Insanely Good Instant Pot Lentil Curry Recipe (2024)

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Instant Pot Lentil Curry is a cozy, creamy and zesty dinner that is so easy to make! Don’t miss out on this one-pot awesome-sauce dinner sure to please the whole family.

(Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Low Carb Friendly)

Instant Pot Lentil Curry is one of those quick meals that you’ll want to put on repeat. Spicy, creamy goodness that is perfect when the weather outside is a little frightful. You can’t beat how easy this is to make!

Instant Pot Lentil Curry 101

Getting comfortable with an Instant Pot isn’t hard. It’s all about the confidence and basic understanding. The Instant Pot isn’t your grandmother’s pressure cooker, but it deserves respect for the raw cooking power it brings home.

Do I have to soak lentils? This is possibly the best part about making lentils – you don’t have to soak the lentils ahead of time. Your cooker does all the hard work and saves so much time!

Are lentils good for you? Yes they are! Lentils feature fiber, vitamin B6 and potassium which are all good for heart health. They are often used to help replace meat in meals while bringing a nutritional benefit.

Learn more how to use an Instant Pot at Evolving Table.

What do I need to make Instant Pot Curry?

An Instant Pot, of course, is key to this recipe. Whether you have a 6 quart or 8 quart, either will work just the same for this recipe.

You can make in a slow cooker as well, but for the speed and easy, ours is Instant Pot all the way.

You’ll also need: red lentils, onion, butter, red curry paste, turmeric (bonus of added health benefits!), garlic cloves, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, tomato puree, water, coconut milk, salt and pepper. You’ll most definitely want to serve over rice and can add cilantro for garnish.

What is curry and what does it taste like?

This is truly a unique flavor, featuring savory and sweetness in the spice combination.

It is traditionally in Indian cuisine, but has made the crossover into other dishes because of its complex and zesty flavor base.

BONUS – curry also includes several spices that are anti-inflammatory, such as turmeric. We love this added benefit because inflammation is one of those ailments we can all relate to, especially in the world of gluten free. Anything that can bring some relief naturally is a good thing! Alas, our recipe features some bonus turmeric for an added boost.

Instant Pot Tips and Tricks

As we said before, Instant Pot cooking isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s SO easy! For this recipe, you’ll use a few different modes/features.

Saute mode: You’ll use this to saute your onions with butter. Just 10 minutes to perfectly sauteed onions!

Soup/broth mode: You’ll use this, or a low pressure setting, after you add your spices, tomato puree, water and lentils into the cooker. Just 3 minutes to make the magic happen!

Manual release: This is one of the three options for release, which means when the timer goes off, you flip the release valve to allow the pressure cooker to decompress quickly.

About that release: Please be careful/mindful of the hot steam. Make sure that when you are using an Instant Pot, it is away from cabinets and free from obstruction above. When you do a manual release or a 10 minute delayed release, be sure to use a towel or some other method to keep your hands from being caught in the steam.

We love this recipe for so many reasons and are excited to be able to share with you today. It truly embodies our easy cooking sans the gluten way of life.

Delicious. Spicy. Easy. Now THAT is a winning combination.

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Chicken Tikka Masala
Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Broccoli Tater Tots

Instant Pot Lentil Curry Recipe

Dinner

Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Indian

Instant Pot Lentil Curry is a cozy, creamy and zesty dinner that is so easy to make! Don't miss out on this one-pot awesome-sauce dinner sure to please the whole family.

Insanely Good Instant Pot Lentil Curry Recipe (6)

Print Recipe

Yield: 12

Prep Time:10 min

Cook Time:15 min

Total Time:25 min

Ingredients:

2 cups red lentils, rinsed
1 small white onion, diced
2 Tablespoons butter (or dairy-free alternative)
2 Tablespoons red curry paste
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more for taste.
1 (14 ounce) can of tomato puree
14 ounces of water
1/4 cup coconut milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Cilantro for garnishing
Cooked rice or cauliflower rice for serving

Directions:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTANT POT

1. Saute mode for 10 minutes. Add butter, melt. Add white onion and saute until becoming translucent.
2. Add the spices and tomato puree, stir.
3. Add water (double the water) and lentils.
4. Soup/broth setting or pressure setting low 3 minutes. Manual release. Add salt and pepper to taste. (IP will already be hot from saute mode so it doesn't take long).
5. Stir in coconut milk.
6. Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SLOW COOKER:

1. Add lentils to the slow cooker. Add diced onions, butter, curry paste, curry powder, turmeric, garlic, ginger and cayenne. Stir until well combined.
2. Add tomato puree and water. Stir until lentils are fully covered.
3. Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours. Checking periodically to make sure there is enough water for your lentils to soak up.
4. Stir in coconut milk, salt and pepper.
5. Serve over rice and sprinkle with cilantro.

Author: Linnie

Recipe Video:

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 1 serving without rice
Calories: 127
Other nutrition information: Total Fat: 4.5g , Cholesterol: 7.8mg , Sodium: 467mg , Potassium: 472mg , Total Carb: 17.3g , Dietary Fiber: 5.3g , Sugars: 4.5g, Protein: 5.7g

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(12 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)