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If you are craving a delicious, easy, and healthy meal, this crockpot recipe has you covered. Slow cooker madras lentilsare asavory, saucy dish that is just bursting with vibrant Indian spices. The creamy (but dairy free) tomato goodness and protein-packed lentils make this dish just perfect.
The first time I triedTasty Bites Madras Lentils, I knew would have to try to make them on my own. I have never made a madras lentils recipe before, so I figured it would take some trial and error. But, the ingredients just seemed perfect for the slow cooker - and they are!
Like the Tasty Bite meal mild version, this recipe is not spicy. But, it is full of hearty lentils and savory, out-of-this-world flavor. And the best part is - it just couldn't be easier to make!
Jump to:
- 📝Shopping list
- 🔪Instructions
- Preparing Your Slow Cooker
- Cleaning Beans
- Cooking
- 🍽Serving suggestions
- 🔁Substitution ideas
- Storing
- 📖 Recipe
To make this vegetarian meal, you need these simple ingredients found in most grocery stores:
- dry lentils- black, brown or green lentils
- red kidney beans- rinsed and drained
- tomato paste
- onion flakes
- ground cumin
- chili powder
- dried ginger
- vegetable broth
- extra creamy oat milk-barista styleworks really well
- salt to taste
🚀Jump to recipe card for exact quantities and detailed instructions
🔪Instructions
This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested.However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check the slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use aslow cooker liner.
🎥 WATCH A VIDEO SHOWING HOW TO MAKE IT 🎥
Cleaning Beans
Dried lentils sometimes have dirt or small stones stuck in them from the harvesting process. As such, they should be rinsed and quickly checked before adding them to your slow cooker.
Note: You do not want to use canned lentils for this recipe
Drain and rinse canned red kidney beans before adding them to your slow cooker as well.
Cooking
This is the easy part!
🥄Add all ingredients other than your oat milk to slow cooker. Stir, cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
🥄After the cooking time, temper your oat milk by adding a few spoonfuls of the hot beans to it. This will bring up the temperature of the cold milk and help to avoid curdling.
🥄Add tempered oat milk into your crock-pot and fully mix it in
Your buttery lentils are now ready to serve!
🍽Serving suggestions
As a main dish: This quintessential recipe is delicious served over a bed of rice(white or brown rice), riced cauliflower, orquinoa. A dollop of sour cream and some chopped green onions are great garnishes
As a stuffing:These amazing soft lentils are perfect stuffed intobaked potatoes, sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, oracorn squash.
With bread:Serve this great crock pot Indian food with some soft naan bread. It is just right for dipping/soaking up all the amazing creamy tomato sauce.
Alongside protein:Chicken and salmonare both great served with these Indian madras lentils.
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🔁Substitution ideas
To make it creamy:use coconut milk, coconut cream, or half and half in place of the oat milk
For added spice:to increase the spice, double the chili, ginger, and cumin for this recipe. Additionally, try adding some garam masala. This will change the flavor from that of Tasty Bites, but it will be delicious!
To change the texture:for a creamier result, try using red lentils or yellow lentils. Brown and black lentils will also have a slightly different finished texture.
For added interest:swap red kidney beans with small red beans, adzuki beans, or black beans.
If you love this recipe, please let me know in the comment section below!
Storing
Store leftovers of this perfect weeknight dinner in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat leftovers on the stove top or in the microwave.
😉Hints & hacks
- This is one of those slow cooker recipes that are great if your people will be eating at different times. After cook time, turn your slow cooker to warm. Your diners will each be able to have a hot and filling when they are ready.
- For best results, do not use canned lentils for this crock-pot recipe.
- Store leftovers of this amazing Indian dish inmeal-sized portionsfor easy reheat-and-eat.
- I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchasemy liners in bulkfor a less expensive per-piece price.
- In the market for a new slow cooker?I love mine.
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Madras Lentils (Tasty Bites Copycat Recipe)
This savory, saucy lentil dish will grab you right from the first bite. It is filled with chewy lentils that are slow cooked to perfection with red beans in a creamy tomato sauce. A deliciously vegan meal.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Total Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 312kcal
Author: The Lazy slow cooker
Equipment
Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
- 1½ cups lentils brown or green, rinsed and checked for stones
- 15 oz can red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 3 tbsp onion flakes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon dried ginger
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup extra creamy oat milk* barista edition works well
- salt to taste
Instructions
rinse lentils and check for stones or foreign matter
drain and rinse canned red beans
to a greased slow cooker, add 1½ cups lentils, 15 oz can red kidney beans, 6 oz tomato paste, 3 tablespoon onion flakes, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon dried ginger, and 4 cups vegetable broth and stir to combine
cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
10 - 15 minutes before serving, temper ½ cup extra creamy oat milk*by stirring a spoonful or two of the hot ingredients in your slow cooker into the milk. This will bring up the temperature of the oat milk to help avoid curdling.
add tempered oat milk to slow cooker and stir to fully combine.
add salt to taste (I didn't feel that mine need any)
Enjoy!
Video
Notes
*For best results, use a full-fat milk or one with extra fat added such as a barista addition or extra creamy oat milk or full fat coconut milk.
Half and half can be used if you aren't looking to keep this dish vegan.
Green or brown lentils will hold their shape better for longer cooking times. If you prefer less defined lentils in your final dish, red lentils can be used. For best results, do not use canned lentils.
Nutrition
Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 868mg | Potassium: 1093mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 880IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 7mg
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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)