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Red lentil dal with rice

An everyday dish for 2, ready in 25 minutes, around $0.78 a serving. People actually plan it with Popotam, and it's in season in October.

25mintotal
≈ $0.78a serving
644kcalper serving
27gof protein
VegetarianIn season in OctoberFreezes well
Let's cook

Step-by-step recipe

check things off as you go

  1. Peel the onion

    Peel the onion and cut it into small, even dice.

  2. Sauté the onion

    In the skillet over medium heat with the hot oil, sauté the diced onion for 3 min until translucent.

  3. Add the spices

    Sprinkle the cumin over the onions and stir well for 30 seconds to coat them.

  4. Add the lentils

    Add the red lentils to the skillet with the onions and cumin. Stir well to coat them.

  5. Add the tomatoes

    Add the crushed tomatoes to the skillet and stir. Add 250 ml of hot water and bring to a boil.

    Tip · If the mix is too thick, add a little hot water to loosen it without drowning the lentils.

  6. Cook the lentils

    Lower the heat and let it simmer, covered, for 15 min, stirring now and then. The lentils should be tender and the water absorbed.

  7. Salt the dal

    Add a pinch of salt and the coconut milk. Stir and let it heat for 2 min over low heat.

    Tip · Coconut milk adds creaminess: don't let it boil too hard or it may split.

  8. Cook the rice

    Meanwhile, bring 250 ml of water to a boil in the saucepan. Add the rice, cover and let it cook over low heat for 15 min without touching it.

  9. Drain the rice

    Drain the rice in the colander and let it rest, covered, for 1 min.

  10. Serve the dal

    Divide the rice between plates and top with hot dal. Stir well before serving.

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 644 kcal. 54% comes from carbs, 16% from protein and 25% from fat.

87 gCarbs
27 gProtein
18 gFat
Per serving (the dish for 2, divided by 2)
Energy644 kcal
Protein26.5 g
Carbs87.2 g
of which sugars7.8 g
Fat17.9 g
of which saturated fat9.7 g
Fiber14.8 g
Salt0.4 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 $0.78 a serving, adding up the average prices of the ingredients you need to buy.

≈ $1.57for 2 people
≈ $0.78a 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.

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