Ethiopian Red Lentil Curry with Steamed Rice

A robust and warming Ethiopian-inspired red lentil curry, featuring tender lentils simmered in a spiced tomato sauce, served alongside fluffy white rice for a complete and satisfying meal.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 30 min
• Servings: 4
• Cuisine: Ethiopian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $1.92/serving

Dietary

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• High-Fiber
• High-Protein
• Pescatarian
• Low-Sugar

Tags

• one-pot
• stir-fry
• quick
• healthy
• comfort food
• budget-friendly

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (medium, finely chopped)
• 2 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 ounce fresh ginger (grated)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounce, undrained)
• 1 cup red lentils (rinsed)
• 2 cup vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1.5 cup white rice (uncooked)
• 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro (chopped)

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the minced garlic and grated fresh ginger, and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the ground cumin, ground turmeric, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until aromatic.
4. Pour in the diced tomatoes, rinsed red lentils, and vegetable broth. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until lentils are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
5. While the curry cooks, prepare the white rice according to package directions. You can use a microwave rice cooker for a quicker option.
6. Taste the curry and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve the Ethiopian red lentil curry hot over the steamed white rice, garnished with fresh cilantro if desired.

Notes

Leftovers reheat well and can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 420
• Protein: 22.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 71 g
• Fat: 6 g
• Fiber: 16.5 g
• Sodium: 820 mg
• Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
• Sugar: 5 g