Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry - Creamy, Coconut-y and Delicious, Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry cooked in the Crockpot is easy, lazy, and a basic dump and forget dinner recipe. This is absolutely healthy, low carb, vegan, and gluten-free. A perfect meal for the family which can be enjoyed all seasons.
Lentil Coconut Curry
Hey friends. The Summers are in full swing and the hot and sultry days are here to stay.
The best thing about a hot summer day is that you can take the day off and just relax. However, if the thought of dinner is disturbing you, then I have the perfect fix for it.
This Lentil Coconut Curry is the best Summer Crockpot Meal. A basic dump and forget dinner recipe. So easy to make and tastes beyond delicious! If you do not own a slow cooker, then here are the reasons why you should rethink it.
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- Lentil Coconut Curry
- More easy dinners
- 😋 How does Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry Taste?
- 💪 Is Lentil Coconut Curry Healthy?
- 🍲 Ingredients used to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry
- 🍴How to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry
- STEP 1: Dump and Forget
- STEP 2: Stir in Coconut Milk
- STEP 3: Garnish & Serve
- 🥘 Serving Options
- 📖Other Possible Substitutions & Alterations
- ⏰How to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry Ahead of Time?
- Other Recipes you will love
- Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry in Crockpot
- Other Possible Substitutions & Alterations
- How to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry Ahead of Time?
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😋 How does Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry Taste?
I know you'd want to know how this tastes before you would want to cook it. Well, this is not your average Indian curry. Which means that this is not at all spicy.
Rather, it's sweet and creamy, and that too without any extra added sugar or cream.
It's all the sweetness from Coconut Milk that slightly sweetens this Lentil Coconut Curry, giving it a nutty undertone and a slightly sweet taste.
💪 Is Lentil Coconut Curry Healthy?
I have made this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry with Brown Lentils. Brown Lentils are exceptionally healthy. They sure take time to cook and that's why a slow cooker is a boon.
It cooks the lentils slowly, making them taste extra juicy and flavorful.
Also, there is no added sugar or cream used in this recipe.
Moreover, this is not at all spicy. The recipe calls for just 1 tablespoon of Smoked Paprika which is absolutely mild. And anyways Paprika has more of a sweet and smokey taste to it.
Also, this is devoid of High Carbs because there are no Sweet Potatoes or Carrots used in this recipe. Vegan food is healthy and an essential part of our lives today. Even if you aren't vegan, you are going to love this curry.
🍲 Ingredients used to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry
- Olive Oil - Just 1 teaspoon of Olive Oil to cook everything to perfection.
- Bay Leaf - This is the highlight of this Lentil Coconut Curry. You will get the earthy taste of Bay Leaf til the last bite.
- Chopped Onions - Just to thicken the curry
- Minced Garlic - To give that spicy garlicky hit to this Lentil Coconut Curry
- Chopped Tomatoes - To bring in a tartness to this curry.
- Chopped Bell Peppers - A slight sweetness and crunch to the curry
- Brown Lentil - Can replace with Red Lentils, however, it will cook faster. (See more details below)
- Coconut Milk - Just the best part about this Lentil Coconut Curry.
- Vegetable Broth - To cook everything
- Salt & Pepper - To season
- Turmeric - Because No Indian Curry is complete without that hint of Turmeric
- Cumin - Brings in a nice earthy taste to this curry
- Curry Powder - Of course, the highlight of the recipe.
- Garam Masala - Brings in amazing flavors in this Lentil Coconut Curry
- Ground Cinnamon - My secret ingredient in this Lentil Coconut Curry. Makes this taste extra good.
🍴How to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry
Below is the recipe for Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry in the slow cooker. You can find other alternatives and substitutions below. Also, watch the video for a quick visual.
STEP 1: Dump and Forget
- Just dump all the ingredients except Coconut Milk in the slow cooker.
- Pour the Vegetable Broth over the dry ingredients.
- Stir with a spoon or spatula.
- Cover with the lid
- Slow Cook on High for 4.5 hours or on Low for 8 hours
STEP 2: Stir in Coconut Milk
- Stir and gently mash the lentils to check if it's done. If it smashes, it's cooked.
- Pour in the Coconut Milk and Cover cook for another 1 hour on High
STEP 3: Garnish & Serve
- Remove the Bay Leaf
- Garnish with chopped Cilantro
- Serve.
🥘 Serving Options
I like to serve this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry with some steamed rice or Coconut Rice or Jeera (Cumin) Rice or Indian Fried Rice or Naan Bread.
However, for Low Carb options, serve this with Cauliflower Rice or Cauliflower Rice Risotto or Cilantro Lime Quinoa "Rice" or Quinoa Fried "Rice".
📖Other Possible Substitutions & Alterations
- INSTANT POT - You can cook this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry in the Instant pot as well. Just dump all the ingredients except coconut milk and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
- Next, stir in the Coconut Milk. Stir in chopped Cilantro and put on the lid until you serve.
- You can make this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry on the stovetop as well. For that, dump everything in a big dutch oven and cook on medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes. Stir to check if the Lentils are cooked. If they are cooked, stir in the Coconut Milk and Chopped Cilantro and serve.
- You can skip Bell Peppers if you want to.
- I have left out Sweet Potatoes and Carrots to make this Low Carb. However to make this a meal, include those as well.
- You might want to check the seasonings before you serve.
⏰How to make Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry Ahead of Time?
You can make this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry and store this in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1 week or store it in the freezer for 2 weeks.
Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it in the oven before you serve.
Other Recipes you will love
Vegan Lentil Loaf {Vegan Meatloaf}
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Traditional Brown Lentil Soup Recipe
Slow Cooker Lentil and Rice {4 Basic Ingredients}
Instant Pot Lentil soup recipe
I hope you liked this recipe. If you happen to make this recipe, then drop a review below and rate this recipe. Also, share a snap on Instagram and tag me with #recipemagik on Instagram, so that I can see your wonderful creation.
Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry in Crockpot
INGREDIENTS
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 large Bay Leaf dried
- 1 medium sized Onion finely chopped
- 5 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 medium sized Bell Pepper (any color) finely chopped
- 2 medium sized Tomatoes chopped (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
- ½ cup Brown Lentil uncooked
- 1 teaspoon Salt & Pepper adjust as per taste
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Garam Masala optional
- 1½ teaspoon Curry Powder
- 2 cups Vegetable Broth low sodium
- 1 cup Coconut Milk or 1/2 cup Full Fat Coconut Cream
- Freshly Chopped Cilantro / Coriander for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Grease the pot of slow cooker with Olive Oil. Now, throw in the Bay Leaf, followed by chopped Onion, minced Garlic, chopped Bell Pepper, and Lentils. Pour in the Vegetable Broth. Throw all the ground spices. Stir with a spatula until combined. Cover with a lid and slow cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
- Now, open the lid. Use a spatula to check if the Lentils are cooked. If they smash when pressed, then they are cooked and ready for the next step. Pour the Coconut milk. Stir until combined. Garnish with some chopped Cilantro. Cover with the lid and slow cook for another 1 hour on High or 2 hours on Low.
- Serve hot with rice.
Video
Notes
Other Possible Substitutions & Alterations
- You can cook this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry in the Instant pot as well. Just dump all the ingredients except coconut milk and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
- Next, stir in the Coconut Milk. Stir in chopped Cilantro and put on the lid until you serve.
- You can make this Vegan Lentil Coconut Curry on the stovetop as well. For that, dump everything in a big dutch oven and cook on medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes. Stir to check if the Lentils are cooked. If they are cooked, stir in the Coconut Milk and Chopped Cilantro and serve. (if using Red Lentil cook for 15 min)
- You can skip Bell Peppers if you want to.
- I have left out Sweet Potatoes and Carrots to make this Low Carb. However to make this a meal, include those as well.
- You might want to check the seasonings before you serve.
- If you are using Red or Green Lentil cook for 2.5 hours on High or 5 hours on Low. Red Lentils cooks extremely fast.
Gina Smith says
Wow! Such a comforting vegan creamy curry recipe in the crockpot!
Looks absolutely delicious!!
Anjali says
Thank you Gina!!
Alyssa says
Love creamy vegan curry!! So healthy and delicious
Anjali says
Yes its healthy and delicious too!!
Michelle Sharpe says
Your recipe for vegan lentil curry is the best! So flavorful! Made this for the family and everyone loved it ❤🤩👏
Anjali says
So glad to hear that everyone loved it.
She says
Can I use water instead of broth? If I use water, did I need to add any other spices or vegetables or anything to compensate?
How much carrots, if I want to add carrots as suggested?
Lastly, can I use cayenne red pepper, if I don't have any curry powder?
Thank you. This looks very delicious.
Anjali says
yes you can use water in place of broth. You can add 1/2 tsp of All Spice to balance the taste. Also if you want to add Carrots just 1 medium sized carrot, chopped finely would be a great addition. And yes you can add Cayenne Pepper. Its not the best replacement for Curry Powder so add it just enough to make it spicy, only as much as you love. i think just about 1/2 tsp of Cayenne Pepper should be good enough. (Also if you can find Coriander Powder, its the best replacement of Curry Powder. If not you can go ahead and skip it. It won't make a major difference in the taste). Hope you find this helpful and enjoy this dish!