Greek Yogurt Lentil Curry (Printable Version)
Creamy lentils simmered with aromatic spices and finished with tangy Greek yogurt for a wholesome, comforting meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Lentils
01 - 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 medium tomato, diced
07 - 1 small carrot, diced
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Spices
09 - 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
10 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
11 - 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 - 1 teaspoon garam masala
13 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
15 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
→ Finishing & Garnish
16 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, full-fat or low-fat
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - Juice of half lemon
# Directions:
01 - Combine lentils and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes until lentils are tender. Drain any excess water and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and toast for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
03 - Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add diced tomato and carrot to the pan. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
05 - Sprinkle in coriander, turmeric, garam masala, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir constantly for 1 minute to bloom the spices and prevent sticking.
06 - Add cooked lentils to the skillet and stir well to combine with spiced vegetable mixture. Simmer gently over low heat for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
07 - Remove from heat and let cool for 2 minutes. Gently fold in Greek yogurt until fully incorporated and curry becomes creamy and smooth.
08 - Stir in fresh lemon juice and taste for seasoning, adding more salt if desired. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan bread.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The Greek yogurt creates the most luxurious creamy texture without any heavy cream
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
- The spice blend is perfectly balanced so nothing overwhelms the palate
02 -
- Always remove the pan from heat before adding Greek yogurt or it will curdle into an unappealing texture
- Lemon juice added at the end brightens all the spices and cuts through the rich yogurt
- The curry tastes even better the next day as the spices continue to meld together
03 -
- Rinse your lentils thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove any dust or debris
- Let the curry rest for 5 minutes off heat before serving so the yogurt fully incorporates and thickens the sauce