Instant Pot Curried Orange Lentils Recipe
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This easy Instant Pot Curried Orange Lentils recipe will make adding this healthy choice to your weekly meal plan easy! Serve this with naan or over basmati rice.
Orange lentils (also known as Masoor dal in India) are an all-around great heart-healthy food that should be included in your diet.
But wait, are lentils gluten-free?
These legumes are naturally gluten-free, which makes this a great choice for anyone with gluten sensitivity or anyone choosing to include healthier food choices.
Orange lentils are:
- packed with nutrients like folate, iron, potassium, magnesium, etc.
- rich in protein (yes, these are a plant-based protein source),
- naturally high in fiber and
- low in fat
My Easy Curried Orange Lentils Recipe.
First off, it’s essential to get the right lentils.
I like using orange lentils over yellow because they’re easier to cook and don’t necessarily require you to soak the lentils for too long.
Do you have to soak orange lentils?
Soaking the lentils in water for about 15 minutes or even before starting prep for this recipe will work.
Soaking lentils allows it to cook faster and improves digestability when consumed.
Ingredients needed to make Curried Orange Lentils
- Orange lentils – 1 cup (rinsed- rinse the lentils under cold water until the water runs clear.)
- Vegetable broth – 2 cups
- Oil – 1 tsp (olive or coconut)
- Onion – 1 1/2 chopped
- Minced garlic – 2 cloves
- Chopped carrots- 1/2 to 1 cup
- Curry powder- 2 1/2 tbsp
- Paprika- 1 1/2 tsp
- Cumin powder– 1 tsp
- Chili powder- pinch (or more, depending on how spicy you would like this to be)
- Salt- to taste
- Minced ginger- 1 tsp
- Tomatoes- 2 cups- pureed
- Water- 1/2 cup
- Cilantro leaves- chopped
How to Make This Curried Lentils and Vegetables Recipe
- Cook orange lentils in the Instant Pot with vegetable broth, pressure cooking for 7 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, mix all the spices.
- Heat oil in a frying pan and sauté onion, garlic, carrot, and ginger until softened.
- Add the spice mix to the sautéed vegetables, stirring well.
- Transfer the cooked lentils, sautéed vegetables, diced tomatoes, and water to the Instant Pot bowl.
- Pressure cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with cilantro leaves.
- Serve the curried orange lentils over cooked basmati rice, this tomato rice recipe, pea pilaf, or with naan.
Here’s a printable version of the recipe with ingredient specifications:
Instant Pot Curried Orange Lentils Recipe
Ingredients
- Orange lentils – 1 cup (rinsed- rinse the lentils under cold water until the water runs clear.)
- Vegetable broth – 2 cups
- Oil – 1 tsp (olive or coconut)
- Onion – 1 1/2 chopped
- Minced garlic – 2 cloves
- Chopped carrots- 1/2 to 1 cup
- Curry powder- 2 1/2 tbsp
- Paprika- 1 1/2 tsp
- Cumin powder– 1 tsp
- Chili powder- pinch (or more, depending on how spicy you would like this to be)
- Salt- to taste
- Minced ginger- 1 tsp
- Tomatoes- 2 cups- pureed
- Water- 1/2 cup
- Cilantro leaves- chopped
Instructions
Cook orange lentils in the Instant Pot with vegetable broth, pressure cooking for 7 minutes.
In a separate bowl, mix all the spices.
Heat oil in a frying pan and sauté onion, garlic, carrot, and ginger until softened.
Add the spice mix to the sautéed vegetables, stirring well.
Transfer the cooked lentils, sautéed vegetables, diced tomatoes, and water to the Instant Pot bowl.
Pressure cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with cilantro leaves.
Serve the curried orange lentils over cooked basmati rice, this tomato rice recipe, pea pilaf, or with naan.
Delicious and hearty!
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