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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Published: Nov 5, 2021 · Modified: Oct 24, 2022 by Petranka · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Eggplant Lentil Curry

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This eggplant lentil curry comes together in around 30 minutes and it will be your new favorite weeknight dinner! It's hearty, comforting, and packed with flavor and plant-based protein.

    A white bowl filled with eggplant lentil curry and white rice.

    Imagine this: saucy tomato lentils, cooked in coconut milk and Indian spices, with bites of chewy eggplant pieces.

    This dish is hearty and satisfying and is made with good-for-you ingredients. It's vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and Notes
    • How to make it
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQ
    • More Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients and Notes

    Gathered ingredients for making our vegan lentil curry.
    • Coconut milk: Make sure to use light coconut milk, because you'll need to use a whole can.
    • Green chilies and red pepper flakes: If you don't like spicy food, you can omit these two.
    • Tomatoes: It's best to use chopped canned tomatoes, as they don't require that much cooking.

    How to make it

    Start by cooking the aromatics. To a medium pot, heat some olive oil and the white onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Then, add the chopped green chilies, minced garlic, and spices. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. This will give a real boost of flavor, as the spices release their aroma from the heat.

    Sautéing onion, chili and garlic in a white Dutch oven.

    Then, add red lentils, chopped eggplants, canned tomatoes, coconut milk, salt, black pepper, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil.

    Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are soft.

    Stirring the eggplants into the curry with a wooden spoon.

    Be sure to stir occasionally, to prevent burning. At this point, you can taste and adjust the flavor if needed. Maybe add more salt or black pepper to taste if needed.

    We love to add a squeeze of lemon juice and some fresh cilantro at the end, it really brightens up this curry.

    Red lentil curry cooking in a white Dutch oven.

    Expert Tips

    • Cook the spices in the beginning. It's important to activate them in the oil before adding any liquid. This unlocks their flavor and takes this dish to another level.
    • Add more vegetables like spinach, kale, carrots, cauliflower, etc. This curry is great because you can easily sneak in any greens and it will be delicious.
    • If you want more of a saucy curry, add more liquid. This recipe makes for a thicker curry, but you can always thin it out by adding 1-2 cups of vegetable broth or water.

    FAQ

    Do lentils need to be soaked?

    Nope! You don't need to soak your lentils to make this recipe. However, soaking cuts back on cooking time. So if you need to make it even faster, you can soak them for 2 hours in advance, then drain and rinse.

    Can you use other types of lentils?

    Red lentils are the best because they cook the fastest. If you want to use other types of lentils like green or brown, be sure to soak them before using, because they take longer to cook.

    Can you freeze it?

    Yes! Let leftovers cool to room temperature then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

    What to serve it with?

    We love to pair this eggplant lentil curry with some coconut basmati rice, vegan naan, or with some curried mashed potatoes on the side. You can also serve it with vegan yogurt or sour cream on top for some tang and freshness.

    Vegan curry served in a white bowl with white rice on the side, topped with fresh cilantro.

    More Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes

    Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings

    Vegan Baked Spaghetti

    Dutch Oven Chili

    Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

    Easy Zucchini Boats

    Spicy Tomato White Bean Stew

    📖 Recipe

    A white bowl filled with eggplant lentil curry and white rice.

    Eggplant Lentil Curry Recipe

    This eggplant lentil curry comes together in around 30 minutes and it will be your new favorite weeknight dinner! It's hearty, comforting and packed with flavor and plant-based protein.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian-Inspired
    Keyword: curry, eggplants, lentils, quick
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Petranka
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Stovetop

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or any neutral oil)
    • 1 medium white onion, diced
    • 2 medium green chilies, diced
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
    • 1 cup (180-190g) red lentils, rinsed
    • 2 medium eggplants, chopped into 1-inch cubes
    • 1 14.5oz can (400-430g) diced tomatoes
    • 113.5oz can (400ml) light coconut milk
    • 3 cups (700ml) vegetable broth or water
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

    For serving (optional)

    • Juice of ½ lime
    • Chopped cilantro

    Instructions

    • To a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until lightly golden.
    • Add green chilies, garlic, and the spices - cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes (optional). Stir and fry for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
    • Add lentils, canned tomatoes, eggplants, coconut milk, vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Simmer for 25-30 minutes with a lid on, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
    • Remove from the heat. Taste to see if the lentils are cooked trough, and add more salt or black pepper if needed.
    • To finish, add lime juice and cilantro and stir (both optional). Serve right away!
    Step-by-step imagesScroll back to find detailed recipe photos!

    Notes

    Storage Instructions
    Fridge: Let your leftovers cool to room temperature. Then, transfer to a container and cover with a lid. Save in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    Freezer: Let your leftovers cool to room temperature. Then, transfer to a container and cover with a lid. Freeze for 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
    To reheat
    Stovetop: Add curry to a small pot with a splash of water. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until warmed through.
    Microwave: Add curry to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients, and with olive oil.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 387kcal

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Boris says

      December 18, 2021 at 9:27 pm

      5 stars
      This curry was absolutely delicious!

      Reply
      • Petranka says

        December 18, 2021 at 9:30 pm

        It's truly amazing!

        Reply

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    Sunglow Kitchen is a food blog about delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes. We share easy-to-make and budget-friendly meal ideas that anyone can make at home! Cooking is a BIG passion of mine and I am excited to show you how simple it can be! More about me...

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