This Easy Cauliflower & Lentil Curry is the perfect meat-free, midweek family feast. Delicious, filling & fuss-free it is packed with veggie goodness.
We are huge fans of curries here! Even the kids are willing to devour dishes with a bit more heat to what they used to, although I don't think we will go full throttle with the chillies any time soon! This lovely cauliflower and red lentils based veggie curry (dhal) is an example of milder fare which will suit all the palates. Having said that, if you like some heat I've got few tips on how you can adjust it without much hassle, just read on!
Why is this curry so wonderful?
- Ready in just 40 minutes from start to finish meaning you don't need to wait for the weekend and more time on your hands to be able to enjoy it.
- It's the perfect midweek family dinner (as per above)!
- Perfect Meat-Free Monday dinner if you're trying to limit your meat intake a bit.
- Fragrant and full of flavour yet on the mild side so that your entire family can enjoy it.
- Easily adaptable as per your spice tolerance!
- Super wholesome and packed full of veg!
- Naturally gluten and dairy-free
- It's really, really delicious! Proper comfort food!
I'm not a fan of mild curries, how can I make it more spicy?
I totally get it. Since having children I was forced to curb my enthusiasm when adding chillies to my favourite spicy dishes which hasn't been easy! I have learnt to enjoy the fragrance and flavour more these days but I have also learnt few tricks to adjust dishes to my taste if I indeed fancy something more spicy.
I do swear by chilli infused olive oil (this is the one* I use and love). A little drizzle over the plated portion and I'm in business! Although it might not be very authentic, it is, however, an effective way of getting some spice. Alternatively, you can sprinkle your portion with some dried chilli flakes or some cayenne pepper will work too.
If you, however, are not making this curry with children in mind you can simply use hotter curry paste (rather than korma I've used here) and/or add a chopped red chilli into the mix and add it at the same time as curry paste and other spices. Whether you leave the seeds in or out is entirely up to you!
Tips and answers you may find helpful when making Easy Cauliflower & Lentil Curry
The cooked curry has got consistency of a dahl (lentil based curry) which makes sense considering there is a substantial amount of lentils here. The great thing about dried lentils as opposed to other dried beans and pulses is that they cook very quickly and there is no need to pre-soak them. Simply add them as they are and they will cook in no time. Some people tend to rinse lentils briefly before adding to dishes but personally, I haven't noticed any difference in the texture or cooking time so I usually don't bother.
This curry is perfect for batch cooking and freezing too. Simply pop it in the freezer proof containers or bags and freeze for up to three months. Defrost in the fridge overnight or if you find yourself in a last minute dinner panic (I've been there on more than one occasion) simply use microwave or decant it into the pot and defrost on low heat on the stovetop. This curry can be also prepared in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. As with most curries, the flavours will intensify the longer they have a chance to develop.
Easy Cauliflower and Lentil Curry Serving Suggestions
This veggie and lentil curry or dhal would be perfect as a part of an Indian food banquet but on this particular occasion I served it with some brown rice and my no yeast easy flatbreads although chapatis would work just as well.
My Easy Indian Spiced Basmati Rice or Easy Turmeric Rice would make this feast even more special and my yeast-free Easy Naan Bread would be perfect for mopping your plate clean! Little drizzle of homemade Cucumber Raita and you're all set.
How to make Easy Cauliflower & Lentil Curry - Step-By-Step Instructions
1. Heat up the oil in a large pot with a lid, add chopped onion and garlic and fry for 5-8 minutes until softened and translucent but not coloured.
2. Add curry paste, tomato puree and all the spices and fry them with onions for a couple of minutes. At this point your kitchen will start to smell amazing!
3. Add lentils followed quickly by veggie stock and coconut milk. Keep stirring and prodding until the solid part of the coconut milk melts into the liquid.
4. Add cauliflower florets and make sure they are immersed in the liquid. Bring curry to boil, cover (at which point you lower the heat) and simmer for about 10 min stirring from time to time.
5. After 10 minutes add cubed sweet potato making sure it is immersed in the liquid. You might need to add a splash of water or stock if mixture is getting a bit dry. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes until both cauliflower and sweet potato are tender.
6. Add two handfuls of fresh spinach leaves and mix it in.
8. Now it's time to serve and enjoy!
📋 Recipe
Easy Cauliflower & Lentil Curry (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower broken into florets and large florets cut in half
- 1 large sweet potato peeled and cubed
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach optional
- 200 g red lentils
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped or minced
- 500 ml vegetable stock (from cube is fine)
- 1 tin (400ml/13.5 fl oz) coconut milk
- 50 g mild korma curry paste or curry paste of your choice
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon (heaped) turmeric
- 1 teaspoon (heaped) ground coriander
- 2 teaspoon (heaped) garam masala
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- juice of one lemon or to taste
- small bunch of coriander/cilantro (leaves and stalks) finely chopped, some saved for garnish
- 2 tablespoon rapeseed or coconut oil
Instructions
- Heat up the oil in a large pot with a lid, add chopped onion and garlic and fry for 5-8 minutes until softened and translucent but not coloured.
- Add curry paste, tomato puree and all the spices and fry them with onions for a couple of minutes. At this point your kitchen will start to smell amazing!
- Add lentils followed quickly by veggie stock and coconut milk. Keep stirring and prodding until the solid part of the coconut milk melts into the liquid.
- Add cauliflower florets and make sure they are immersed in the liquid. Bring curry to boil, cover (at which point you lower the heat) and simmer for about 10 min stirring from time to time.
- After 10 minutes add cubed sweet potato making sure it is immersed in the liquid. You might need to add a splash of water or stock if mixture is getting a bit dry. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes until both cauliflower and sweet potato are tender.
- Add two handfuls of fresh spinach leaves and mix it in.
- Take curry off the heat, taste and season well with salt and pepper. Add the juice of one lemon (or to taste) and mix in chopped coriander/cilantro stalks and leaves (leaving some leaves as garnish).
- Serve with rice and/or flat breads of your choice.
Notes
- Nutritional information is approximate and should be treated as a guideline only.
- I used mild korma curry paste here but you could use your favourite curry paste instead.
- If you fancy some extra heat, feel free to use small chopped chilli (without or with seeds if you're brave) and add it as you are adding curry paste and spices.
- You can use frozen spinach instead of fresh. Cook it as per packaging instructions and stir it in at the very end.
Nutrition
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Have you tried my Easy Cauliflower & Lentil Curry? Leave a comment and rating at the bottom of this post, I love reading them!
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Some more lovely curries & similar recipes you might enjoy:
Celeriac & Chard Vegetable Curry (Vegan)
Tarka Dhal with Spinach (Vegan)
Jamie Oliver's Inspired Chicken Tikka Masala
Vegan Sausage Casserole with Lentils & Cavolo Nero
Easy Veggie Lentil & Bean Chilli
30-minute Vegetable Egg Fried Rice
Miso-Glazed Aubergine (Nasu Dengaku)
PIN EASY CAULIFLOWER & LENTIL CURRY FOR LATER!
Linkies
Cook Blog Share with Easy Peasy Foodie, Cook Once Eat Twice
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Natalie says
Just made this for dinner tonight. Hit with the family. Absolutely delicious. The texture is lovely. Next time I might add butternut squash. Great recipe ?
joskitchenlarder says
Hi Natalie! 🙂 Thank you so much for letting me know, I'm so pleased you all liked it! You can definitely jazz it up with different veg as this recipe is super adaptable and butternut squash would be perfect here! x
Rebecca Smith says
How bizarre, I've just commented on another recipe using cauliflower that I was looking for more ideas of what to do with the veg and now I've seen two recipes in the space of ten minutes! It's a sign, going to give this curry a go for sure.
joskitchenlarder says
Must be some sort of Karma lol! Cauliflower based dinner is in your future and it is meant to be! This curry is so so good hence my vote would go for this one! 🙂
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery says
This looks amazing! We love curry in this house & I will definitely be adding this to our round the world wednesday nights!
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you so much Midge! So glad to hear that! 🙂 I hope you love this one as much as we do!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
Yes please! This recipe is so up my street (in fact I have something very similar on EPF) This is just the perfect sort of warming winter comfort food I am craving right now! Thanks for linking them it to #CookBlogShare. Eb x
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Eb! 🙂 Same here, I could eat this sort of food all the time at the moment. Proper comfort food and really good for you too! Second helpings are not unheard of lol x
janice says
What a glorious curry, I must add it to my list to make.
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Janice! 🙂 I'm glad you like it!
Anna | Once Upon A Food Blog says
This looks gorgeous. I love a quick curry as a midweek meal - it's like a promise of the weekend. And I love curries with garam masala in them. It often gets overlooked but I think it always takes them to the next level - delicious!
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Anna! 🙂 Nice curry definitely makes a midweek meal that bit more special and if it's quick and easy to put together that's an added bonus! I share your love for garam masala, it's a beautiful and versatile spice I add to most of my curries.
Jenny Paulin says
Mmmm this looks delicious Jo and so nutritious and healthy too, with all the veggie goodness packed in it. It might not be as popular with the rest of my family, but I would like to eat some x
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Jenny! 🙂 x
Monika Dabrowski says
This curry has so many wonderful flavours! And it's healthy too! pinned!
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Monika! 🙂 It is a proper wholesome food indeed. 🙂
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
What IS it about cauliflower in curries?! I make something very similar, but using chickpeas for protein. I love that yours incorporates dal! I had to chuckle reading this: I've also had to "curb my enthusiasm" for chillies because of the youngsters! 😀
joskitchenlarder says
Cauliflower must be the next big "thing" from the look of it lol 😉 It has all started with cauliflower rice and variations moving onto the curries now. It is delicious and quite "meaty" for a veggie so has got perfect bulking up qualities too - at least that's my explanation lol. Plus I do really like it and we eat it a lot too! 🙂
Corina Blum says
It sounds really delicious! I would definitely love this although my children are not huge fans of cauliflower and lentils so it might be one for me to try a bit later on them!
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Corina! 🙂 Luckily my boys love lentils and are ok with cauliflower (as long as it's not roasted) so this curry has been a real hit with them and as long as there are plenty of flat breads too there are two happy bunnies lol
Corina Blum says
Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice as well Jo! Since leaving my last comment I have manage to get Master Spice to eat some lentils in a soup along with lots of other ingredients so maybe it won't be too long before this would work on him!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Corina! That's great to hear! 🙂