Lentil Stew

This vegan lentil stew recipe is layered with rich coconut and curry flavours to jazz up tender cooked lentils. The perfect one-pot meal when you’re craving a cozy, comfort food dinner!

We all have a bag of lentils in the back of our pantry. Sitting there, waiting for us to put it to use. Once you know how to cook lentils, they’re great for making lentil balls and tourtière, but this lentil stew recipe simmers the lentils with all kinds of seasonings and coconut milk, infusing them with the most amazing flavour. 

Why You’ll Love This Lentil Stew Recipe

• A lentil stew with big flavour. Ginger, red curry paste, and aromatics come together to create a rich, fragrant stew that is simply irresistible.
• Easy one-pot meal. This recipe requires minimal clean up, as everything cooks in one pot! It’s also so hearty and filling, you don’t need to add any sides (although you can’t go wrong with a piece of garlic naan).
• Packed with nutrients. Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, iron, and other essential nutrients. They’re one of my favourite vegan protein sources!

Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Sesame oil – Use pure sesame oil.
• Fresh ginger – Fresh ginger is so much more flavourful than ground ginger. It has more warmth, too!
• Red curry paste – Make sure to use a vegan red curry paste—not all curry pastes are.
• Red onion and garlic – These aromatics build the flavour of this lentil stew.
• Sea salt and ground black pepper
• Coconut sugar – My go-to sugar for this recipe is coconut sugar but any other sugar you have on hand will also work.
• Light soy sauce – Tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos are fine too. These add umami and depth. 
• Dry green lentils – I use dry green lentils for this stew because they hold their shape. Don’t use red lentils, as they don’t hold their shape when cooked.
• Coconut milk – Full-fat coconut milk will give you a richer stew, but lite also works.
• Vegetable broth – I like to use my homemade vegetable broth.
• Lime juice 
• Sambal oelek or sriracha – If you want to give your stew a little kick use some optional sambal oelek or sriracha sauce.

How to Make Lentil Stew

• Cook the ginger and curry paste. Add the sesame oil to a pan over medium-high heat. Cook the ginger and curry paste for a minute.
• Sauté the aromatics. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes, or until softened.
• Simmer. Stir in the salt and pepper, sugar, and soy sauce, followed by the lentils, coconut milk, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the lentils are tender, or 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Finish. Add the lime juice and remove from heat. Season to taste and serve with sambal oelek, sriracha, or Scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce.

Tips and Variations

• Pick over the lentils. Little pebbles can and do show up in bags of lentils and beans! It’s always worth it to take the time to pick them over.
• Don’t overcook the lentils. If you cook them too long, they’ll start to get mushy and fall apart. They should be al dente, to borrow a term from cooking pasta!
• Add some greens. To up the veggie factor in this lentil stew recipe, you can add baby spinach or kale leaves about 5-10 minutes before the stew is done. They will wilt and add extra nutrients to your meal.

What Goes Well With Lentil Stew?

This lentil stew is best enjoyed in a few wonderful ways:

• Over a plate of rice or cauliflower rice
• With some fresh bread
• With vegan naan bread
• With a side salad
• Dip some no knead bread into it to soak up the flavour!

How to Store Leftovers

• Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: This lentil stew freezes well in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheat: You can reheat this lentil stew in the microwave or on the stove. If it seems too thick, add a splash of water or broth when reheating. 

More Vegan Soup and Stew Recipes

• Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
• Gnocchi Soup
• Vegan Cheeseburger Soup
• Cabbage Roll Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup

Enjoy friends! If you make this lentil stew, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!