Chickpea And Lentil Curry

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This chickpea and lentil curry features protein-rich chickpeas and tender lentils in a fragrant tomato-based sauce with creamy coconut milk. It’s warm, comforting, full of spice, and so simple to make! Naturally vegan & gluten-free!

When I’m craving something cozy, I always look to curries! They are hearty, fragrant, and warm, with a slight kick from the chilies, all in a creamy yet light sauce. Most traditional curry recipes contain meat, but this chickpea and lentil curry recipe is entirely plant-based.

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One cup of chickpeas provides almost 40 grams of protein, along with manganese, folate, and dietary fiber! Chickpea lentil curry is hearty, cozy, creamy, and light. It’s crave-worthy and it’s easy to make too! Just sauté, simmer, and serve. I like to double or triple this chickpea lentil recipe and freeze half of it for a busy night when I need dinner ready, stat.

I also love that it’s elegant enough to serve when we have friends over. They all love it, and we hardly ever end up with leftovers. It’s a simple and tasty Indian vegetarian recipe! Do yourself a favor and serve with naan bread or rice to sop up the delicious sauce.

👩‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• Easy recipe that’s BIG on flavor
• Tastes just as good the next day (if not better!)
• Healthy recipe with wholesome ingredients
• High in plant-based protein
• Super easy vegetarian curry
• Simple to customize
• Great recipe for meal prep
• The whole family will love this delicious meal
• Naturally gluten-free & vegan dish

🥘 Ingredients

This chickpea lentil curry recipe calls for pantry staples and simple ingredients found at your local grocery store. Here’s what you need:

• Coconut Oil: To sauté the aromatics. Olive oil or vegetable oil works great too!
• Onions and Fresh Garlic: The base for every good curry! Sweet, white or yellow onions all work great.
• Ginger Root: Find fresh ginger near the peppers in the refrigerated section of the produce aisle. It imparts a spicy kick that amps up the flavor.
• Yellow Bell Pepper: Orange and red bell peppers work too. They are naturally sweeter than green pepper.
• Green Chilies: For a bit of heat! If you like more heat, add three. If you like mild heat, only use one. If you don’t like any heat, omit the green chilies altogether.
• Blend Of Spices: Ground cumin, turmeric, ground coriander, and garam masala creates a homemade curry powder for plenty of sweet warmth and spice. Don’t forget a little bit of salt and pepper for seasoning!
• Diced Tomatoes: Sweet and acidic tomatoes make the base of the curry sauce. Fresh tomatoes work too, but you may need to add a splash of vegetable broth.
• Red Lentils: Red lentils are the softest of colored lentils. They naturally thicken the sauce and add texture. You can use other kinds of lentils, but you will need to adjust the cooking time and the texture of this vegan chickpea and lentil curry will change slightly.
• Chickpeas: Adds a dose of protein, fiber and heartiness to this curry, so much so that even meat eaters won’t miss the meat! I used canned chickpeas to save time.
• Coconut Milk: Full-fat coconut milk creates a rich and creamy sauce! If you want to cut calories, you can use low-fat coconut milk, but it has less coconut cream in it.
• Lemon: A squeeze of lemon brightens up the whole dish. Lime juice works great too!
• Baby Spinach: Leafy greens are packed with immune-boosting vitamins and minerals. Spinach has a sweet and mild flavor, but swiss chard or baby kale work great too!

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📖 Variations

This chickpea lentil recipe is easy to customize! Try one of these delicious variations.

• Sweet Potato Chickpea Lentil Curry: Add diced sweet potatoes along with the chickpeas and lentils. They will cook through as the curry simmers.
• Green Lentil And Chickpea Curry: Swap the red lentils for green lentils. Green lentils take longer to cook, so you may need to simmer the curry up to 40 minutes to do so. Brown lentils are also a good option. They hold their shape, but don’t take as long to cook as green.
• Chickpea Lentil And Potato Curry: Toss in diced gold potatoes when you add the chickpeas. Gold potatoes are a good source of vitamins C and B6.
• Chickpea And Lentil Curry (Slow Cooker): Add all the ingredients except the coconut milk, lemon juice, and spinach to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
• Butternut Squash Curry: Add diced butternut squash with the chickpeas and lentils.

🔪 How To Make Chickpea And Lentil Curry

This easy lentil and chickpea dhal is a breeze to make! Here’s step-by-step instructions with photos to guide you through it.

Sauté Aromatics: In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion for a couple of minutes, then add the garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 to 2 more.

Add Peppers: Add the diced bell peppers and chilies, then sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Add Spices: Sprinkle in the cumin, turmeric, cilantro, and garam masala. Continue to stir and cook until the spices are fragrant.

Stir In Lentils & Chickpeas: Stir in the diced tomatoes, red lentils, and chickpeas. Cook for another 2 minutes. Add the coconut milk.

Simmer Vegan Curry: Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure the bottom doesn’t burn. If the sauce becomes too thick, add 1/4 cup of water or vegetable stock to thin it out.

Add Spinach: Once the lentils are cooked and the sauce is thick, stir in the salt, pepper, lemon juice, and spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts.

Enjoy: Serve this chickpea lentil and spinach curry with basmati rice, naan bread, or brown rice.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🍽️ How To Serve

Here are a few of our favorite ways to serve curried chickpeas and lentils!

• Naan Bread: Take the naan (preferably whole wheat naan) and use it to scoop up the lentil and chickpea curry. The spongy, soft bread pairs nicely with curry.
• Brown Rice or Quinoa: Adding brown rice or quinoa is a lovely way to add some extra fiber and whole grains.
• With A Simple Salad: I like adding a really simple salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions as a side for this tasty curry!
• Whole Wheat Tortillas: Add the homemade red lentil curry to the center of a whole wheat tortilla. Wrap it up like a burrito and enjoy! You can also wrap it in a roti!
• Sandwich: Turn this easy chickpea curry recipe into a sloppy joe type of sandwich. It’s a delicious way to enjoy curry dishes and it’s very kid friendly too!

💭 Expert Tips

• Play with the spices! If you like more heat, add some cayenne pepper or chili flakes.
• Instead of the chickpeas and red lentils, you can use any kind of lentils/beans you like! Try black beans, kidney beans, or brown lentils.
• Feel free to add in some veggies: roasted squash, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, zucchini and kale would all work well in this dish.
• Canned brown lentils can be used instead of dried, reduce the cooking time to 25 minutes.

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