Lentils in Red Coconut Curry with Quinoa
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A curry is a great way to use up veggies in your fridge such as onions and bell peppers. Don't be afraid to serve this over roasted veggies like squash or eggplant, leaving out the quinoa, of course.
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 1½ cup lentils
  • 3¾ cups water, divided
  • 2 bay leaves, divided
  • ½ tsp ground coriander seeds
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp madras curry powder
  • ½ tsp tumeric
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • 1 cup small diced red bell pepper
  • 1 cup small diced green bell pepper
  • 4 tbsp butter, divided
  • 1 cup small diced onion
  • 3 chopped garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp chopped ginger root
  • 2 tbsp red curry paste
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 2 cups peeled and diced tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ¾ tsp salt, divided
  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
Instructions
  1. After rinsing your lentils (I used green), pop them and 2 and ½ cups of water into a pot with 1 bay leaf. Set the burner to high, bring the lentils to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. You are not fully cooking the lentils here, they will finish in the curry.
  2. Gather your spices: garam masala, curry powder, tumeric, and cayenne. In a large pan big enough to hold all the ingredients except the last on, toast your spices for 30 seconds until they are fragrant.
  3. Add 2 tbsp. of butter. When melted, add the garlic and ginger and saute for 30 seconds to 1 minute careful to not let the garlic burn.
  4. Add the onions and peppers and saute for 5 minutes or until the onions become transparent.
  5. Add the curry paste and tomatoes and stir for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Stir in the fish sauce, honey, ½ salt, and 1 bay leaf.
  7. Drain the lentils (after 15 minutes of simmering) and add them and the coconut milk (I used lite). Stir to make everything happy.
  8. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let this cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
Recipe by Sugar & Sassafras at https://www.sugarandsassafras.net/?p=1191