Recipes › Sweet Potato › Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Curry
Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Curry
A deeply aromatic, one-pot vegan curry where sweet potatoes and red lentils simmer together in a fragrant coconut tomato broth loaded with warm spices. The lentils break down to create a thick, hearty sauce that clings to tender sweet potato chunks. Serve over basmati rice with warm naan for a satisfying plant-based dinner.
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Ingredients
- sweet potatoes
- red lentils
- coconut oil
- yellow onion
- garlic cloves
- fresh ginger
- curry powder
- ground turmeric
- ground cumin
- cayenne pepper
- diced tomatoes
- coconut milk
- vegetable broth
- salt
- fresh spinach
- fresh cilantro and lime
Contains: milk.
Method
- Heat coconut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and ginger, cook for 1 minute. Add curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne; stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add sweet potatoes, rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes, coconut milk, vegetable broth, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are tender and lentils have broken down.
- Stir in fresh spinach and cook for 2 more minutes until wilted.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve over basmati rice, garnished with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
Tips
- The curry thickens considerably as it sits; add a splash of water or broth when reheating.
- Toasting the spices in the oil before adding liquid builds much deeper flavor.
Ring the changes
- Add 1 can of chickpeas along with the sweet potatoes for extra protein and texture.
Keeping it
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. The flavor improves the next day as the spices meld.
In the app this recipe finds you
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More from the same crop
A soul food staple with deep roots in the American South, this sweet potato pie is silkier and lighter than pumpkin pie with a warm, spiced custard filling in a flaky butter crust. The natural creaminess of sweet potatoes makes for an exceptionally smooth texture. Served at room temperature, it is the quintessential holiday dessert.
1 h 40 min · medium · Sweet Potato
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 4 April 2026.