmati rice, naan, or flatbread.
Notes
Add spinach or kale in the last 30 minutes of cooking for extra greens.
Use tofu instead of paneer for a vegan option.
For extra spice, add chili flakes or a hotter curry paste.
To make it creamier, stir in more coconut milk before serving.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or stock if needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
