This clean eating garam masala red lentil stew recipe is a hearty, tummy-warming bowl of deliciousness!
What do you do when you create a soup recipe from scratch, and in the end you realize you didn’t add enough liquid for it to actually qualify as soup? You serve it with a smile and call it stew!
This “stew” may not look like anything fantastic, but let me tell you… if you are partial to Indian food, this dish is WONDERFUL! I fell head over heals in love with it.
When I first made this recipe years ago, I made it with chicken broth. But now that I’m 100% plant based, I switched out the chicken broth for vegetable broth and it turned out just as tasty as the chicken broth version.
I also adjusted the spices. When I first made this Clean Eating Garam Masala Red Lentil Stew, I went heavy on the curry and some folks didn’t like it with such a strong flavor. So I backed off of the curry and it really did mellow things out a bit. But in a good way. I can’t stop eating it. So, so, so yummy!
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE CLEAN EATING RECIPES:
- Clean Eating Curry Chicken With Peas Recipe
- Clean Eating Curry Tofu Pasta Recipe
- Clean Eating Chickpea Flour Flatbread Recipe
CLEAN EATING GARAM MASALA RED LENTIL STEW RECIPE:
This wonderful bowl of comfort is perfect on a chilly, windy evening. Serve this with some flatbread and hummus for a well rounded meal. I used my chickpea flour flatbread recipe. You can find the link to that recipe listed above.
- 1 large yellow onion (chopped)
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 3 cups dry, red lentils (rinsed)
- 1 (14 oz.) can light coconut milk
- 6 cups vegetable broth (no sugar added)
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp. curry powder (or to taste)
- 3 tsp. garam masala (or to taste)
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 lb. baby carrots (sliced thin)
- 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce (no sugar added)
- 1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
- salt and pepper (to taste after cooking)
Roughly chop your onion and place into a large pot with the olive oil.
Cook the onions until they are translucent. In fact, if you know how to caramelize onions, go for it.
Add your red lentils to the pot and stir.
Add the coconut milk to the pot and bring to a low boil.
Add all other ingredients. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the beans from burning on the bottom of the pot.
Stew is finished when the lentils are soft and fully cooked.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.
This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 4/9/2010.
Sharon says
I made this dish with the 1 tablespoon curry & 3 tablespoons garam marsala & OMG, it was horrible. Completely overspiced! I’m thinking this was a misprint & it should be teaspoons not tablespoons of both spices. I ended up straining the stew & dumping out 3/4 ths of the liquid. Then put it back in the crockpot with a new can of tomato sauce & cocount milk. Then it tasted very good like I thought it should : )
The Gracious Pantry says
Sharon – I’m sorry you had that experience! I do tend to like strong spice. The measurements were correct, though I’ve altered the recipe now so that others won’t have the same experience you did. Thanks for letting me know!
Kat says
I made this dish and it was AWESOME! I’ve had hit or miss situations with my crock pot. I did add a teaspoon of salt, 1 tsp Tumeric Powder, 1 tsp Chili Powder (for a kick but I thought it needed more) and I substituted the tomato sauce with a can of tomatoes. I also used Garlic Olive Oil to add a little something. I WILL MAKE THIS AGAIN!
Anonymous says
Kat – that’s wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it!
graciouspantry says
Wonderful! I’m happy you both enjoyed it!
Buffy says
This recipe was absolutely delicious! I added a little ground turkey because my son thinks a main dish must include meat. I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and have enjoyed every recipe I’ve tried. I hope you’ll keep this site up for years to come!!!
graciouspantry says
I plan on it! Thanks!
graciouspantry says
My slow cooker is a 5 quart if that helps. I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 4 quart or any larger than a 6. This meal will freeze just fine. Enjoy!
graciouspantry says
The red lentils did not expand like the brown lentils do. At least not for me. So yes, I did end up with 6 servings. The nutrition data I post is only a ballpark figure, and every calculator on the web will give you different numbers.
Jess says
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
That was just delicious. I loved it so much. I had to make a few changes due to ingredients not being in my cupboard so I didn’t get to have the beans and I had to use green lentils and coriander seed powder instead of garam masala (tastes totally different but I had to be inventive!). Very excited to try it again with the correct ingredients.
I have made a few of your recipes since starting on my clean eating and then raw way of eating and your website is by FAR my favourite. I still eat a few cooked things because I love your recipes.
(p.s – your walnut chocolate fudge is UNBELIEVABLE!!)
Jess xoxox
The Gracious Pantry says
Thanks so much! Glad you’re enjoying my recipes! 🙂
Rachel says
How long does it take for the lentils to become soft? Trying to decide if this is a weeknight meal or not 🙂 thanks for the amazing recipes!
The Gracious Pantry says
It can take about 30 minutes, give or take. Depends on the lentils.
kaileigh says
WOW!! Made this for dinner and it was AMAZING!! I added some fresh shrimp and chiles and it was out of this world good! I was in red lentil heaven 🙂 It made my house smell soooooo fantastic. So aromatic and exotic. I just LOVE your website!! Every recipe i make (and i make alot!! Lol) ALWAYS turn out amazing! You make eating clean so simple, interesting, and DELICIOUS!
The Gracious Pantry says
Kaileigh – Awwww, thank you! 🙂
Tracey says
This recipe is delicious – and healthy… I wasn’t too sure that DH or teenage boys would like it, but they raved about it. I added 2 stalks of celery and an extra tspn of curry powder.
Definitely a winner for our family.
The Gracious Pantry says
Tracey – Fantastic! So glad everyone liked it! 😀
Matt Benton says
This was not a bad recipe, but I would suggest adding the carrots with the coconut milk and maybe some water or chicken broth before I add the beans, to soften them. It takes longer to cook the carrots than the lentils.
The Gracious Pantry says
Matt – Thanks for your feedback! I found the carrots cooked the same, but I guess that could depend on their thickness. Glad you liked it though!
Matt Benton says
I was wondering. Is the reason for adding the garbanzo beans to the recipe, to make it a complete protein meal?
The Gracious Pantry says
Matt – No. I just thought they tasted good. You can leave them out if you prefer.
Ashleigh says
This recipe is delicious… I can’t stop eating it! Only modification I made was to use fresh garlic in with the onion as I didn’t have garlic powder and a tablespoon of coconut sugar for added sweetness. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe – it will definitely be a regular for me and I have already shared it around the office!
The Gracious Pantry says
Ashleigh – Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂