Red Lentil Dhal with Coconut Milk

Recipe Difficulty: Easy

Recipe Keywords: Dhal, Red Lentil, Coconut Milk

What is Dhal?

Dhal, (also spelled dal, dahl or daal) is a term used in the Indian subcontinent to describe dried beans, lentils or peas. It also is a term used for the finished dish, of which many variations exist. I don't know how authentic my recipe is, but it's yummy and what I like to eat. 

This red lentil dhal is one of my favourite recipes, I come back to it often. It is flavourful and the recipe comes together quickly with a few basic ingredients. Not only is it delicious, but it is also inexpensive and healthy. I picked up a big bag of lentils for under 3 dollars!! Red lentils are simmered with coconut milk, fresh ginger, onion, garlic, dried spices, and tomato. 

How to Best Serve
I garnish my red lentil dhal with fresh cilantro and lime wedges for squeezing over top of everything. The best bites are when the dhal is mixed with rice, and then piled onto chapatis or naan. I also often serve shredded spinach with this (or any curry). I love getting the extra green goodness into my diet, and I find it just works well. You can just add a handful right to your bowl and top with hot rice and curry, then mix everything together and start scooping it up with the flatbread. 

The chapati flatbreads I often make with this are simply made from whole wheat flour, water & salt. The dough just rests for 30 minutes, then rolled flat and cooked directly on a cast iron skillet. Alternatively, I buy vegan naan bread at the store. Just read the label, many contain milk ingredients, but some don't. The vegan ones I've had are incredibly delicious. (I can't remember brands off the top of my head).

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