This easy & delicious lentil spinach curry is a great way to try out a vegan recipe with lentils. It's bursting with flavor & just takes about 30 minutes to cook. Make it with pantry staples such as coconut milk, canned tomatoes, lentils, and spinach.
[This recipe was originally posted in January 2019. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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Table of contents
- About this easy lentil and spinach curry recipe
- How will this lentil curry with coconut milk make your life easier?
- What makes this coconut curry lentils recipe so good?
- How to make this spinach and lentil curry
- Substitutions/Tips
- FAQ
- How do I repurpose this lentil curry?
- What can I make with leftover ingredients?
About this easy lentil and spinach curry recipe
I used delicious Thai style red curry for this recipe. It's a great base that adds pretty much all the flavor that you'll need for this easy vegetarian curry recipe. It's not a traditional Thai recipe, but has Thai flavors of red curry paste and coconut milk.
Simply Suwanee has a red curry recipe for example.
How will this lentil curry with coconut milk make your life easier?
This lentil spinach curry dish is great because you dump each ingredient into the pan and let it do all the work. Plus if you downloaded my pantry staples checklist, you've already got all the ingredients on hand, so no need to plan ahead!
If you like easy pantry meals, download my 15 minute dinner cookbook or check out these fave pantry meals like 15 Minute Pasta, Vegetarian Tacos, Breakfast Tacos, Sticky Tofu, and Pan Fried Pork Chop. Or check out more vegetarian recipes.
What makes this coconut curry lentils recipe so good?
How to make this spinach and lentil curry
To start your lentil spinach curry, add rinsed green lentils, coconut milk, canned diced tomatoes, red curry paste, brown sugar, and minced garlic to medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 20-30 minutes, uncovered.
Prepare rice.
After 20 minutes, check doneness of lentils, if not soft, cook another 10 or so minutes. Add more coconut milk, tomatoes, or water if it's too thick. They should be soft.
Once lentils are soft, add brown sugar, salt and spinach.
Top rice with your lentil curry, and squeeze lime before eating. Sprinkle red pepper flakes over top if you'd like a bit of spice. Enjoy.
Substitutions/Tips
- Green lentils cook fastest, but you can use any type of lentil. Add more tomatoes or water if it doesn't have much water in it. You can also use precooked/frozen lentils to save time.
- Freeze coconut milk by pouring it into a freezer bag & freeze on a flat shelf to use for later.
- You may need to adjust cooking time for this lentil spinach curry to ensure lentils are cooked until soft. Refer to 'how to cook lentils' section in FAQ below.
- You may need to add water (or more coconut milk) if sauce is really thick before lentils are softened.
- If cooking traditional rice, start cooking when lentils start. If you want to save time, use minute or frozen rice.
- Swap the spinach for frozen spinach or frozen vegetables. You really can add whatever vegetables you have to this curry.
- Use lemon juice if you don't have lime, that's what I did here, or even a dash of rice or white vinegar.
FAQ
Simmer the curry without a lid, so some moisture can evaporate, thickening your curry.
You cook the lentils with the curry in this recipe. Good thing, lentils cook pretty fast so it'll just take 30 minutes total.
1. Lentils don't require soaking before cooking.
2. Rinse them off first, then cook in 3 cups of liquid per cup of lentils, bring to a boil then simmer for about 30 minutes.
3. Season with salt AFTER cooking. According to Lentils.org, they don't soften if you add salt early on. Whoda thought?
4. Green lentils are among the fastest cooking lentils
Undercooked lentils will be crunchy, and could lead to stomach discomfort and diarrhea since some of the compounds may not be broken down. Cook lentils longer if needed, and add more water for them to absorb and become softer.
How do I repurpose this lentil curry?
- Serve your lentil curry over greens for an easy salad
- Omit the rice
- Or just freeze for later. The rice and lentils will freeze well for a really quick reheated meal.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Lentils: Easy Instant Pot Lentil Stroganoff
- Tomatoes: Pumpkin Turkey Chili, 15 Minute Pasta, Pantry Rice and Bean Soup,
- Coconut milk: freeze leftover milk or make one of these 51 recipes using coconut milk from Epicurious.
Did you make this lentil spinach curry? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Coconut Green Lentil Curry
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring Cups
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
- ¼ cup green lentils rinsed off
- ½ can coconut milk 14.5 oz can
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ½ tablespoon red curry paste
- 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups fresh spinach ½ or so of frozen
- 2 cups rice cooked
- red pepper flakes optional
- fresh limes
Instructions
- Add ¼ cup rinsed lentils, ½ can coconut milk, ½ cup tomatoes, ½ Tablespoon red curry paste, 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar, and ¼ teaspoon minced garlic to medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Prepare brown rice.
- After 20 minutes, check doneness of lentils. They should be soft. Cook another 10 or so minutes, until soft.
- Once lentils are soft, add ¼ teaspoon salt and 2 cups fresh spinach.
- Top rice with lentil spinach curry, and squeeze lime before eating. Sprinkle red pepper flakes over top if you'd like a bit of spice. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- You may need to add water (or more coconut milk) if sauce is really thick before lentils are softened.
- Not ready to use remaining coconut milk? Pour it into a freezer bag & freeze on a flat shelf to use for later.
- You may need to adjust cooking time to ensure lentils are cooked until soft. Refer to 'how to cook lentils' section in FAQ below.
- Do not soak lentils before cooking.
- Green lentils cook fastest, but you can use any type of lentil. Add more tomatoes or water if it doesn't have much water in it. You can also use precooked/frozen lentils to save time.
- If cooking traditional rice, start cooking when lentils start. If you want to save time, use minute or frozen rice.
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Jessica Formicola says
This looks like total comfort food! I can't wait to try this!
Rebecca says
thanks!
Amanda says
I could definitely use more plant-based meals in my lifestyle, and this looks like a delicious way to do just that. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca says
ya, it's so easy!
Natalie says
Looks so delicious and healthy! Such a great idea for a balanced dinner ♥
Rebecca says
thanks so much!
Helen @ family-friends-food.com says
This looks like such a delicious dish. I love that it's ready in 30 minutes - definitely one for a midweek dinner.
Rebecca says
thanks! and 30 minute meals are the best
Mike Hultquist says
This was outstanding. Loved all of the flavors. I'm a HUGE fan of curries and will be making them with lentils more often!
Rebecca says
thanks! me too! curries are the best
Pam says
You have brown sugar in the video (and a reminder not to forget to add it! Lol) but it is not listed in the recipe or instructions... how much brown sugar are you adding?
Rebecca says
Hi Pam thanks so much for letting me know! oh the irony, haha!!!!!!!! There should be 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar in it. It's fixed in the recipe card now too
Margarita says
But when do you add it in and what do you mean by “half can diced tomatoes”? Half of which size can?
Rebecca says
good question, I'm referring to a 14.5 oz can. I'll change that. thanks for bringing it up!
Daniela R Bianchetti says
Love this recipe. I used cooked lentil so the dish was done in 10 minutes!
Rebecca says
great idea! thanks for sharing
Natalie Padilla says
More nutritional vegan recipes like these, PLEASE! Loving this recipe. I'm a senior citizen looking for convenient ways to stay healthy. Love your ideas!
Rebecca says
Great feedback! I'll email you with a couple resources