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Prep time
5 minutes
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Cook time
30 minutes
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Serves
4 to 6
Author Notes
This hearty, fragrant stew is just the ticket for nights when you want big, bold flavors without a lot of fuss. It brings together red lentils, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and coconut milk—all balanced and enlivened by a few tablespoons of Thai red curry paste. This recipe is a mish-mash of ideas from soups and curries I’ve tried over the years, including this Sweet Potato–Coconut Curry and the Curried Lentil, Tomato, and Coconut Soup from Ottolenghi's Simple.
The flavors work so well together: the sweet potatoes and creamy coconut milk nicely temper the heat of the red curry paste, canned tomatoes bring tanginess and brightness, and two kinds of coconut (oil and milk) amplify the stew’s rich, sweet notes. (I recommend unrefined virgin coconut oil versus refined varieties for its fuller, purer coconut flavor.) One of my favorite details is the addition of grated lime zest and fish sauce, which add so much dimension to this already flavor-packed stew. To make the dish completely vegan, you can successfully swap out the fish sauce with soy sauce or coconut aminos mixed with rice vinegar and a big pinch of kosher salt.
Because Thai red curry paste can vary quite a bit in spiciness, start with a lesser amount of red curry paste in Step 2 and add more to taste once the lentils are tender. To simplify prep, use a Microplane for grating the ginger, garlic, and lime zest. If you don’t like cilantro, or have it on hand, add arugula, chopped chives, or a few handfuls of hardy greens (such as kale, spinach, or chard) near the end and simmer until tender. —EmilyC
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Ingredients
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2 tablespoons
unrefined virgin coconut oil
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1
medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups)
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2
sweet potatoes (16 to 18 ounces in total), peeled and chopped into 3/4-inch chunks
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1 pinch
kosher salt, plus more to taste
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1 pinch
red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
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4 teaspoons
finely grated ginger (from a 3-inch piece)
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3
garlic cloves, finely grated
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3 tablespoons
red curry paste (such as Maesri or Thai Kitchen)
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1 cup
red lentils, rinsed
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1
14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes (with juices)
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1/3 cup
finely chopped cilantro (leaves and tender stems)
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1
14-ounce can full-fat coconut milk
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1
lime finely grated zest (juice reserved for finishing the dish)
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2 1/2 cups
water, plus more to thin, as needed
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1 tablespoon
fish sauce, or to taste; see note about a vegan substitute
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1 tablespoon
(per person) Greek yogurt or sour cream, to serve
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1 handful
cilantro leaves, to serve
Directions
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Heat coconut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 4 to 6 minutes, until softened. Add sweet potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook for 5 minutes (stirring often), or until the outsides lose their firmness.
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Push the sweet potatoes to the side of the pan and add ginger, garlic, and red curry paste. Cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant, then stir together with the sweet potatoes.
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Add red lentils, tomatoes, cilantro, coconut milk, lime zest, and water. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft, about 20 minutes, thinning with more water, if needed. Season soup with fish sauce, then off the heat, add the lime juice (start with 1 teaspoon and go from there). Taste again. Need more fish sauce or salt? Add a bit more. Need more heat? Add a few red pepper flakes.
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Divide among bowls and top with a dollop of yogurt and a little cilantro. (Make-ahead tip: stew can be made up to 3 days in advance; gently reheat before serving.)
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