Ohhh my lentils. I just love me somma them beans. Especially when they’re in a big crockpot full of red curry lentils.
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Yummmy! Made half recipe and still plenty. I’m always struggling to find tasty vegan slow cooker recipes for a family of 4. Thank you for the work you do.
Megan
This week I went to a Filipino grocery store and bought 2 giant bags of lentils. Yep, you’re right. Definitely not Filipino, and totally still a good purchase.
One bag is brown/green and it’s called masoor. Just try saying that out loud once. You’ll feel fancy. The other one is cute, little, and red. It’s called dal and it’s delicious. I’m just warning you right now. If you don’t like lentils, you might want to go ahead and click that little red x in the corner. With these two bags of lentils burning a hole in my kitchen counter, these next few weeks are going to be lentil mania.
HOW TO MAKE OUR RED LENTIL CURRY:
To be fair, there are cookies coming, too, so… just… stick around, wouldya? Maybe I can get you to like lentils along the way.
Sometimes people ask my what my favorite recipe of all time is, and even though I know I’ve made other things that I’ve also reallyreally liked, it’s like everything else fades away in that moment and all I can think of are those saucy, spicy, perfect-as-leftovers, healthy, cheap, and easy Red Curry Lentils from way back when. <– That one over there.
So when my mom suggested that I bring some lentil something to the cabin for our annual family vacation (eee!), I got an amazing idea: Red Curry Lentils, for my whole family, in the crockpot. Because I’m now making lentils in mass quantity and forcing my bean love on others. They WILL like it. They will.
Is it weird that my original name for the Red Curry Lentils is sort of backwards? because who really calls them “Red Curry Lentils?” It would be a lot more normal to call it a Red Lentil Curry. Right? Or am I just totally confused here? Yes to both.
I basically took everything that I loved about the beloved backwards-named Red Curry Lentils and made them into forwards Red Lentil Curry, lazy girl style. Er, I mean crockpot style. Same ingredients, same red curry taste, same beautiful saucy-thick-lentil-loaded texture, extra turmeric because I’m getting more brave and I like the color. Annnd more free time for me to make 3 batches of chocolate chip cookies, which is honestly what I did. Food cookin’ in the crockpot means I have more time to make food. Foodie food food. Forever.
I hope you have a crowd to feed or else you reeeally like red lentil curry. Cause this never runs out.
Crockpot Red Curry Lentils
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
Description
Red curry lentils is one of my favorites! This version is so simple – just toss everything in the crockpot. Easy, healthy, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 cups regular brown lentils (I used maasor lentils this time)
- 2 onions, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 4 tablespoons butter (optional)
- 5 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- a few good shakes of cayenne pepper
- 2 cans tomato puree (29 ounces each)
- 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 1/2 cup coconut milk or cream
- cilantro for garnishing
- rice for serving
Instructions
- Rinse the lentils and place them in a large crockpot. Add the diced onions, garlic, ginger, butter, curry paste, garam masala, turmeric, sugar, and cayenne. Stir to combine.
- Pour just 1 can of tomato puree over the lentils. Re-fill the can with water twice and add to the crockpot. Stir to make sure that the lentils are covered with liquid. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
- Check once or twice during cooking to add more water or tomato puree if the lentils are soaking up all the liquid. The amount of water or tomato puree you add depends on how soupy your want your lentils to be. For me, 1 1/2 cans of tomato puree plus the two cans of water was perfect. Taste and season with salt. Lentils will be soft when they are done cooking.
- Stir in the coconut milk and sprinkle with cilantro just before serving. Serve over rice or naan bread.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Indian
Keywords: red curry lentils, crockpot curry, crockpot lentil curry
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our all-star slow cooker recipes page. Check it out!
Fantastic! I love lentils, love red curry, and love the slow cooker…this recipe is definitely a winner in my book!
This sounds wonderful! It makes me wish my tummy was better able to handle lentils. 🙂 I bet it smells good too!
Slow cookers are probably my best friends. I love lentils, but I rarely can muster the patience to stand there while they cook all the way through, so this is the perfect recipe for me 🙂
Totally. Just leave em and forget em. 🙂
Can I use red or green lentils?
Red lentils tend to become really soft when cooked down. We think green lentils would be a good substitute!
That there is a whole lotta lentils! Perfect for getting it ready for a potluck!
Love this! Lentils are my very favorite! Seriously, I prefer them to beans and could eat them everyday! This looks awesome, Lindsey!
I love masoor, but I’ve never tried it with coconut milk. Sounds delicious! I have the same crockpot 🙂
You are your lentils, I love it.
P.S. I have actually never used a crockpot during the summer, but I might bust it out for this recipe!
I love crockpots in the summer because you don’t have to use the oven! winnn!
Bring on the lentil love! And I could certainly feed a crowd…or just equip myself with tasty lunches for a month. Both sound delightful.
I love how much you love lentils because you are making ME love lentils even more! I have to try this, Lindsay! I don’t eat them nearly enough as I would like. And lentils made in a slow cooker – amazing. I’ve been looking for a great slow cooker lentil recipe anyway!
Perfect timing! 🙂
You sure do love your lentils don’t you 😉 but I’m not complaining, I love them too and I looove seeing all your lentil recipes! 🙂
I love spicy lentils, so these are right up my alley : )
This looks so beautiful! And all of those spices sound absolutely heavenly. 🙂
definitly making this – I am a lentil lover!
Your red lentil curry/red curry lentils/curried red lentils have been a STAPLE in my house pretty much since you posted them. LOVE that recipe!
Same here! 🙂 Glad you liked them, too!
1. I am turning this summer into a “make as many POY recipes as possible” kind of time. I can’t hold back the giddy smile every time I think about it. 🙂
2. I like your updated “about you and Bjork” section. Which brings me to the next thing…
3. You listed “lake runs in the fall” as something you love… which means that you are totally going to join me on my little adventure/craziness in October!!!! Yeah, yeah, yippee..wahoo!!!
Wahhh. I went for a three mile run today and felt like I was dying. I don’t know Jakky. I just don’t know.
Don’t worry. I feel like I am dying every time I run! And by run, I mean wog. You are already leagues ahead of me. Plus, just think of how many chocolate chop cookies we’ll burn off while wogging…
Can you please tell me how much a serving is? Thank you
I need to buy a crock pot so thanks for the recommendation. I always like to know what works for others. The recipe looks delicious.
Yummo! Love the look and ease of this recipe. Also, I can’t believe your family will eat this. My family would NEVER eat something as “exotic” as this…if I suggested bringing red lentil curry to our next family vacation, they’d probably vote me out of the family 🙂
Enjoy the vacation time with your long-lost-and-now-found loved ones!
i will take anything lentils related any time and yes cookies on the side will be appreciated too 😛
I just made your “Red Curry Lentils” – stovetop style – for the first time today and fell in love! So glad to see this super-sized version that is sure to be a hit in our household. Thanks!
How long did it take on stovetop?
30 minutes or less. it’s quick!
Recipe for crockpot red curry lentils says to add 2x 29 ounce cans tomato purée. This sounds way to much? I’m in New Zealand and we don’t use ounces. Is this 3.5 cups per 29 ounces? So I’d put in 7 cups of tomato purée? Weird question I know. Thanks
I love lentils, and I love curry, but I have never had red curry…I cannot wait to try this!!! Thanks!
Lentils in the crockpot? Family vacation in a cabin? You are really back in the US, friend! Have a great time!
Those red curry lentils look amazing! I definitely have to try those out. Lentils in the crockpot are a great idea too!
These pictures are gorgeous! The lighting is so perf. Can’t wait to make a big batch of this and eat it for days!
Thanks Dionna! Trying to get used to shooting in MN lighting again. So far so good!
This is inspiring me to make lentils again! I used to make lentil dahl all the time in high school but for some reason just got out of the habit. As always, your photography is such a good representation of the food. It’s not easy to make lentil stew look pretty and savory!
Delicious!
Thanks Lindsey!
sounds delish! think i’ll have it with paratha!
Mmmm we love paratha! Great idea!