Vegan Red Lentil Curry Thermomix

My red lentil curry is one of the simplest Indian dishes to make. The Thermomix makes this a "handsfree" dish that can be on the table in 30 minutes. Try this creamy vegan variation which is both nutritious and delicious.

Lentil curry or dahl as it is also commonly known in India is a naturally vegetarian recipe. Dahl can be made using a wide variety of lentils. It is common to use red lentils, brown lentils, and even black lentils when cooking this dish. I have chosen to use red lentils as they are very fast to cook making this dish a simple weeknight dish.

My red lentil curry is a smooth dish similar to a thick soup. It's full of flavour and diary-free. It can be eaten as a main vegan dish or as a side dish alongside another curry. It is fabulous served with roti or garlic naan as the bread makes a perfect edible "scoop" for the dahl.

Adding the squeeze of lemon and stirring through some fresh coriander brightens up the dish and creates a well-rounded flavour.

I have used cashew nut in the curry for a few reasons, firstly

Why add Cashews to Vegan Dahl?

I have added the cashew nuts to the dahl for a few reasons. Firstly, as this is a vegan dish the cashews add an important source of protein and fat to the dish. Making the red lentil dahl a more nutritionally complete dish.

Ground cashews are also used quite a lot in Indian curries as a thickening agent. The cashews in this dish add to the creamy texture of the dahl.

Finally, cashews add a mild yet nutty flavour to the curry making it much nicer than your average dahl.

Recipe to Serve with Dahl

There are many recipes that match nicely with dahl. Choose from some of these depending on whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore.

Lentil Curry Ingredients

Red Lentils

As mentioned, using red lentils decreases the cooking time of the dahl. I have chosen split red lentils which makes the dish even quicker. If you chose regular red lentils you will need to increase the cooking time by five minutes and add another 50g of tomato passata. Split red lentils are commonly found in the supermarket.

Kashmiri Chili

Kashmiri Chili is very different from regular chili powder. This type of chili gives an intense red colour to the curry. It's also a much milder heat than other chilies and has a sweet earthy flavour.

Garam Masala

The best garam masala is made by you. Freshly ground garam masala is so far superior to the commercial brands on the supermarket shelf. The overpowering aroma of all the spices that make up Garam Masala cannot be described. You will also find that when you grind your own spice blend even one year later the aroma and flavor is far stronger than a freshly purchased commercial variety.

Use the store-bought garam masala for now, but promise yourself to mill your own blend one day and do the aroma test.

Red Lentil Curry FAQ

Can I substitute brown or black lentils?

Because the cooking times vary enormously depending on the type of lentil used it is best to only use red lentils in this recipe. You will also find that brown and black lentils require a different quantity of liquid to cook adequately.

What can I use instead of coconut oil?

If you don't have coconut oil you can substitute it for any mild (lightly flavoured) oil. If you are not vegan you could also use ghee for this recipe.

What can I use instead of vegetable stock paste?

If you don't have vegetable stock paste you can substitute the water and paste for any of the following;

• Campbells Vegetable Real stock liquid
• 1 teaspoon Massels vegetable stock powder and water
• ½ teaspoon of salt and water

Can I use yoghurt instead of coconut milk?

If you are not cooking for a vegan you can substitute coconut milk for natural yoghurt. It will change the flavour but it is a nice alternative.

Can I substitute cashews for another nut?

You can substitute the cashews for peanuts or almonds but the flavour and thickness of the red lentil curry will vary.

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