Name: Madras Lentils
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: Indian

Balancing Bowls Verified

January 28, 2026

Madras Lentils - an easy-to-make, tasty vegetarian curry that combines lentils and kidney beans in a creamy tomato sauce. It's made from pantry staples which makes it easy to whip up when you have nothing else in your refrigerator.

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Madras Lentils

Balancing Bowls Verified

Ingredients

WarningSulphites allergen identified

Instructions

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Instructions

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until soft, translucent, and golden, ensuring they caramelize for added sweetness. This takes about 10 minutes with thinly sliced, room-temperature onions.

Add diced red bell pepper, jalapeno, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Sauté until fragrant.

Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, turmeric, garam masala, and red pepper flakes. Allow the tomato paste to toast for a few minutes.

Pour in the tomato sauce and mix well.

Add green lentils with water or use canned lentils, red kidney beans, and coconut milk. Stir to combine.

Simmer the mixture on low heat, mostly covered with a lid. If time allows, let it simmer for up to an hour, stirring occasionally.

Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Layered Spice Technique 🌶️
Toast whole spices like cumin and garam masala in oil for 30 seconds before adding other ingredients to release their maximum flavor and aromatic oils.
Creamy Texture Secret 🥥
For an ultra-smooth, restaurant-quality texture, use an immersion blender to partially purée the lentils and beans, creating a rich, creamy consistency.
Acid Balance Hack 🍋
Add lime juice at the very end of cooking to brighten the flavors and cut through the richness of the coconut milk and beans.
Flavor Depth Technique 🧅
Caramelize the onions slowly over medium-low heat for 10-12 minutes before adding other ingredients to build a deep, complex flavor base.
Spice Bloom Mastery 🌿
Create a spice paste by mixing turmeric, garam masala, and chili powder with a little olive oil before adding to the dish to prevent burning and enhance spice integration.

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About the Cook

Balancing Bowls

I'm Nora! Balancing Bowls is the product of a slightly chaotic life, a need to make and grow things, and a love of creative cooking. If you're here because you're trying to feed your family well without losing your mind, you're in the right place.