Hearty. Warm. Filling. This is what comes to mind after eating this Simple 1-Pot Green Lentil Dal. It’s so easy to make, affordable, and amazing as leftovers for your weekly meal prep. I know we all go through times when our schedules are crazy, you’re bouncing from meeting, to class, to cleaning, to running around with the kids or running errands- it’s a lot. This recipe is great for those days!

1-Pot Green Lentil Dal

I’ve mentioned before that my favorite cuisine to make (and eat) is Indian. So I love to grow my collection of Indian recipes, like Vegan Saag Paneer, along with my most popular, The BEST Chana Masala Recipe. If you’ve ever eaten Indian food, chances are you’ve had dal. It’s always on all Indian restaurant menus and it couldn’t be easier to make at home.

Trust me, I’m just like you and I go through days where I don’t want to cook- yes, the struggle is real. And now with a Chipotle down the street (“Chipotle’s my life”). It’s so easy to pick up takeout. We all go through those times where when we get home the last thing on our to-do list is to make a healthy homemade dinner, but guess what? Those are the times when we have to be purposeful about squeezing as many nutrients, antioxidants, healthy fats, proteins, and anti-inflammatory compounds as possible to keep our immune systems strong and hormones happy! Especially, if we are running around all day. Plus it’s a lot cheaper on the pocket when making your own BIG batch of food and using it throughout the week. If that’s not enough motivation to cook your meals ahead of time, then I don’t know what is!

What is dal?

Pronounced like DOLL, also it’s spelled in many other ways including dal, dhal, daal, and dahl. It is a broad term that refers to legumes (lentils, peas, and beans) that are cooked and spiced to perfection with curries, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, turmeric, and garam masala. Dal is a delicious traditional dish from India and is enjoyed in many other countries around the world, for good reason, it’s high in fiber, and protein, and tastes absolutely delicious. And guess what, there isn’t just 1 type of daal, you can make SO many different daal recipes. Just play with the different curries, spices, and different types of lentils, split peas, or any other bean you would like.

Here’s a list of other legumes you can use when making daal:

• Mung beans
• Chickpeas
• Green split peas
• Pigeon peas
• Red lentils
• Yellow lentils
• Brown lentils
• Black lentils (urad)
• Red Kidney
• Black beans
• Black-eyed peas

Dal is delicious to eat alone, I typically serve myself a large bowl full to the brim and call it a day. On the chance that I have some grains, like quinoa, rice, or millet, in my pantry then I’ll scoop the dal right on top. Both ways are delicious!

1-Pot Green Lentil Dal

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4 from 1 review

A green curry lentil dal prepared in 1 pot! Simple, healthy, and incredibly flavorful. Serve with rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a hearty, wholesome, plant-based meal.

• Author: Vanessa
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Yield: 4 1x
• Category: Entree
• Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

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• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 celery stalks (chopped)
• 4 Tbsp Green Curry Paste
• 1.5 cups or 1 can of light coconut milk
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp curry powder (store-bought or DIY)
• Pinch each sea salt + black pepper
• 1 cup green lentils (dried) well rinsed and drained
• 1 tsp coconut aminos
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1.5 cups water
• optional: pinch cayenne pepper (for more heat)

FOR SERVING (optional)

• Cooked white/ brown rice/ cauliflower rice/ quinoa
• Fresh cilantro
• Lemon or lime wedges

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Instructions

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat and add coconut oil, ginger, onion, and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat if needed
2. Add chopped celery, curry paste, and stir to coat evenly. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Then add coconut milk, turmeric, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, add the lentils, coconut aminos, water, and cinnamon.
4. Bring the mixture back to a simmer, and then reduce heat to medium-low and continue gently simmering for 15-20 minutes or until lentils are tender.
5. Once the lentils are tender, taste and adjust flavor as needed.
6. Serve the dal as is or over rice of choice (I love white or brown rice, but it’s also delicious over cauliflower rice or quinoa). Garnish with lemon wedges and cilantro (optional).
7. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

Nutrition

• Calories: 265.5
• Fat: 18.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 17.6 g
• Fiber: 4.4 g
• Protein: 5.3 g

Let me know what you think when you give this recipe a try! Leave a comment and rate it. I love seeing what you all are cooking up in the kitchen, be sure to take a picture and tag me  @LiveSimplyNatural on Instagram. Stay tuned for more plant-powered recipes!

Hugs,