This Vegan Green Lentil Curry recipe can be in an Instant Pot pressure cooker or on the stovetop for one quick, easy, healthy and delicious Indian inspired dish!
A good curry is my kind of comfort food, and my go-to when I do not feel like cooking very much. Throw a few flavorful ingredients together, and you can have one healthy and delicious meal ready to enjoy right away or have on hand to enjoy throughout the week. It’s a win all around, and this delightful green lentil coconut curry is no exception.
Recipe Features
- Super easy to make.
- Bursting with big flavors, and delightful textures.
- Packed with protein and fiber.
- Great enjoyed right away, or meal prepped for some excellent leftovers.
- Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free.
What Ingredients are Needed to Make Green Lentil Curry?
- Oil.
- Onion.
- A special spice blend.
- Green lentils.
- Coconut milk.
- Coconut sugar.
- Apple cider vinegar.
How-to Make Instant Pot Lentil Curry – Step by Step
Top Tips for Making Green Lentil Curry
Can I use brown lentils instead of green lentils?
Yes. No further adjustments necessary.
- The coconut sugar can be replaced with any sweetener of your choosing.
- For a sugar-free lentil curry, we love this sugar-free sweetener.
- Thrive Market makes my absolute favorite canned coconut milk.
- Vinegar can be replaced with lemon juice if you would prefer.
- If you prefer a creamier and wetter curry (more like a dal), stir in 1/2 cup-1 cup more of coconut milk at the very end right before serving.
How Do I Serve Green Lentil Curry?
- On its own.
- Whip up some Instant Pot brown rice.
- Alongside millet or quinoa.
- Alongside naan bread.
- As a baked potato topping.
- With onion samosas.
More Lentil Recipes
Instant Pot Red Lentil & Potato Curry (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Red Lentil Flatbread Pizza Crust (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Spicy Southwestern Vegan Corn Chowder with Quinoa, Potatoes + Red Lentils
Spicy Coconut Red Lentil Dal (Instant Pot + Stovetop)
You might also like: Instant Pot paneer lasagna.
Green Lentil Curry (Instant Pot + Stovetop)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 red onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 1/2 cups green lentils
- 1 13.5 oz can full-fat coconut milk +optional extra; see ‘Tips’ above
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- sea salt or pink salt to taste
Method
- Set your Instant Pot to saute mode. Add oil and chopped onion. Saute for 5 minutes.
- Add spices (curry through red chili flakes). Stir. Let saute for 2 minutes.
- Add lentils and coconut milk. Stir.
- Add water. Stir.
- Place lid on, set valve to sealing. Cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
- Press cancel, release steam and remove lid.
- Stir in vinegar. Salt to taste.
- Optionally (see ‘Tips’ section above in post), stir in extra coconut milk.
- Serve and enjoy!
- In a large pot over medium heat, add oil and onion. Saute for five minutes.
- Add spices (curry through red chili flakes). Stir and let cook for 2 minutes.
- Add lentils, milk and 2 ½ cups of water.
- Bring to a boil, cover, turn heat down to a simmer. Let simmer for 45 minutes or until lentils are tender and most of the liquid has been reduced.
- Stir in vinegar. Salt to taste. Optionally, stir in extra coconut milk (see ‘Tips’ section above in post).
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated using a third-party calculator and is an estimate only.
Just checking. Cumin seeds, not cumin powder?
Hi! Thanks for visiting. Yes, cumin seeds is correct! If you only have ground cumin, it will work in a pinch – just use about 1/2 teaspoon. Hope this helps!
I don’t care for coconut milk, could you use heavy cream?
Yes, most certainly! 🙂
I’ve been looking for new healthy instant pot recipes 🙂 This will be perfect for fall! Love the pink salt suggestion
I’m so excited to try this recipe! It looks amazing and I am always looking for new ways to use lentils!
This looks so creamy and delicious! I’ve never tried cooking lentils in coconut milk before! I bet it’s amazing. I’m so excited to try it!
Once the weather cools down, I’ll defiantly be bringing out my crockpot and making this.
I’m a big fan of your lentil dishes and KNOW I’ll give this a try!