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    Home > Meal Type > Sides

    Red Lentil Dhal

    Last Updated: Jun 28, 2025 · First Published: Aug 10, 2016
    Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts · Comment: 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 2 votes

    This Red Lentil Dhal is a wonderfully nutritious and comforting bowl of goodness. It works well with rice and naan bread and is a great cheap family meal. And you can spice it up and change it up to suit you and your family!

    This Red Lentil Dhal is a wonderfully nutritious and comforting bowl of goodness. It works well with rice and naan bread and is a great cheap family meal. And you can spice it up and change it up to suit you and your family!

    Red lentils are a fabulous way to bulk out a meal! They are cheap, melt to pretty much nothing and have plenty of nutrition in them!!! This Dhal heroes them. It celebrates their ability to create thick sauces and absorb wonderful flavours.

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    This Red Lentil Dhal is a wonderfully nutritious and comforting bowl of goodness. It works well with rice and naan bread and is a great cheap family meal. And you can spice it up and change it up to suit you and your family!

    As I mentioned yesterday I served these with Indian Spiced Chicken Meatballs, but you could happily serve this on it's own with some naan bread and plain rice.

    This Red Lentil Dhal is a wonderfully nutritious and comforting bowl of goodness. It works well with rice and naan bread and is a great cheap family meal. And you can spice it up and change it up to suit you and your family!

    Enjoy x

    Get the Recipe

    This Red Lentil Dhal is a wonderfully nutritious and comforting bowl of goodness. It works well with rice and naan bread and is a great cheap family meal. And you can spice it up and change it up to suit you and your family!

    Red Lentil Dhal

    Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    This Red Lentil Dhal is a wonderfully nutritious and comforting bowl of goodness. It works well with rice and naan bread and is a great cheap family meal. And you can spice it up and change it up to suit you and your family!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Side
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 -6
    Calories 360 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 teaspoon ghee (or butter)
    • 1 small onion (finely chopped)
    • 3 cloves garlic (finely sliced)
    • 2 teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 2 cups red lentils
    • 1 fresh green chilli (to serve)
    • yoghurt (to serve)
    • fennel seeds (to serve)

    Instructions
     

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    • Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic.
    • Melt the butter in a heavy based pan and gently fry the chopped onion and garlic until softened and aromatic.
    • Add in the turmeric, cumin and coriander.
    • Add in the lentils and stir to coat them all in the aromatic butter mixture.
    • Pour over enough cold water so that it comes to about 5 cm above the lentils.
    • Place a lid on the pan and bring it to the boil.
    • Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook on low for about 15-20 minutes
    • Once the lentils have absorbed all the water, check the consistency. You want the lentils to be completely softened and for the dish to be about the thickness of porridge. Add more water and cook for longer if necessary.
    • Once cooked, season to taste and serve with a dollop of yoghurt, some slices of chilli and a sprinkles of fennel seeds.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 24gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 9mgPotassium: 945mgFiber: 28gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 7.7mg

    Nutrition is per serving

    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout

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    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      August 21, 2020 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love dahl and I'm always ready to try a new recipe. Some make it into my permanent recipe book and some don't - this one definitely does. It's really nice, a good consistency and excellent flavour.

      Reply
    2. Dorothy Dunton says

      August 11, 2016 at 12:38 am

      Hi Claire! I must admit I have never had red lentils. This looks delicious especially paired with your meatballs! I have had naan bread and, as you said, that would definitely be good here!

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    a lady slurping pasta from a fork while holding a rustic bowl

    I'm Claire and I love food!!


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