CURRY RED LENTIL STEW WITH KALE & CHICKPEAS
Curry Red Lentil Stew features tender lentils, tomatoes, onion, ginger and flavorful spices mixed with chickpeas and kale for healthy weeknight meal that’s easy to make!
Coming to the end of fall and I thought a nice lentil stew was in order.
I happen to have all the ingredients on hand for this vegan Red Lentil Stew and decided to put them all together. And so glad I did because it was a delicious success!
This hearty lentil stew is packed with vegetables and spices for tons of flavor, and will keep you warm and fully satisfied in the cold winter weather!
What I love so much about this recipe is that, thanks to quick cooking red lentils, it also comes together relatively fast. And leftovers taste even better!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Brightened with lemon and infused with garlic, ginger, and spices, the red lentils cook down into a hearty puree creating a quick and easy lunch or dinner.
Here’s everything you’ll need:
- onion
- garlic
- fresh ginger
- curry (yellow)
- cumin
- turmeric
- red pepper flakes
- fire roasted tomatoes
- red lentils
- garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- water or vegetable broth
- kale
- lemon
What If I Don’t Have All The Spices?
There are a few spices here which include turmeric, curry, cumin and red pepper flakes. Feel free to simplify by just using curry and maybe another spice or two. You can still pull off a flavorful lentil stew with simply using curry alone as well.
How To Make Curry Red Lentil Stew
This curry red lentil stew is easy to make and on the table in about 45 minutes!
- Rinse the lentils and remove any that are odd.
- In large pot or stock pot, heat your oil over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until onion becomes transparent.
- Add spices, tomatoes, lentils, garbanzo beans and 6 cups of liquids.
- Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Add in the kale and lemon juice, continue to cook for 10 minutes or until kale softens and wilts.
How To Store Leftovers
Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
Freezer: This curry lentil stew is freezer friendly and freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer safe containers (affiliate link), leaving 1/2 inch for expansion. Let thaw before reheating. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags or containers.
Reheat: Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. Alternately, reheat in the microwave using 30 – 45 second intervals, stirring after each, until warm. It makes a great meal prep for the week with homemade Naan on the side for soaking up the juices.
Serving Suggestions
Serve alone, or over white rice, brown rice or quinoa. It would pair well with this flavorful Lime Cilantro Rice. And for soaking and swiping this vegan naan bread is just what you need. Enjoy!
More Easy Curry Recipes
- Chana Masala
- Chickpea Tikka Masala
- Curry Sweet Potato & Red Lentil Soup
- Golden Tofu Curry + Black Rice
- Curry Roasted Cauliflower Quinoa Salad
- See all vegan curry recipes on TSV!
If you try this curry red lentil recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintCURRY RED LENTIL STEW WITH KALE & CHICKPEAS
A flavorful Indian spiced curry red lentil stew with chickpeas and kale. Serve with rice or quinoa for a healthy lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Soup, Entree
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water/veg broth
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 inch knob fresh ginger, minced
- 1 – 2 tablespoons curry (yellow), to taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- himalayan salt to taste
- 1 – 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 can (15 oz) fire roasted tomatoes or 1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups dry red lentils, rinsed and picked over
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas or 1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 cups water or vegetable broth, + more as needed
- 4 cups kale, julienned
- juice of one lemon, optional
- cooked basmati rice (brown or jasmine ok too), to serve
Instructions
In large pot or stock pot, heat oil over medium heat, saute onion, garlic, and ginger until onion becomes transparent, about 5 minutes. Add spices, tomatoes, lentils, garbanzo beans and 6 cups of liquids, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add in the kale and optional lemon juice, continue to cook for 10 minutes or until kale softens and wilts.
Serve alone, or over white rice, brown rice or quinoa. It would pair well with this flavorful Lime Cilantro Rice. And for soaking and swiping this vegan naan bread is just what you need. Enjoy!
Serves 6
Notes
As with all recipes, adjust spices to taste adding anything more or less to your liking.
Store:
- Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
- Freezer: This curry lentil stew is freezer friendly and freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer safe containers (affiliate link). Let thaw before reheating. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags or containers.
- Reheat: Simply re-warm on the stovetop or the microwave. It makes a great meal prep for the week with homemade Naan on the side for soaking up the juices.
Keywords: red lentil stew, curry lentil stew, vegan lentil stew recipe
Updated: This Curry Lentil Stew was originally published in March 2013. It has been retested and updated with new photos and helpful tips in January 2020. No changes were made to the recipe – I wouldn’t dare!
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I have made this numerous times. I am finding a slight bitter taste in the background..It must be one of the spices either turmeric or curry.
★★★★★
Delicious! Just made this for dinner tonight & it was a 10/10! Thank you Julie. Xoxo.
★★★★★
Great recipe with a full, robust flavor. I made it for meal prep. I love how much protein this has (I am trying to build muscle, and it’s no easy feat getting lots of protein in a plant-based diet.) Next time I make it, I think I’m going to add peas and broccoli. You could easily put anything in there. While I love tomatoes, I really don’t feel they make this dish, so I may omit them next time so my tomato-allergic husband can partake.
★★★★
Absolutely love this. I steamed the kale and used green beans and added towards the end, also use a tin of coconut milk, which makes this so delicious. Thanks for a lovely recipe
A yummy way to get our vegetables. I served it with naan bread.
★★★★★
Love this recipe I am trying to have 1 meat free meal a week and this is definitely going to be a regular.
I will most probably batch cook this so I cam take it to work for lunch it is amazing!!!!!!
★★★★★
Trying to incorporate more meatless meals, and this one is so good it will go into regular rotation. It was easy to make and so flavorful. We served it with Basmati rice, but it’s not necessary. Love love love! Thanks for such a great recipe.
★★★★★
Excellent! I followed the recipe exactly except I put in 6 cups of kale instead of 4. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this recipe. Thanks Julie!
★★★★★