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Home » Main Dishes » Slow Cooker Lentil Curry.

Slow Cooker Lentil Curry.

Sep 18, 2015 · Modified: Dec 29, 2022 by Kelly Roenicke · 89 Comments

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Lentils slow cooked in a rich coconut cream sauce - this simple recipe is perfect for chilly days!

This flavorful slow cooker lentil curry is easily made with simple ingredients. This hearty vegan dish is a crowd pleaser! You’re sure to love the rich, creamy, dairy free sauce – it’s full of flavor.

slow cooker lentil curry

When you’re learning how to cook for food allergies, it can be hard to find recipes that you love.

You might get stuck in a rut making simple, safe meals at first. Things like grilled chicken and vegetables, or safe noodles and pasta sauce.

Then you might venture out a bit, and start experimenting with new recipes and new ingredients. And you might be surprised at what you can come up with! I really believe that you can enjoy amazing food even when you have multiple food allergies.

This slow cooker lentil curry is one of those recipes that I just kind of threw together one day that turned into one of our favorite family dinners. It’s hearty, because of the lentils, and full of flavor from the tomato paste, coconut milk, and spices.

When I made this for the first time, it was one of those situations where you can’t stop eating…just a little more, and a little more, just a spoonful of sauce…it’s hard to walk away from. I think you’re going to love this easy curry recipe!

Jump to:
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Substitutions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • More Vegan Recipes
  • Recipe
french green lentils in a jar

Ingredient Notes

  • Lentils – I used half regular green lentils and half French green lentils because that’s what I had in the pantry. You could use just green lentils, or just French green lentils, or even black (Beluga) lentils. If you use black lentils it may take a little bit longer to cook. I would not recommend using red lentils in this slow cooker recipe, because they will just turn to mush.
  • Coconut Milk – You need to use full-fat coconut milk – the kind that comes in a can. The richness of the coconut milk is what gives this sauce it’s amazing texture.
  • Tomato Paste – Tomato paste is really concentrated, and it adds a nice flavor to the sauce. If you don’t have tomato paste, you can use tomato sauce instead.
  • Spices – Cumin, curry powder, ground ginger, and garam masala add a ton of flavor to this dish. This curry is very flavorful, but it’s not hot and spicy, so if you’re not a fan of spicy dishes, this just might be the dish for you!

Substitutions

Feel free to customize this lentil curry – it’s a very forgiving recipe.

  • If you don’t have a red onion, try a sweet onion or white onion.
  • No fresh garlic? Add some garlic powder or refrigerated minced garlic.
  • Add different vegetables if you like – try carrots or potatoes.
dairy free lentil curry in a white bowl

Serving Suggestions

Serve this curry over Jasmine or Basmati rice or quinoa. It’s also delicious with homemade vegan naan or fresh bread sticks. If you’d like to make a few types of curry, you could also try this spinach aloo palak or this cauliflower coconut curry.

    dairy free lentil curry in white bowl

    More Vegan Recipes

    • Delicious Vegan Banana Waffles.
    • Gluten Free Apple Muffins (Vegan, Nut Free).
    • The Best Homemade Dairy Free Ranch Dressing.
    • Potato Leek Casserole (Dairy Free, Gluten Free).

    Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make this vegan dinner:

    Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

    Recipe

    vegan slow cooker lentil curry
    4.96 from 23 votes
    Print

    Slow Cooker Lentil Curry.

    Hearty lentils, peppers, and onions are cooked in a rich coconut cream curry sauce – this slow cooker lentil curry is a comforting dish for chilly nights!

    Course Entree
    Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free, vegan., Vegetarian
    Keyword easy, slow cooker
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 5 hours
    Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 376 kcal
    Author Kelly Roenicke

    Ingredients

    • 1 red onion diced – you could also use a yellow onion
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 yellow pepper diced
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 ½ cups green lentils or French green lentils
    • 3 Tablespoons tomato paste or â…“ cup tomato sauce
    • 1 can full fat coconut milk
    • 3 teaspoons curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 2 teaspoons garam masala
    • 2 teaspoons sugar
    • 2 ½ cups water
    • cooked Jasmine rice for serving or Brown Basmati Rice
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    1. Place the red onion, minced garlic, diced pepper, and olive oil in the slow cooker.
    2. Pick over and rinse the lentils and add to the slow cooker.

    3. Add all the other ingredients and stir.
    4. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 ½ – 5 hours. Check periodically and add more liquid if needed.
    5. Serve over cooked Jasmine rice.

    Recipe Notes

    Since models of slow cookers vary, your cooking time may be longer or shorter.

    Nutrition facts are for the curry only, not the rice.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for about 4 days.

    Nutrition Facts
    Slow Cooker Lentil Curry.
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    376
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    20
    g
    31
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    14
    g
    88
    %
    Sodium
     
    664
    mg
    29
    %
    Potassium
     
    768
    mg
    22
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    36
    g
    12
    %
    Fiber
     
    15
    g
    63
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    14
    g
    28
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    190
    IU
    4
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    42.7
    mg
    52
    %
    Calcium
     
    61
    mg
    6
    %
    Iron
     
    6.6
    mg
    37
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Filed Under: Dairy Free, food, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, Nut Free, Recipes, Vegan Tagged With: Dairy Free, easy recipe, Egg Free, Fish Free, Gluten Free, Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Shellfish Free, Soy Free, top 8 allergy free recipe, Tree Nut Free

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Kelly Roenicke
    Kelly Roenicke
    Mom to two boys with food allergies and sensitivities, Kelly is passionate about allergy friendly cooking and baking. She believes that you can enjoy amazing, easy recipes even when cooking for multiple food allergies.
    Kelly Roenicke
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patricia

      March 12, 2017 at 8:44 am

      Hi there, I’m very tempted to try this recipe but don’t own a slow cooker. Would you have any tips on cooking on a normal electric stove? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kelly Roenicke

        March 13, 2017 at 11:22 am

        It should work fine on the stove. I would cook the onions with olive oil until softened, then add the other ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low. It will probably take about 40 minutes or so to cook.

        Reply
    2. Andrew M-C

      March 11, 2017 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      Incredible. I was concerned about cooking the green lentils from dry (as opposed to soaking over night). I’ve never heard of that before. I needn’t have been. I ended up adding about another cup of water in the cooking process. Otherwise, I followed the recipe to the letter. Everyone in the family ate it up. This is definitely going in our regular rotation. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Kelly Roenicke

        March 11, 2017 at 8:06 pm

        Wonderful, I’m so happy you liked it! Thank you for letting me know!

        Reply
    3. Kaleigh

      August 12, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      Just wanted to stop by and say this was delicious! It will be a new staple for me. Thank you :)

      Reply
      • Kelly

        August 16, 2016 at 9:06 am

        Awesome! So glad to hear it!

        Reply
    4. Kaity

      July 05, 2016 at 11:40 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for the great recipe. I have it going in the slow cooker right now. I’ve made it several times. It it one of our favorites.

      Reply
    5. Karen G.

      June 08, 2016 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      Hi, I just discovered your recipe and decided to try it since I needed to prepare something before leaving the house, and what is better for that than a slow cooker right?… well I followed your instructions and your ingredients exactly as you described and the results were amazing! This will become my go-to lentils recipe… I just wanted to leave my comment so you know how much I appreciated your recipe.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        June 09, 2016 at 10:50 am

        Thank you so much for letting me know! I’m so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    6. Mel

      March 03, 2016 at 2:15 pm

      This is the most delicious, easiest meal I’ve ever made. My family was raving and keep begging for it. And I’m happy to oblige, because it takes just a few inexpensive ingredients being dumped into a pot and I’m on with my day! I live alone, too – my family just happened to be over for dinner – so one pot lasts me quite a few meals. I’m going to make it again tonight and get double ingredients for next week!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        March 05, 2016 at 5:00 pm

        Thank you so much for letting me know! I am just thrilled that you love it! We really like this meal too! :)

        Reply
    7. Sarah

      February 23, 2016 at 9:55 am

      This recipe is so good, it’s become a staple here. Adding sweet potatoes to it tomorrow night to switch it up. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        February 24, 2016 at 9:27 pm

        So glad you enjoy it! Sweet potatoes sound like a nice addition!

        Reply
    8. Kamaile

      February 19, 2016 at 4:03 pm

      This looks amazing! Does it do well in the freezer?

      Reply
      • Kelly

        February 22, 2016 at 4:01 pm

        I have never tried freezing it, so I don’t know. Sorry!

        Reply
      • Krista Burdine

        January 09, 2018 at 2:19 pm

        YES it does! I’ve done it several times, and it’s perfect. I just wait to add the water until I put it in the slow cooker. Ideally I thaw it overnight, but it also works fine with just a couple hours thawing on the counter. It may add 30 minutes to 1 hr to the cooking time.

        Reply
        • Kelly Roenicke

          January 09, 2018 at 4:29 pm

          So glad to hear that!

          Reply
    9. Leah W.

      January 31, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      This is a fanatic recipe but cooking on low didn’t work very well for me. I ended up having to sauté for an additional 30-ish minutes after turning it up to high on hour 3. I’m trying again tonight on high for 4 hours. Fingers crossed!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        February 03, 2016 at 11:47 am

        I hope it worked out for you!

        Reply
    10. Cyndee

      December 08, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Can this be cooked on high, to cook faster?

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 11, 2015 at 10:42 am

        Yes, just watch it, make sure the liquid level doesn’t get too low.

        Reply
    11. Sarah@Whole and Heavenly Oven

      September 21, 2015 at 7:54 am

      You’ve seriously got me craving lentils and curry right now, Kelly! This looks so cozy and comforting and I love that it’s made entirely in the crockpot!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        September 21, 2015 at 6:12 pm

        Thanks, Sarah!

        Reply
    12. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

      September 21, 2015 at 7:19 am

      I could shop at Target every day, it’s just too dangerous! This curry looks fantastic, Kelly! I’ve never made this in the slow cooker before, so I can only imagine how delicious it is!

      Reply
    13. whiskandshout

      September 18, 2015 at 4:14 pm

      This looks so comforting! Delicious :)

      Reply
      • Kelly

        September 21, 2015 at 6:13 pm

        Thanks, Medha!

        Reply
    14. danicaliforniacooks

      September 18, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      I’m always looking for more vegetarian slow cooker recipes!!

      Reply
    15. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely

      September 18, 2015 at 12:24 pm

      The dollar stop at Target is so dangerous! I go a little overboard there too. But hey, it’s only $1! This lentil curry sounds delicious. Love that it’s slow cooker.

      Reply
      • Kelly

        September 21, 2015 at 6:14 pm

        Thanks, Natalie!

        Reply
    16. Strength and Sunshine

      September 18, 2015 at 11:32 am

      Bring on the curry! And fall apparently :P It’s here and here to stay…even though I don’t want it!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        September 21, 2015 at 6:15 pm

        I know, it’s here to stay I guess!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Trackbacks

    1. On Our Plates: January says:
      January 24, 2017 at 9:55 pm

      […] Slow Cooker Lentil Curry– this recipe is super easy to put together in the slow cooker and the wait is worth it as the simmering lentils fill your house with an incredible aroma- serve over basmati rice (preferably brown) and some sauteed greens or frozen peas or green beans (recipe: http://theprettybee.com/2015/09/slow-cooker-lentil-curry.html) […]

      Reply
    2. Slow Cooker Coconut Lentil Sweet Potato Curry says:
      April 17, 2016 at 10:07 am

      […] Cooker Coconut Lentil Sweet Potato Curry (adapted from The Pretty Bee) – serves […]

      Reply
    3. 15 Amazing Vegan Curry Recipes | Elephantastic Vegan says:
      March 14, 2016 at 6:24 am

      […] Slow Cooker Lentil Curry by The Pretty Bee […]

      Reply
    4. Vegan Curry Recipes - Vegan Food Lover says:
      September 25, 2015 at 8:38 pm

      […] #2. Slow Cooker Lentil Curry […]

      Reply

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