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Red lentil dal with rice and spinach

An everyday dish for 2, ready in 35 minutes, around $2.02 a serving. People actually plan it with Popotam, and it's in season in October.

35mintotal
≈ $2.02a serving
770kcalper serving
31gof protein
VegetarianIn season in OctoberFreezes well
Let's cook
Red lentil dal with rice and spinach, a serving idea
AI-generated image · Serving idea

Step-by-step recipe

check things off as you go

  1. Slice the onion and garlic

    Peel the onion and garlic, then chop them finely on the cutting board.

  2. Sauté the onions

    Heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and sauté for 3 min without browning.

  3. Add the garlic and curry powder

    Stir in the chopped garlic and curry powder for 30 seconds to release the aromas.

  4. Add the tomatoes and lentils

    Add the crushed tomatoes and red lentils to the skillet. Stir well, then add 30 cl of hot water.

    Tip · If the dal is too thick, add a little hot water at the end to adjust the texture.

  5. Cook the lentils for 15 min

    Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer, covered, for 15 min, stirring now and then.

  6. Prep the rice and spinach

    Meanwhile, rinse the rice under cold water. Bring 25 cl of water to a boil in a saucepan, then add the rice and let it cook for 15 min over low heat.

    Tip · To keep the rice from sticking, use a heavy-bottomed saucepan and don't lift the lid while it cooks.

  7. Add the coconut milk

    Once the lentils are tender, add the coconut milk and the pinch of salt. Let it simmer for 5 min over low heat.

  8. Stir in the spinach

    Add the frozen spinach straight from the freezer to the skillet. Stir and cook for 3 min over medium heat until thawed.

  9. Drain the rice and serve

    Drain the rice in the colander and divide it between plates. Top generously with the dal and spinach.

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 770 kcal. 46% comes from carbs, 16% from protein and 33% from fat.

89 gCarbs
31 gProtein
28 gFat
Per serving (the dish for 2, divided by 2)
Energy770 kcal
Protein30.8 g
Carbs88.5 g
of which sugars13.2 g
Fat28.4 g
of which saturated fat18.4 g
Fiber20.9 g
Salt0.6 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 $2.02 a serving, adding up the average prices of the ingredients you need to buy.

≈ $4.03for 2 people
≈ $2.02a 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?

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