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Easy Vegetarian Lentil Stew
5 from 18 votes

Easy Vegetarian Lentil Stew

Easy Vegetarian Lentil Stew uses lentils, tomatoes, and a blend of spices to create a flavorful and hearty dish. The lentils cook in vegetable stock until tender, while curry powder, ginger, and garlic build rich layers of aroma. This stew has a comforting texture, thickened by tomato paste and fresh diced tomatoes. It’s well-suited as a main dish over steamed rice or served alone as a side. The option to garnish with Greek yogurt adds a creamy contrast that complements the curry’s warmth.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Servings: 10 cups
Calories: 114 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
  • 1 onion minced, big
  • 2 carrot sliced
  • 3 garlic , minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger , minced
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder (*Footnote 1)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper ground
  • 1 can (170-g/6-oz) tomato paste
  • 1 can (400-g/14-oz) tomato , diced
  • 8 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 bag (450g/1-lb) lentils
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • Greek yogurt Optional, for garnish

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and carrot. Cook onion and stir occasionally until tender and pale yellow, 8 to 10 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and ginger. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
  3. Turn to low heat. Add curry powder and ground black pepper. Stir for 1 minute.
  4. Add tomato paste. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes. If the paste starts to stick, pour in a bit of chicken stock and use your spatula to scrape the brown bits off the pan.
  5. Add diced tomato, chicken stock, and lentils. Cook over medium high heat until simmering. Stir occasionally. Turn to low heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add salt to adjust seasoning to taste.
  6. Serve hot over steamed rice as a main or by itself as a side, with Greek yogurt on top (if using).

Notes

  • Use Madras curry powder or a mix of curry powders for a balanced flavor.
  • Adjust salt to taste at the end of cooking to suit preference.
  • This stew pairs well with steamed rice but can be served alone as a side dish.
  • Leftovers reheat well for a quick meal the next day.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/2 cup of the stew Calories 114kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 6.9g (14%) Fat 2.1g (3%) Sodium 437mg (18%) Potassium 397mg (8%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 2.9g (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10 cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 114

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/2 cup of the stew
Calories 114kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 6.9g 14%
Fat 2.1g 3%
Sodium 437mg 18%
Potassium 397mg 8%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 2.9g 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.