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Home » Cuisines » Indian

Red Lentil and Chicken Curry

Published: Oct 30, 2020 · Modified: Mar 11, 2026 by Deborah · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · #sponsoredpost · Leave a Comment

Red lentil and chicken curry in large round casserole with black and white checked towel around handles
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We first enjoyed this delicious red lentil and chicken curry at a garden party 5 years ago to celebrate with friends who had recently married.   A buffet was provided along with a couple of big pots of this curry and stovies.   I enjoyed it so much I went back for seconds!!   I love lentils and the level of spice was just perfect for me, so I did some investigating and managed to find out who'd made it...and it turns out the recipe is from the delicious magazine.

If you click into the link for the magazine, you'll see this recipe is originally by Dale Pinnock, the Medicinal Chef.  He says this curry helps to lower cholesterol and is rich in soluble fibre.

Tips

  • I've made this curry quite a few times over the years, both with chicken breasts and skinless boneless chicken thighs - a 600g pack with 8 thighs works perfectly.
  • A mixture of vegetable and/or chicken stock cubes or pots works well too.
  • I tend to use madras curry paste and weigh 45g into a small dish for adding into the curry at step 2.
  • If you like a little bit more heat, I'd suggest adding 0.5 tsp of chill flakes.

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How to make this Red Lentil and Chicken Curry

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large red onions, finely chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 400g red lentils, rinsed
  • 1.5 litres vegetable stock (made using 3 stock cubes or pots - see Tips)
  • 6 free-range skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces (see Tips)
  • 2 to 3 tbsp madras curry paste (or use a milder one - see Tips)
  • 0.5 tsp chilli flakes (optional - see Tips)
  • 300g baby leaf spinach
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • thick natural yogurt to serve (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a very large pan or casserole (I use our shallow round casserole dish) over a medium high heat, add the onions and garlic, then fry for 4 to 5 minutes, until softened. Add the lentils and a little of the stock and reduce the heat to a simmer. Keep adding small amounts of stock, bit by bit, as the lentils cook and soften, as if you were cooking a risotto.
  2. Once the lentils start to break down (around 10 minutes), add the chicken and curry paste, and chilli flakes (if using), and stir well. Keep simmering and adding stock for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked and you've added all the stock.
  3. Add the baby spinach at the last minute, a handful at a time, season with salt and pepper and stir until the spinach has wilted. Serve immediately, with a dollop of yogurt on the side, if you like.
  4. We enjoy ours with boiled basmati rice, naan bread and mango chutney and have leftovers for another day - delicious!

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Red lentil and chicken curry in large round casserole with black and white checked towel around handles

Red Lentil and Chicken Curry

By: Deborah
A delicious curry that helps to lower cholesterol and is rich in soluble fibre - perfect for colder weather.
PREP: 20 minutes mins
COOK: 35 minutes mins
TOTAL: 55 minutes mins
Servings: 6 people
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Equipment

  • Shallow casserole dish

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large red onions finely chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 400 g (14.1 oz) red lentils rinsed
  • 1.5 litre (6 ⅓ cups) vegetable stock (made using 3 stock cubes or pots - see Notes)
  • 6 free-range skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces (see Notes)
  • 2 to 3 tbsp madras curry paste (or use a milder one - see Notes)
  • 0.5 tsp chilli flakes (optional - see Notes)
  • 300 g (10.6 oz) baby leaf spinach
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • thick natural yogurt to serve (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a very large pan or casserole (I use our shallow round casserole dish) over a medium high heat, add the onions and garlic, then fry for 4 to 5 minutes, until softened. Add the lentils and a little of the stock and reduce the heat to a simmer. Keep adding small amounts of stock, bit by bit, as the lentils cook and soften, as if you were cooking a risotto.
  • Once the lentils start to break down (around 10 minutes), add the chicken and curry paste, and chilli flakes (if using), and stir well. Keep simmering and adding stock for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked and you've added all the stock.
  • Add the baby spinach at the last minute, a handful at a time, season with salt and pepper and stir until the spinach has wilted. Serve immediately, with a dollop of yogurt on the side if you like.
  • We enjoy ours with boiled basmati rice, naan bread and mango chutney and have leftovers for another day - delicious!

Notes

  • I've made this curry quite a few times over the years, both with chicken breasts and skinless boneless chicken thighs - a 600g pack with 8 thighs works perfectly.
  • A mixture of vegetable and/or chicken stock cubes or pots works well too.
  • I tend to use madras curry paste and weigh 45g into a small dish for adding into the curry at step 2.
  • If you like a little bit more heat, I'd suggest adding 0.5 tsp of chill flakes.
 
You might also like to try:
  • Indian dishes
  • chicken and turkey dishes

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1049mg | Potassium: 988mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6082IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

KEYWORDS baby spinach, chicken, curry, curry paste, madras curry paste, red lentils
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Deborah sitting at the breakfast bar in their kitchen with a green Head Chef mug.

Hello!   I'm Deborah and I'm married to David and have 2 lovely step sons and the most beautiful fox red labrador retriever called Ritchie, who we took home at the end of May 2020 as an 8 week old puppy.   David and I both love cooking…for ourselves, family and friends.   I’m definitely one of the lucky ones…getting cooked for and we enjoy cooking together.

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