Spinach Red Lentil Dal
Creamy red lentils simmer with ginger, turmeric and tender spinach, finished with a bright hint of lemon.
Fits Celiac, Hashimoto's, PCOS and 14 more diets
Plan your dinnersGluten checks every recipe for everyone at your table. Free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
- 4 cup water
- 3 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
Method
- Warm olive oil; soften onion until translucent, then stir in aromatics.5 min timer
- Add lentils and water; simmer until creamy and tender.20 min timer
- Stir in spinach until wilted, then set aside the kids' share.2 min timerKids’ plate comes out here
- Finish the remaining dal with lemon zest and juice; serve warm.
Kids’ plate: Dinosaur Lentil Stew
On the plate: A small bowl of mild red lentil and spinach stew, with the lemon left off.
Make it a game: Pretend the spinach leaves are little dinosaur footprints in the lentil stew. Find one at your own pace.
Set it aside at step 3, before the grown-ups’ sauce or spice goes on.
Why it works
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis: Red lentils, spinach, ginger and turmeric make a filling stew without soy or seaweed.
- Gluten-free: Lentils, fresh spinach and aromatics are served without grains or sauces.
- Anti-inflammatory: Red lentils, spinach, olive oil, ginger and turmeric carry the flavour.
- Kid (4–12): Mild lentils and soft spinach make an easy-to-spoon bowl.
- Toddler (1–3): Soft lentils and finely chopped spinach make a gentle, spoonable bowl.
Celiac check: watch for hidden gluten in soy sauce, stock, malt vinegar and seasoning blends, and oats that aren’t certified. Gluten gives food ideas, not medical advice: always check labels for allergens and cross-contact.
Cooking for more than one diet?
Add everyone you cook for, with their allergies, diets and ages. Gluten checks this recipe for each of them and tells you what to change for anyone who can’t eat it as written. It’s free.
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This recipe also fits: Hashimoto's recipes, PCOS recipes, Anti-inflammatory recipes, Pregnancy recipes, Toddlers recipes, Dairy-free recipes, Alpha-gal recipes, Diabetes recipes, High blood pressure recipes, Heart health recipes, Gluten-free recipes, Crohn’s and colitis recipes, High cholesterol recipes, Vegetarian recipes, Vegan recipes, Low-GI recipes, Kid-friendly recipes, One pan recipes, Quick recipes, Gluten-free dairy-free recipes, Gluten-free Indian recipes.