Tender lentils and onions are packed with aromatic flavors, topped with cool yogurt, and ready in just a few minutes! Delicious flavor from India, made quick and easy right in your kitchen!
Sometimes the best recipes happen in a moment of desperation. This one happened while in college when I was trying to eat healthy, but also on a budget. I always keep a pack of these steamed lentils in my fridge, because they’re a great source of nutrients, and last for months. One night I made dinner out of slim pickings that I had available, and these lentils were born.
Hello from Agra, India!
It feels very fitting to be writing this post while IN India. I landed in New Delhi and spent a few days adjusting to the chaos that is daily life there, and now I’m in Agra to experience the majestic Taj Mahal. Now that I’ve settled into this new culture, I’ve made it my goal to try as many new things as possible. So far it’s been a delicious success.
The Taj Mahal, so much bigger and more impressive than I imagined!
About These Lentils
At home, this is a favorite weeknight recipe that remains in my regular rotation. They’re so easy to whip up after a long day, even with an empty refrigerator.
This is Sangak, one of my favorite flatbreads! I buy it still warm from a Persian market near my house. (It’s almost taller than I am!)
The key to making this fast is to have lentils ready to go. I buy the bag of steamed lentils from Trader Joe’s, because it lasts for months in the fridge, and can easily be dressed up. With a few other staples (onion, ghee, curry powder, yogurt) this Indian-inspired meal can be ready in minutes!
I like lots of spices, so the yogurt helps to balance the flavor, and fresh flatbread is the perfect vessel to round out the meal.
Savory, aromatic, satisfying, hearty, nutritious, easy, and so affordable!
Feel free to play around with the spices until you find the combo that works perfectly for you. If you don’t have all of the spices, this works with just curry powder.
Just a few simple steps
First we fry some onions in a generous amount of ghee.
Once the onions begin to soften and gain some color, we can toss in the rest of the ingredients.
Toss in the fresh greens, cooked lentils, and spices…
Stir it together until all of the greens have wilted, then finish it with a big squeeze of lemon! See, I promised it was quick and easy!
How else to serve these curried lentils?
If you’re not a fan of flatbread, I think this would also go well atop cauliflower rice, regular rice, with a baked potato, and even on toast with a fried egg. So many possibilities!
Bon appétit!
Ginger Curried Lentils (Quick & Easy)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup ghee (or salted butter)
- 1 large sweet yellow onion, cut in half and then thinly sliced
- 2 large handfuls tender greens (baby kale, spinach, etc.)
- 17.6 oz box steamed lentils from Trader Joe's Or sub 2 1/2 cups cooked lentils
- 1 1/2 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp powdered ginger
- 1 tsp turmeric (optional)
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 squeeze of lemon
Optional Garnishes:
- whole milk plain yogurt
- cilantro
- toasted pita bread
Instructions
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Melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion slices, and cook over medium-low heat for 8 minutes, or until soft.
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Add in all tender greens, cooked lentils, salt, and spices. Cook 7 minutes until greens completely wilt and lentils soften slightly, occasionally stirring. Turn off heat and stir in squeeze of half a lemon.
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Garnish with a big dollop of yogurt, cilantro pieces, and serve with toasted pita. Enjoy!
If you love healthy and flavorful recipes, be sure to check out my Brussels sprouts or breakfast tacos next!
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