Easy Slow Cooker Lentil Curry (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Thick, rich slow cooker lentil curry that is so easy to make, smells so fragrant, and tastes absolutely delicious. Gluten-free and vegan, this is one meal you’ll be making on repeat!

The slow cooker miracle

You can say that I’m really late to the slow cooker game, but I finally bought one earlier this year when I needed to shoot some slow cooker recipes for a client.

When I was done shooting the recipes (some 10 recipes in total), I realized that this kitchen appliance (which I’ve heard raving reviews about for years) was a godsend. In fact, I couldn’t understand how I lived so many years without one.

Better late than never!

To be honest it took me many years before caving in and buying one. The reason was that I’d always wondered why I would want to cook anything for hours in the slow cooker if I could do it in a fraction of the time on the stovetop.

Yet after trying out quite a few recipes on this magical appliance, I’ve realized that the beauty lies in the fact that I can just literally dump everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer for hours on end (without any attention on my end).

It does take some preparation before hand (like at least 5 hours before you actually want to sit down to a meal), which means that I’m in the kitchen prepping my mise en place and chopping vegetables for dinner even though I’ve just finished lunch. Here’s where my forward-planning skills are put to the test, and while it took a bit getting used to, I finally got the hang of it.

Our favorite slow cooker lentil curry

In the past few months since getting to know the slow cooker a little better (kinda like the early stages of dating in a relationship), this easy slow cooker lentil curry (that’s both gluten-free and vegan) has undeniably become our go-to favorite, especially because we usually have all the ingredients on hand.

Most of the ingredients are pantry staples – think lentils, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, parsley, and curry powder. That means I can easily get ingredients for this incredibly tasty and delicious meal cooking in the slow cooker in no time at all.

Soak the dry lentils first

An hour before you begin cooking, cover the dry brown lentils with enough water and soak them for an hour at least.

I usually use dry brown lentils because it’s so much cheaper to buy them in bulk and I always have a pack stashed in my kitchen cupboard. Brown lentils are probably the most common variety you can find in any grocery store, and I love that brown lentils hold their shape very well, so even after hours of cooking, they don’t turn all mushy.

However, if you don’t want to spend time soaking your lentils, you can skip this step by using canned brown lentils and go straight to cooking.

Prepare the ingredients for the slow cooker lentil curry

When the lentils are almost done soaking, start getting the fresh ingredients ready. Begin by mincing the garlic and dicing the onions and carrots.

Next, combine the soaked lentils, onions, carrots, garlic, tomato sauce, water, pepper, curry powder, and salt together in the slow cooker pot. Use a wooden spoon to stir thoroughly until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Let the slow cooker work its magic

Finally, cover the pot and turn the slow cooker on to high, and let leave it to do its magic for the next 5 hours.

Now you can go off and do whatever you need to do, just make sure to set an alarm so you don’t forget about the slow cooker (which might be hard to with the fragrant aroma of curry wafting around the house)!

Rich, thick and delicious lentil curry

Once you’ve gone about your day and the alarm rings to let you know that the amazing lentil curry is ready, add one more cup of water to the pot, stir it well and let it sit for another 5 minutes.

I add this additional cup of water because after 5 hours of cooking, the curry may get too thick (from the water content being absorbed and evaporated). If you prefer your curry the way it is when you check it, you don’t have to add the extra water if you rather not.

Serve lentil curry with white rice and parsley

In my opinion, this slow cooker lentil curry stands very well on its own, but since I love rice, I feel like this curry really shines with fluffy white rice or even garlic naan.

Also, a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley (or cilantro if you prefer) is great for a fresh pop of color and fresh flavor.

What if you don’t own a slow cooker?

Well, I’ve got you covered even if you don’t own a slow cooker. Check out the notes section in the recipe below where I teach you how to make this lentil curry on the stovetop!

It’ll require a little more attention, but it’s still very easy and tastes just as good!

If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll also love these other Asian recipes:

• Easy Chickpea Curry (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Healing Vegetable Noodle Soup (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Gluten-Free Teriyaki Chicken (Dairy-Free)
• Easy Vietnamese Chicken Pho (Gluten-Free)
• Cilantro Lime Rice with Curried Shrimp (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Brown Rice Noodles with Bok Choy, Mushrooms and Tofu (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Pan-Fried Tofu and Sriracha Soy Sauce
• Rainbow Vegetable Rolls and Spicy Peanut Sauce
• Ginger Shrimp Fried Rice

Print