PopotamRecipes
Open the app
small price, big dish

Green lentil coconut dal with basmati rice

An everyday dish for 2, ready in 40 minutes, around $1.01 a serving. People actually plan it with Popotam, and it's in season in October.

40mintotal
≈ $1.01a serving
664kcalper serving
26gof protein
VegetarianIn season in OctoberFreezes well
Let's cook
Green lentil coconut dal with basmati rice, a serving idea
AI-generated image · Serving idea

Step-by-step recipe

check things off as you go

  1. Cook the rice

    Rinse the basmati rice under cold water in the colander until the water runs clear. Bring 30 cl of water to a boil in the saucepan, then add the rice and a pinch of salt. Cover, lower the heat and let it cook for 12 min over low heat.

    Tip · To keep the rice from sticking, use a 2 to 1 water to rice ratio and don't lift the lid while it cooks.

  2. Chop the onion and garlic

    Peel the onion and cut it into small dice. Peel the garlic and chop it finely. Peel the ginger and grate it.

  3. Sauté the aromatics

    Heat the coconut oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté for 3 min, stirring, until the onion turns translucent.

  4. Add the spices

    Sprinkle in the cumin and turmeric. Stir well and cook for 1 min to release the aromas.

  5. Cook the lentils

    Add the green lentils to the skillet with the aromatics. Add 40 cl of hot water, salt lightly and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer, covered, for 20 min, stirring now and then.

    Tip · If the lentils stick to the skillet, add a little hot water instead of scraping with the spoon.

  6. Stir in the coconut milk

    Once the lentils are tender, add the coconut milk and stir. Let it heat for 2 min over low heat to blend it all together.

  7. Adjust the seasoning

    Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking. If the dal is too thick, add a little hot water.

And there you go, it's readyCheck off every step to celebrate.

The questions you're asking

short answers, numbers you can check

How many calories in a serving?

One serving has about 664 kcal. 59% comes from carbs, 16% from protein and 20% from fat.

98 gCarbs
26 gProtein
15 gFat
Per serving (the dish for 2, divided by 2)
Energy664 kcal
Protein26 g
Carbs98.4 g
of which sugars4.6 g
Fat15.1 g
of which saturated fat11.7 g
Fiber14.7 g
Salt0.2 g

Worked out ingredient by ingredient with the ANSES Ciqual 2025 table, never written by an AI. It's an estimate: veggie sizes and brands make the numbers vary.

How much does it cost?

About $1.01 a serving, adding up the average prices of the ingredients you need to buy.

≈ $2.02for 2 people
≈ $1.01a serving

Pantry salt, oil and spices aren't counted. Your store and your brands will move the total, but the ballpark is right.

How long does it keep?

2 days in the fridge, in a closed container, once cooled within two hours. And it freezes really well.

2 daysin the fridge
Very wellin the freezer, thaw it in the fridge the day before

Times Popotam uses for meal prep, based on ANSES guidance, rounded down. The details: how long cooked dishes keep.

and the rest of the week?

Popotam plans your whole week

Lunch and dinner, with dishes like this one, based on your tastes, your time and your budget. The grocery list is sorted by aisle. Free, no account.

Build my week

This dish is also an idea for…

Cheap meal ideas, under $2.50 a serving

With the same ingredients

green lentils, coconut milk, onion…