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Introducing the ultimate vegan comfort food: Easy One Pot Red Lentil Curry With No Tomatoes. This 30-minute dish layers creamy full-fat coconut milk, split red lentils, carrots, fresh spinach, and aromatic Indian spices for a rich, tomato-free nightshade-friendly meal!
Sauté onions, carrots, garlic, and ginger in olive oil, then add cumin, turmeric, and curry powder. Stir in split red lentils and vegetable broth, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes. Finish by stirring in full-fat coconut milk and fresh spinach until creamy and wilted!
Why You Will Love This Red Lentil Curry Without Tomatoes (Dahl)
Whether you follow a tomato-free diet, suffer from acid reflux, or simply ran out of canned tomatoes, this red lentil dahl recipe satisfies every craving for authentic Indian comfort food. Unlike traditional tomato-heavy curries, the creaminess in this dish comes entirely from coconut milk and naturally thickening split red lentils.
- 30-Minute One-Pot Meal: Everything cooks in a single Dutch oven or skillet for minimal cleanup.
- Rich & Acid-Free: Perfect for anyone seeking nightshade-free or low-acid vegan meals.
- High Plant-Based Protein: Red lentils deliver over 18g of plant-based protein and gut-healthy fiber per serving.
- Great for Meal Prep: Tastes even better the next day as the savory garlic, ginger, and turmeric flavors deepen in the fridge!
Ingredients & Substitutions: Dahl Without Tomatoes
Here is what you will need to prepare this cozy tomato-free lentil dahl:
- Split Red Lentils: Rinsed split red lentils cook fast (12 minutes) and break down naturally to create a thick, silky curry texture.
- Coconut Milk: Canned full-fat coconut milk provides rich creaminess and balances the warm curry spices. You can substitute light coconut milk for a lower-calorie version.
- Aromatics: Diced yellow onion, fresh minced garlic, and freshly grated ginger build the savory base.
- Diced Carrots: Adds natural sweetness and vibrant color in place of tomatoes.
- Vegetable Broth: Use low-sodium vegetable broth to simmer the lentils.
- Aromatic Spices: Ground cumin, turmeric, yellow curry powder, salt, and black pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne or chili flakes for heat if desired.
- Fresh Spinach & Cilantro: Stir in fresh baby spinach at the end for greens, and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
How To Make Red Lentil Curry & Dal Without Tomatoes (Step-by-Step)
- Sauté Aromatics & Carrots: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrots, cooking for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and ginger, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Toast Spices: Add curry powder, cumin, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Stir constantly for 30 seconds to blossom the spices in the oil.
- Add Lentils & Broth: Stir in the rinsed split red lentils and vegetable broth. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 12 to 14 minutes until lentils are tender.
- Stir in Coconut Milk & Spinach: Remove the lid, pour in the coconut milk, and add the baby spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts into the hot curry (about 2 to 3 minutes).
- Garnish & Serve: Serve hot over basmati rice, warm garlic naan, or pair with our Mediterranean Chickpea Wrap or Tofu Chicken Breast! Garnish with fresh cilantro and lemon wedges.
Expert Tips For The Best Lentil Curry & Dahl Without Tomatoes
- Rinse Lentils Thoroughly: Always rinse split red lentils in a fine-mesh sieve before cooking to remove starch and debris.
- Adjust Consistency: If you prefer a soupier curry, add an extra 1/2 cup of vegetable broth. For a thicker dahl, let it simmer uncovered for 3 extra minutes.
- Brighten the Flavor: A fresh squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice right before serving balances the rich coconut milk and replaces the natural acidity of tomatoes.
Storage & Meal Prep Instructions
This tomato-free red lentil curry stores exceptionally well, making it ideal for weekly meal prep:
- Refrigerator: Store leftover curry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop with a splash of broth.
Easy One Pot Red Lentil Curry - No Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dried split red lentils, thoroughly washed and drained (make sure they are split as split lentils cook faster)
- 2 cups loosely chopped spinach (or other veggies)
- 2 medium sized carrots, diced
- 1 large red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2.5 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can full fat coconut milk (14 fl oz)
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp hot chili powder (optional)
- 1 tbsp sweetener of choice (organic sugar, agave or maple syrup)
- ½ tbsp olive oil
Garnish
- fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp of coconut cream to drizzle on top (scoop 1 tbsp out of the can of coconut milk and set aside)
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, add the oil, carrots and onions. Cook for 3 minutes then add in the ginger, garlic and dried spices. Cook for another minute, stirring constantly to avoid burning the spices.
- Add in the vegetable broth and red lentils. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for 12 minutes.
- Next, add in the coconut milk and spinach. Cook for another 3-5 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and a swirl of coconut cream (optional). Serve with rice or naan and enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you make dal or lentil curry without tomatoes?
Yes! Red lentil dahl tastes incredible without tomatoes. Carrots and yellow onions provide natural sweetness, while coconut milk, garlic, ginger, and curry spices create a rich, savory sauce. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice replaces the acidity of tomatoes perfectly.
Can I use brown or green lentils instead of split red lentils?
Split red lentils are recommended because they cook quickly (12–14 mins) and break down to create a thick curry texture. Brown or green lentils take 25–30 minutes to cook and hold their shape, resulting in a soupier dish.
Is this red lentil curry suitable for nightshade-free diets?
Yes, as long as you omit cayenne or red chili flakes, this recipe contains zero nightshades (no tomatoes, no peppers, no potatoes, no eggplant).
⚡ Quick Answer: Easy Red Lentil Curry Without Tomatoes (Dahl Without Tomatoes)
This Easy One Pot Red Lentil Curry Without Tomatoes (also known as tomato-free red lentil dahl) is a rich, creamy, 30-minute plant-based meal. Made with split red lentils, fragrant ginger, garlic, ground cumin, turmeric, and coconut milk, it delivers a cozy, high-protein vegan curry that is 100% nightshade-friendly and tomato-free.
Yum! I loved this recipe and quite easy to make, thank you so much for sharing!! ????
You’re welcome! So happy that you loved it ????
This was so so good!! Thank you! Been looking for a red lentil curry recipe with no tomatoes ????, I will definitely be making this again. I didn’t have any naan In the house but next time I will add that as a side ????
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for trying out my recipe and glad you enjoyed it!
Perfect, loved this recipe so tasty!
So happy you loved it!! Thank you so much for trying out my recipes.
This lentil curry was soooo tasty!! Loved it ???? I also like the heat so I added extra Serrano pepper ????️
Thank you so much for the feedback! and never enough spice ????
This was so tasty!! Loved this lentil curry ????
Hi Mike! Thank you so much for your review, So happy you loved this recipe!
This was a great dish- delicious and quick and easy and heats up excellent for left overs! Thanks again for ALL your delicious recipes! And I LOVE your cute ???? doggie!
Thank you so much! Yes, the leftovers are amazing for this recipe!
Could this be made in a slow cooker?
Absolutely! Just add all the ingredients to the crock pot at once. I would try cooking on low for about 6 hours or on high for about 3 hours. Hope that helps!
This recipe was so delicious and easy to make definitely going to try a few more on your blog! So happy I found you on IG ????
Thank you SO much Avery! So happy you like my recipes!
Great flavor and goes perfect with a nice garlic naan ????
Thanks so much Kennedy, and I agree garlic naan is delicious with this dish!
Delicious!!!
Thanks Tatum!!
Loved this recipe flavor was amazing and came together pretty quickly!
Thank you so much for the review Chelsey!
I have made this so many times now it’s one of my favourite weeknight meals, and every time I give left overs to family and friends they love it as well and ask for the recipe.
Thanks so much Sam! This is one of my go to favs as well for the weekday.
I made a double batch of this for the first time and hoped for the best I was so happy with how it turned out and we ate it for dinner 3 days in a row! So good with garlic naan.
Thanks so much Monika!
I loved this lentil curry, I have been trying to eat more lentils lately and this dish really hit the spot!
Thanks so much Kayla, I have a new lentil series coming out in the new year! You can check back every week on my lentil page here.
Yum this recipe was rather delicious and came together easier than expected. Loved it ????
Thank you so much Vanessa!
This recipe was delicious I added bell peppers and Serrano peppers to bring up the spice level and this was banging!
Thanks so much for the feedback! I bet that was nice and spicy!
So delicious!!!
Thank you!
So easy with one pot less to clean and my husband is not vegan but I have been trying out more lentil dishes and he has been loving this recipe I will be making this again
Thanks so much Pam so happy you and your husband are loving this recipe!
Loving this lentil curry such an amazing recipe.
Thanks so much Rosiland!
This was super delicious
Thanks Shelby!
I have been avoiding night shades so I was so happy to find this delicious recipe. 2nd time making it. Love your recipes
Thanks Ella, so happy you are enjoying my recipes!
I did make this in under 30 minutes what a great recipe!
Great thanks so much for the feedback!
So great that this was one pot and the lentil curry was super super tasty.
Thanks Ava!
Delicious this came together really nicely and happened to have all the ingredients except for cumin but still tasted amazing
So happy to hear that you enjoyed it! It’s great when you can make adjustments based on what you have on hand. Thanks for trying out the recipe!
This was so tasty! And easy to make I ended up freezing some of my extra and will be eat over the next couple of weeks.
I’m thrilled to hear that you found the dish tasty and easy to make! Freezing the extra for later sounds like a great idea for convenient meals. Thanks for sharing your experience, and I hope you continue to enjoy it over the next few weeks.
Loved this recipe! So delicious and easy to make thanks Essy!
Thank you SO much for your kind words! I’m so happy you loved the recipe 🙂
Great recipe was very easy to assemble and make. Delicious flavour. I served with some garlic naan and was amazing ????
Thank you so much for your review!! I’m so happy you loved the flavour and I agree, SOOO good with naan!
Super easy to make and I don’t cook to often so thank you essy for the tip and instructions. I will 100% make this again
Thank you so much!! I’m so happy you liked it. I love how you can make a big batch of this and save some for later. Perfect if you don’t cook much! 🙂
This recipe was fantastic! Just getting a plant-based eating so I’ve been trying a bunch of recipes and this has been my favourite so far.
Thank you so much! so happy you loved it it’s a staple in our house too! 🙂