Red Lentil Dahl

This Indian Red Lentil Dahl (masoor dal) with spinach is so easy to make, ready in 30 minutes and very budget-friendly. Creamy and delicious this lentil curry is perfect for a tasty weeknight dinner. Just serve with rice and naan for an incredible Indian feast!

Jump to:

• What is Red Lentil Dahl?
• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• How to Make Red Lentil Dahl
• Expert Tips
• How to Serve Dahl
• Variations
• FAQs
• Storage and Freezing Instructions
• Red Lentil Dahl (Dal) with Spinach

Not only is this lentil dahl easy to make but it's quick too, taking just 30 minutes to cook. It's very budget-friendly and great for making ahead or freezing.

This Indian classic is deliciously comforting and full of flavour. It's such a great vegan dinner and perfect for busy weeknights.

I've been making this dahl for years so this is a tried and tested recipe that always goes down a treat.

Just serve with your favourite naan and basmati rice for a very satisfying meal.

What is Red Lentil Dahl?

There are a couple of different names for dahl, here in the UK dahl seems to be the most common, it's also called dal, daal or dhal. Dal is the term used for dried or split pulses. It is also the term used for various soups and stews prepared using pulses.

Red lentil dahl is also known as Masoor Dal. Tarka is the term used for the spices and aromatics that are added to the dal. Also known as the baghaar or chownk, this is a mix of spices fried in oil or ghee until sizzling and aromatic, and then folded through the pulses just before serving.

This is a very versatile dish, with so many variations. Each recipe is dependent on personal tastes, this recipe is my version, one I've been making for years and one that has adapted over time to be my favourite.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Family-friendly curry - this is mild enough that you can serve it to everyone! But if you want to spice it up that's easily done!
• Budget-friendly recipe - just a few simple store-cupboard ingredients are needed to make this dish.
• Quick and easy to make - ready in 30 minutes this lentil curry is perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients Needed

• Lentils - as this is a Masoor Dal, dried red lentils are what you will need. They will look orange in colour and are cheap to buy. I always have a large bag in my cupboard. I add turmeric to the lentils when they are cooking.
• Spinach - I use fresh baby spinach for this, you can use frozen if you prefer.
• Tomatoes - One can of chopped tomatoes adds bulk and flavour to this lentil dal. Go for a good quality brand if you can.
• Tarka (Shallots) I prefer shallots to onions for this dal, they are sweeter than onions and don't overpower the dal.
• Ginger and garlic - fresh root ginger is essential here, I peel it but some people like the skin on, it's up to you. I use 4 cloves of garlic, again this is down to personal taste, use more or less according to your taste. 
• Spices - cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cardamom pods, garam masala, ground cloves and dried red chilli flakes are my choices. I've played around with a lot of spices and this is the combination that works best for us.

How to Make Red Lentil Dahl

1. Start by rinsing the lentils then add them to a large saucepan with the turmeric and salt. Cover with water, bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

2. While the lentils are cooking prepare the Tarka. Cook the shallots with the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and cardamom until soft, about 10 minutes. Then add the garlic, ginger and remaining spices and cook until they release their flavour.

3. Add the tomatoes to the spices. Stir well and cook for a few minutes. Use a wooden spoon to break down the tomatoes.

4. The lentils should be nice and creamy now, add them to the tomatoes and stir well. Simmer for about 15 minutes, depending on how thick you like your dahl. Finally, add the spinach. Add one handful at a time and stir until the spinach wilts. Add the juice of half a lemon then finish the dal with seasoning to your taste and top with coriander leaves.

Expert Tips

• Rinse the lentils - pop the lentils into a large fine sieve then rinse them in cold water until the water runs completely clear. This will remove any dust, debris or husks.
• Turmeric - Adding turmeric to the lentils when they are cooking adds flavour and colour to your lentils.
• Don't be tempted to cook your lentils in stock. Most stocks will be too strong for this dish and will overpower the flavours of the dal. All the lentils need is water, a little salt, and turmeric!
• Don't over-stir the cooking lentils, they will need a stir at the beginning and again at the end. That's it! They will be stirred plenty when you add them to the tomatoes.
• Don't burn the spices, they need to be slightly cooked to release the flavour, but only a minute will do, burnt spices will turn acrid and ruin your dahl. The same goes for the shallots, ginger, and garlic!
• Be careful, when you add the lentils to the tomatoes you will need to stir often. This sauce will be thick, bubbling and almost volcanic! Please be careful when stirring, and wear an apron, trust me on this one!
• Season to your taste buds - I like more salt in this than some of my family. Test it as you go along, you may want more salt. I have listed a teaspoon of salt, half goes in when the lentils are cooking, and the rest when cooking with the tomatoes. I tend to add about half a teaspoon more at the end of cooking.
• Lemon Juice, I think this really lifts the dahl, I also serve this with lemon wedges on the side. Lime juice works well with this too.
• Texture - I love my dahl to be on the thick side, so I cook it until it reduces down a good bit. If you prefer your curry thinner then reduce the cooking time.

How to Serve Dahl

Like any of my other Indian inspired dishes or curries we usually have this with basmati rice, and naan or roti, however, it can be eaten on its own too, like a soup.

Variations

This is a very versatile dish so you can play around with different additions according to what you have in your fridge or cupboards. Here are some of my favourite variations along with some popular reader variations.

• Swap the spinach for kale, I sauté the kale in oil and garlic then stir it into the dahl when it's ready.
• Want more heat? Add some thin green (Indian) chillies for more heat. You can chop these up if you like and add them when you cook the shallots.
• Add coconut milk - if you'd like an even creamier dal then add in a can of full-fat coconut milk or some coconut cream!
• Chana dal - swap the red lentils for chickpeas (chana dal). Cook the chickpeas in a pressure cooker first or use canned chickpeas. Just make sure to remove the skins before you add them to the tomatoes.
• Add some cream - If you're not vegan then try adding some double (heavy cream) or yoghurt to make it even creamier. If vegan, try adding a dollop of vegan yoghurt when serving.

FAQs

Storage and Freezing Instructions

• Freezing - freeze the dhal before you add the spinach, lemon juice, and coriander. Leave it to cool completely, once cooled place in freezer bags. Squeeze out any air but leave room for expansion. Label the bag/container and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Defrosting and reheating - Defrost the dahl overnight in the fridge. Reheat on the hob stirring constantly. Check the consistency, you may need to add more water. You can stir in the spinach, lemon juice and coriander when you are reheating it.
• Leftovers - if you don't plan on freezing any leftovers, keep them covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat on the hob until piping hot.

More Tasty Vegan Curries

We love a good curry and have one at least once a week, this Chickpea and Lentil Curry is one of our all time favourites, it's also vegan and budget-friendly. This Mushroom Curry is one of the most popular curry recipes on my blog, a great vegan curry perfect for your Friday night curry! One of our all time favourite curries is my Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry, this is great for the whole family!

Have you made this Red Lentil Dahl Recipe? Rate it and leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!

*First published Jan 2020, updated Sept 2022 with new images and housekeeping.