Lentil Spinach Curry for One

Name: Lentil Spinach Curry for One
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup green lentils (rinsed off); 1/2 can coconut milk (14.5 oz can); 1/2 cup diced tomatoes; 1/2 tablespoon red curry paste; 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 cups fresh spinach (1/2 or so of frozen); 2 cups rice (cooked); red pepper flakes (optional); fresh limes

Jump to Recipe

This easy lentil spinach curry is a great way to try 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.

green lentil coconut curry on table with ingredients

[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]

PIN HERE to add to your recipe box.

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

What makes this coconut curry lentils recipe so good?

ingredients for coconut green lentil curry

How to make this spinach and lentil curry

stirring lentils, coconut milk, and tomatoes in sauce pan

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.

coconut lentil curry simmering in saucepan

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.

pouring vegetables into coconut lentil curry

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

How do you make thick curry?

Simmer the curry without a lid, so some moisture can evaporate, thickening your curry.

Do you cook lentils before adding to 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.

How do I cook lentils?

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

Is eating undercooked lentils bad?

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.

close up of green lentil coconut curry with rice in a bowl with chives and a lime on top

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!

Print Pin

5 from 8 votes