Indian Spiced Lentil Bean Stew

This deliciously flavorful lentil bean stew is wealthy and creamy with deep flavors from North Indian spices! It’s a straightforward, 1-pan 30 minute white bean stew with cut up lentils which you can serve by itself or with rice, flatbread, or naan. Naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free.

I wished to create a 1-pan lentil bean stew utilizing the flavour profiles from my rara rooster and Angara rooster recipes. This tremendous simple and hearty stovetop recipe is tailored from my herb lentil and chickpea stew by incorporating these superb North Indian spices to that 1-pot format. 

It is a fast recipe upon getting all the spices collectively, and it is usually tremendous versatile. For those who don’t have each spice, it is going to nonetheless end up completely scrumptious. Simply add extra garam masala or curry powder as a substitute. See recipe notes for alternate taste choices.

You may also use totally different beans or chickpeas on this stew. I exploit cut up crimson lentils, however brown lentils and petite yellow lentils work nicely, too, in addition to some other quick-cooking lentils. For those who’re utilizing entire brown lentils, the cooking time will almost double, so simply be aware of that.

It is a tremendous soothing and scrumptious lentil bean stew. You possibly can alter the flavors to desire, like folding in some garam masala or curry powder ultimately to deepen the flavour. Principally, simply make it your individual.

Why You’ll Love Lentil Bean Stew

• 1-pan consolation meals dinner prepared in half-hour
• superb taste from North Indian spices!
• versatile: combine and match beans and spices to make it your individual
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free with simple coconut-free and oil-free choices

Substances and Substitutions

• spices – For the spice combine, you want black pepper, Kashmiri chili powder, floor cardamom, floor cinnamon, and floor cloves. You may also add floor coriander, garam masala, and/or curry powder to the spice combine, if you need a deeper taste. For the stew, you’ll want a bay leaf, a black cardamom pod, and crushed fennel seeds.
• oil – To sauté. You possibly can water or broth fry for oil-free, for those who favor.
• onion – Provides umami to the lentil bean stew.
• ginger garlic paste – For extra umami and just a little warmth.
• tomato – Use contemporary chopped tomato or canned tomato puree so as to add shade, moisture, and much more umami.
• coconut milk – For creaminess. For a coconut-free model, use cashew milk or some other thick non-dairy milk of alternative.
• cut up crimson lentils – Or use different quick-cooking lentils. For those who use brown lentils, the cooking time will virtually double, so simply plan accordingly.
• cooked white beans – Use your favourite white beans comparable to cannellini or northern. or use chickpeas.
• frozen spinach – Ensure to thaw and drain the spinach. Or use chopped contemporary spinach
• toppings – Garnish with cilantro, lemon juice, and pepper flakes. You may also drizzle on some non-dairy cream or non-dairy yogurt, as nicely.

Methods to Make Lentil Bean Stew

In a small bowl, mix all the spice combine substances, and set this apart.

Warmth a big skillet over medium-high warmth and add the oil. As soon as the oil is scorching, add the onion and a beneficiant pinch of salt. Combine and cook dinner till the onions flip translucent, about 3 minutes or so.

Combine within the bay leaf, black cardamom, and crushed fennel seeds. Cook dinner for one more 3 to 4 minutes, and add a splash of water to assist the onions cook dinner evenly.

As soon as the onions are beginning to flip golden, add in about ¾ of your spice combine together with a splash of water to maintain the spices from burning. Cook dinner this for 10 to fifteen seconds, scale back the warmth to medium, then combine within the ginger-garlic paste, tomato, and one other splash of water. Cook dinner, till the tomatoes develop into jammy, about 3 to five minutes, stirring ceaselessly to the tomatoes don’t scorch.

Ensure to press the bigger items of tomato to assist them break down. When the combination begins to depart the perimeters of the pan and also you see a sheen of oil on the highest, combine within the coconut milk, water or inventory, and the remaining salt.

Add the lentils and white beans, and blend these in, as nicely. Partially cowl and cook dinner for 12 to fifteen minutes, or till the lentils are cooked to desire. Examine in on the 12-minute mark, and in the event that they’re not performed but, cowl once more and preserve simmering.

Open the lid and fold within the spinach and cook dinner for 1 extra minute. Style and alter the salt and taste, including extra salt, if wanted. Add a splash of lemon juice for tang, and add ¼ teaspoon or extra sugar to steadiness out the savoriness, if wanted.

Change off the warmth and sprinkle the remaining spice combine on prime.

Garnish with cilantro, lemon juice, crimson pepper flakes, and optionally available non-dairy cream or yogurt. 

What to Serve with Lentil Bean Stew

Serve this scorching, scrumptious stew with sourdough, garlic bread, naan, flatbread, rice, quinoa, baked potatoes, or cauliflower steaks.