Go Back
Red curry lentils with coconut milk sauce served with rice and cilantro

Crockpot Red Curry Lentils with Coconut Milk Sauce

Crockpot Red Curry Lentils are a hearty, creamy lentil curry with a rich tomato base, warm spices, and a smooth coconut finish. This comforting slow-cooked dish is an easy choice for a flavorful meal with minimal hands-on preparation.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Crockpot Red Curry Lentils
  • 4 cups regular brown lentils
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 4 tablespoons butter (optional)
  • 5 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoon sugar
  • a few shakes of cayenne pepper
  • 2 cans tomato puree (29 oz / 820 g each)
  • 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk or cream
Serving
  • cilantro for garnishing
  • rice for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the lentils and add them to a large crockpot.
  2. Add the diced onions, garlic, ginger, butter, red curry paste, garam masala, turmeric, sugar, and cayenne pepper. Stir until the ingredients are evenly combined.
Cooking
  1. Pour 1 can of tomato puree over the lentil mixture. Fill the empty can with water twice and add both portions to the crockpot, making sure the lentils are covered with liquid.
  2. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
  3. Check the lentils once or twice during cooking and add more water or tomato puree if needed as the lentils absorb the liquid. Adjust the amount based on the desired curry consistency.
  4. When the lentils are soft, taste and season with salt as needed.
Serving
  1. Stir in the coconut milk and finish with cilantro just before serving.
  2. Serve the red curry lentils over rice or with naan bread.

Notes

Add the coconut milk near the end of cooking to maintain its creamy finish and balance the curry flavors.