This Curried Red Lentil & Quinoa Bowls recipe make a quick, nutritious meatless dinner. Serve with lime wedges and homemade Cilantro-Mint Chutney!
Split Peas and Red Lentils
I think red lentils might just be the least appetizing food you can cook. Well, visually, at least. When you cook split lentils, they fall apart—kind of like split peas in split pea soup. I spent a lot of time trying to think of ways to make curried red lentils look attractive, but sometimes you just have to let curried red lentils be curried red lentils. You do you, lentils! You do you.
About the Recipe
So they're not pretty, but I assure you, these Curried Red Lentil & Quinoa Bowls are delicious. I had the curried red lentil recipe in my pocket for a while and I just wasn't quite sure what to do with it. I tried serving it over cauliflower steaks, but that was kind of weird. Serving it over quinoa is much better! It also makes this recipe a great source of protein—the quinoa has 6 grams per serving and the lentils have 10.
Because I used Madras curry powder in this recipe instead of sweet, the lentils are a little bit spicy. You can add a dollop of Greek yogurt to your bowl to cool it down a bit, or make a batch of Cilantro-Mint Chutney. I love this chutney—it's not too minty since it's made with cilantro too and it adds a little touch of sweetness to the bowl. If you like your bowls ginormous and veggie-packed, roasted sweet potatoes, spinach, and steamed or sautéed veggies would make perfect additions to this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa rinsed
- 1 ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 1-inch piece ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Madras hot curry powder
- 1 cup split red lentils rinsed and picked over
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
- salt and pepper to taste
- lime wedges and Cilantro-Mint Chutney for serving
Instructions
- Combine the quinoa and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
- While the quinoa is cooking, start the curried lentils. Melt the coconut oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened and just beginning to turn golden brown. Stir in the ginger, garlic, and curry powder; cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the lentils and cook 1 minute more.
- Pour in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Partially cover the saucepan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, until the lentils have fallen apart, then remove the lid and cook for about 5 minutes more to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Fluff the quinoa with a fork and divide it into four bowls, then ladle the curried red lentils over the quinoa. Serve with lime wedges and Cilantro-Mint Chutney.
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients
- ¾ cup packed cilantro leaves
- ½ cup packed mint leaves
- ¼ cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 tbsp chopped golden raisins
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp olive oil
- ⅛ tsp ground coriander
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients through coriander in the small bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth, then season to taste with salt.
Tina Muir says
Ooooh what a wonderful idea! I think i disagree with you on the least appealing food....I think the green lentils are worse looking! Especially as they turn to a murky green....either way, lentils are tough, but you made them look good! Love the red quinoa! Great runner meal right here, will have to give it a try 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
Yeah, lentils in general are not very photogenic, are they? But at least they're delicious! And healthy!
Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says
This looks amazing. I love curry and haven't used it in awhile, definitely giving this a try 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
Yay! I hope you like it if you make it!
Maria Tadic says
I think your pictures looks great! It makes me wanna eat it!! I need to pick up some of that Madras curry powder...I always buy the "regular" kind and it never has enough "umph" for me. Need to switch it out!
Kiersten Frase says
I used to only use the sweet kind, but now I'm hooked on Madras. I love spicy! 🙂
Taelin says
Hello! I am new to the vegetarian world but so far I love it and am excited to make many of these amazing entrees. I have dried red lentils and other dried beans and I know that many of them need to be soaked over night or longer unless you have a pressure cooker and I was wondering if it is like that with lentils? According to the recipe it doesn't sound like it but I just wanted to make sure before I started on this appetizing meal!
Kiersten Frase says
Nope, you don't have to do that with lentils! Which is why they are my favorite legume to cook with--no soaking! 🙂
Emma says
I love lentils of all varieties but you've just made me realize I've been neglecting the red ones lately. This looks like such a tasty dish, especially with that chutney. I bet that would be great on so many things.
Kiersten Frase says
I had the leftover chutney with crackers. It's really good. 🙂
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
Red lentils are my favourite taste-wise but I agree they're not too pretty! I love what you've done with them here though - the layered look of the bowls is so pretty and altogether this would be such a filling and healthy meal!
Kiersten Frase says
It is really filling! I was going to add veggies too, but the quinoa and lentils were definitely enough for me.
Joanne says
As unattractive as they are, I really do love red lentils. They have the best smooshy texture! And soak up spice so well. And if there's one thing I REALLY love...it's spicy red lentils.
Kiersten Frase says
Yeah, something about that smooshy texture makes them such good comfort food. And healthy comfort food! Which is a rare thing!
Meg van der Kruik says
Poor curried red lentils! I love you even if you are the ugly child of the lentil family. This sounds amazing:)
Kiersten Frase says
I love them too. Just not photographing them. 🙂
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
That cilantro mint chutney is calling my name! It sounds similar to one I always drown my food in at a local Indian restaurant. I think I would cry happy tears if I could replicate it 🙂 Love!
Kiersten Frase says
There are SO many Indian restaurant foods that I wish I could replicate. Indian food is a tough nut to crack!
shelley @ Bacon Egg & Cheese{cake} says
It's funny because today I was just telling my friends that even though I'm not at all vegetarian myself, I gravitate so much towards vegetarian blogs because non-meat ingredients are just so much brighter and prettier. But I'll agree with you on lentils... Never had red lentils before but I'd love to try them out!
Kiersten Frase says
They are delicious! Most recipes using them seem to be curries or dal, so if you like Indian food, you will probably like red lentils. 🙂
Cara's Healthy Cravings says
I sometimes make my curries extra spicy just so I have an excuse for a dollop of chutney and yogurt 🙂
I adore red lentils.
Kiersten Frase says
I don't need an excuse--I loooove chutney with my curry! 😀
Grace @ FoodFitnessFreshAir says
They are definitely pretty in their pre-cooked form! Plus, the sound of that cilantro chutney takes away any doubts of how good this dish might be.
Kiersten Frase says
The chutney is essential for sure. 🙂 It's so good!
Katy says
I just have a question about the grain that you used. That doesn't look like quinoa to me. It looks more like faro which is tasty, too. Are there different types of quinoa?
Kiersten Frase says
It's red quinoa! 🙂 It tastes the same as white quinoa (at least to me, it does), but I wanted to add some color to the photo, so I used red. But any kind of quinoa you have will work!
Katie @ Produce on Parade says
I love red lentils! I absolutely adore their peachy pale pink colour...until they are cooked. Then, not so pretty. I do enjoy how quickly they cook though. 🙂 I also use almost exclusively red quinoa! And mint chutney...count me in!
Kiersten Frase says
I know, how do they go from being so pretty to being... THAT?! Oh well, at least they're tasty. 🙂
Mila says
Your recipes always look so good! I really enjoy your newsletter and your meal plans for the week.
Kiersten Frase says
Thank you! 🙂
Angie (@angiesrecipess) says
Can't get enough quinoa! This looks filling, healthy and very tasty.
Natalie Tamara says
Somehow you've managed to make them look appetising - pretty or not 😉 This would make a perfect no fuss dinner, yum!
Kiersten Frase says
Thank you! I did my best. 😉
Michelle says
This recipe looks tasty. Trying to eat healthier. Only whole and fresh foods. I have everything to make this on hand and will try this tonite ;o) I am not a big fan of Cilantro though. Is there some other herb I could substitue for this ingrediant in the chutney? Thanks!
Kiersten Frase says
You could just use all mint instead of mint and cilantro. 🙂
camellia says
Delicious! Very comforting. The chutney is a must to go with it.
Thanks for the recipe.
Kiersten Frase says
Thanks for your comment--I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Margey says
Sooooo good. I just used regular curry powder, I'm not a fan of spicy. Even with regular curry I put a dab of Greek yogurt on it. The chutney is great. My husband and I ate it all, which was not the plan, but oh well. The lime really adds to it. Thanks!
Kiersten Frase says
Thanks for your comment - I'm glad it was a hit! 🙂
Kathrine says
Delicous recipe! I mixed in some coconut milk to make it creamier and it turned out really good. Btw love your blog!
Kiersten Frase says
I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it! 😀
Lindsay says
This was delicious, non-vegetarian family members enjoyed it as well. I used regular curry, and didn't have any yellow onion left for the chutney so I made it without it, was still yummy. Thank you.
Kiersten Frase says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe - thanks for your comment! 🙂
Katie says
I recently started trying to have two meatless dinners a week and have loved things I've found here. This recipe was awesome. I used regular curry powder since I was feeding it to my kids. I also served it in roasted acorn squash. Both yummy and a nice color combo. Thanks for such a great recipe.
Kiersten says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe! I love the idea of incorporating acorn squash - perfect for fall. 🙂
Adriana says
Is there anywhere I can find the nutritional information to these wonderful recipes?
Luci says
I made this last night and it was very nice - although I water sauteed rather using oil, and had to add more spices as the curry powder I had was a tikka massala mix. My only slight issue would be portion size, it didn't seem to make very much? My OH had to have a double serving, and was still hungry after!
Granted he's a hungry dude, and nutritionally it seems quite dense between the lentils and quinoa, but perhaps serves 2-3 in my opinion, rather than 4?
That's just in my house though! Thank you for a fab recipe 🙂