Creamy Turmeric Lentil Curry with Coconut Milk
A fragrant, protein-rich curry made with brown lentils, coconut milk, and warming spices that simmers to silky perfection in 30 minutes. This Indian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs brown lentils, coconut milk, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup, rinsed brown lentils
- 1 can (13.5 oz), full-fat coconut milk
- 1 medium, finely diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tbsp, grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1, juice and zest lime
- 2 cups, packed spinach
- 1/2 tsp salt
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent, stirring occasionally.
- Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1 tsp ground turmeric, and 1 tsp ground cumin to the pot, stirring constantly for 1 minute until fragrant and the spices are coated in oil.
- Step 3: Add 1 cup rinsed brown lentils, 1 cup chicken broth, and 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk to the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring once, until lentils are tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Step 4: Stir in 2 cups packed spinach, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp lime zest, and 2 tbsp lime juice. Cook uncovered for 2 minutes until spinach wilts and the flavors meld.









