When fragrant, aromatic spices fill the home and make you feel all warm and cozy, those are the soul-soothing dishes that make you feel good from head to toe. This hearty, wholesome, and oh-so-delicious Curried Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew is that kinda dish! Not only is it easy to make, but it is packed with plant-strong ingredients! Creamy red lentils, coupled with tender sweet potatoes, and mixed in a heavenly stew with aromatic spices create this perfectly amazing bowl of wondrousness that everyone in the family will be running back for seconds.
Whole Food Plant Based, vegan, plant based, oil free, refined sugar free, no highly processed ingredients, and gluten free.
Hi there, Ameera here!
I love being Whole Food Plant Based, don’t you? I mean, I have always been a decently healthy eater, but I admit prior to going Whole Food Plant Based, my meals were kinda on “repeat”! Traditionally, we ate a wide range of dishes, but so many of them were “mainstream.” In other words, my culinary skills were nurtured by Mom, but we pretty much stuck to traditional American, Italian, and Southwestern dishes.
Cooking (Coloring) Outside the Culinary Lines
Since going Whole Food Plant Based, a whole NEW world of wonderous foods have opened to me. The culinary world is my “oyster!” I love trying new cuisines and making different foods. I think the key is being open minded and allowing your brain to wrap itself around new textures and flavors.
Mom always taught me to try something at least 3 times before making up my mind if something initially is not to my liking when trying a new flavor or texture. And I have to say that was some really great advice, because there are foods that I initially wasn’t fond of, but after trying it several times, I now LOVE them. Has that ever happened to you?
Mix it up!
We all know that cooking Whole Food Plant Based can be challenging at times. It definitely does have a steep learning curve once you venture past the steamed veggies and baked potatoes. Not like there is anything wrong with that (Seinfeld reference)! It’s just that we found that one can only eat steamed veggies and baked potatoes for so long before you need something more substantial and interesting to break things up a bit.
Challenges
That’s where Mom and I love to venture. We truly love creating all types of WFPB dishes. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to cook and bake so trying to create dishes that our WFPB community will love is our mission and purpose! Sounds corny, right? But it’s what makes us happy!
Take this stew for example, we love this stew. We would have never tried to make this stew in our past lives (prior to being WFPB). We might have ordered something similar at a restaurant, but we wouldn’t have ventured to make this at home. Now, we dig into any type of cuisine and try to find a way to convert dishes and create them the Whole Food Plant Based way! We love the challenge and the delicious reward!
Dad
We all know that my dad loves stews. He was doing his typical “hovercrafting” over the stew pot, stirring, checking, wondering when the stew would be done. I’ve shared with our Readers in the past that he is a hardcore stew lover for sure. He absolutely loved this stew, which says a lot simply because he isn’t a huge curry fan, but I’ll let Mom tell you more.
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Hi! Robin here.
I agree with Monkey, this stew is hearty, delicious, and filling. Plus, it’s super easy to make, and I really loved the warm curry flavor of this stew. It is super tasty! Total DELISH!
TP109 scarfed it down in his typical “Stew Lover” fashion and really loved the tiny bit of leftovers even more the next day. The flavors continue to marry while in the fridge. Give this stew a try, we know your going to love it too!
If you try it, we would love to know if you enjoy it as much as we do! Leave us a review! Post a picture on Facebook or Instagram and tag us! We would love to hear from you.
Products Used:
- Large ceramic/enamel lined Dutch oven or similar large stock pot with a tight-fitting lid
Curried Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 40 Minutes
- Total Time: 50 Minutes
- Yield: 4-5 Servings 1x
- Category: Stew
- Cuisine: Indian
Description
When fragrant, aromatic spices fill the home and make you feel all warm and cozy, those are the soul-soothing dishes that make you feel good from head to toe. This hearty, wholesome, and oh-so-delicious Curried Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew is that kinda dish! Not only is it easy to make, but it is packed with plant-strong ingredients! Creamy red lentils, coupled with tender sweet potatoes, and mixed in a heavenly stew with aromatic spices create this perfectly amazing bowl of wondrousness that everyone in the family will be running back for seconds.
Whole Food Plant Based, vegan, plant based, oil free, refined sugar free, no highly processed ingredients, and gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion, fine dice
- 1 carrot, finely dice or grated
- 1 red bell pepper, fine dice
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon fresh minced ginger
- 1 – [ 14 oz. can ] petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable broth *
- 2 cups water (or broth)
- 1 cup dried split red lentils
- 2 small sweet potatoes, small cube
Spice/Herb Ingredients:
- 1 ½ teaspoons (up to 1 Tablespoon) hot curry powder *
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons dried minced onions
- 1 ½ teaspoon sea salt (+/-) *
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (+/-)
Other Optional Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 cups fresh baby spinach
Optional Toppings:
- Fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Place all the Spice/Herb Ingredients into a small bowl, whisk, set aside.
- In a large ceramic/enamel-lined Dutch oven or similar stock pot, add the finely minced onion, grated carrot and bell pepper; sauté over medium heat until they begin to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add a tablespoon or so of water if they start to stick and/or to prevent burning.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger and sauté for 30 seconds, add the Spice/Herb mix, sauté to release their fragrance, about 30 seconds to one minute.
- Then add the petite diced tomatoes, veggie broth, and water, bring to boil, then immediately lower to a simmer.
- Add the red lentils and sweet potatoes. Stir well to incorporate all the ingredients. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, test the flavors, add more spices, if necessary, to achieve the level of flavor you desire. Check the tenderness of the red lentils and sweet potatoes, cook until tender. Then add the fresh baby spinach and cook for a few minutes.
- Serve immediately with freshly chopped cilantro.
Notes
*Vegetable Stock: We use Pacific Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Stock. We love this brand because it is Whole Food Plant Based compliant, as it does not contain MSG, has no oil, and does not contain any highly-processed ingredients. Pacific Organic Veggie broth does have a strong flavor, so less both is required. If using a mild or mellow veggie broth, use 3 ½ cups veggie broth and ½ cup water.
*Hot Curry Powder: Use your favorite curry powder. Our favorite is Penzeys Hot Curry Powder. It has amazing flavor. Start with 1 ½ teaspoons, then taste test near the end, ramp up as needed. We found that 2 teaspoons of the Penzeys Hot Curry Powder adds flavor and heat.
*Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
*Servings: 4 to 5
*Storage: Refrigerate, use within 5 days.
This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive a very small commission if you purchase through those links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Monkey and Me Kitchen Adventures! For more information, see our disclosures here.
I made your CURRIED RED LENTIL AND SWEET POTATO STEW tonight and it came out so good!!! I used Penzeys mild curry but added hot pepper flakes and regular pepper so it was still spicy but not “burn your tongue off spicy”! I also used Korean sweet potatoes so dish didn’t look as colorful but it was delicious.
I’m so glad I found you ladies on Instagram! Looking forward to making more of your delish vegan recipes. Proves that you can make healthy food that tastes great too!
Hi there Karen 🙂
Yaaayyy! We are so excited that you tried this recipe and enjoyed it! We love how you adjusted the recipe and made it your own – YUM! We are so thrilled you found us, and we truly appreciate you and your support! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback <3
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I just made this…super yummy! Thank you.
Hi there Genevieve 🙂
Woo hoo!!! We are so excited that you enjoyed this stew! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Delicious! I made this for tonight’s dinner and we both loved it. I used regular curry, not spicy as I don’t like spicy things. A little extra pepper in hubby’s bowl made up for it. I will be making this again for sure! Thanks!!
Hi there Linda 🙂
Yaaayyy! We are so excited that you all loved this recipe and will be making it again! Love that the regular curry powder worked perfectly! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and taking the time to write!
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Made this late tonight, prepping for tomorrow. The smell while cooking was heavenly & my son & I couldn’t resist taste-testing. And then taste-testing some more. And some more…. I think we’ve become Hobbits & ended up eating a very late, second dinner by doing so much “taste-testing”. Wonderful dish & we’re looking forward to it tomorrow too, knowing the flavors will continue to intensify overnight. (Plus, it’s just a pretty dish to see; the bright colors are so appealing.) Thank you!
Hi there Stacia 🙂
Woo Hoo!! So excited that you gave this recipe a try and enjoyed it. Hee Hee, loved that you enjoyed the taste-testing part too 😉 Sometimes, we “accidentally” taste-test a dish until it’s gone LOL 😀 We truly appreciate your wonderful feedback and taking the time to write! It truly means so much to us! *hugs*
– Ameera and Robin 🙂
Just made the Curried Red Lentil & Sweet Potato stew & am very happy with it, it’s easy & tasty, so good when wanting to have a meat free meal. Thanks for calling it a stew because that’s exactly what it is, not fussed about fancy names that don’t suit the recipe, will be trying more of your recipes. ?
Hi there Jennifer 🙂
Woo Hoo!! We are so thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for your kind words and wonderful feedback!
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
This is probably one of the best tasting things I’ve ever cooked, so glad I had some leftover I can have as a cheeky snack later.
Hi there Vivi 🙂
YAYYY!! We are so happy that you really enjoyed this tasty stew! It is definitely a family favorite! Thank you so much for your awesome feedback. We truly appreciate it!
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
This stew was absolutely delicious! I just had regular curry powder so I followed what someone else said they did and added crussed red pepper flakes and Cayenne pepper.
Hi there Angeline 🙂
Yaaaayyyy!!! We are so thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for your awesome feedback and for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Loved this! And so easy to make. I don’t do “hot” so used regular curry. And only had Japanese sweet potatoes, and it turned out perfect. Thank you!
Hi there Joan 🙂
Yaaay!!! We are so thrilled that you loved this recipe. Love how you made this recipe your own. Thank you so much for your awesome feedback and for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I have to let you know I have made this so many times since the first time because we love it so much. People are constantly asking me for the recipe. My dad, who usually doesn’t like “that vegan food” that I make, absolutely loves it and asked for seconds! It has become my husband’s favorite soup/stew that I make. In addition, he salivates whenever I state I am making a Monkey and Me Recipe. I am so happy I found your food blog. You and your mom are geniuses!
Oh my goodness, this comment has totally made our day! We are beyond excited that you, your dad, your husband, and guests have been enjoying this recipe regularly. It is so wonderful to hear non-vegans/plant basers enjoying our recipes too! We are totally doing a happy dance right now. We truly appreciate your kind words and support! Thank you so much for taking the time to write <3
I made this today I was so yummy I don’t really like hot curries so only used a mild curry powder but it was still full of flavour will make it again
Hi there Sarah 🙂
Wooot! We are so excited that you enjoyed this recipe and plan to make it again. Thank you so much for your awesome feedback and for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Can you make this in the instant pot – has anyone tried?
Hi there Cat 🙂
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. We think this dish would work in an Instant Pot, but we do not have any liquid adjustments or settings for you.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
This looks amazing. I would like to try it in my crockpot. I wonder if it would work?
Hi there Nicola 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words. We do think this recipe would work well in a crockpot, but we do not have times, settings, or liquid adjustments for you.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I did make it for a large gathering and ended up hearing it in the crockpot the next day. Got rave reviews!
Hi there Niki 🙂
Woooot! We are so thrilled that you and everyone enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome feedback and for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Does this freeze well?
Hi there Pam 🙂
We have not frozen this dish, but we think that it would freeze well.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I made this amazing meal today. It tasted so good. I switched spinach for kale, but it still turned out great. Thank you so much for your blog. You make eating healthy fun. I am always excited to put together these meals on your blog. Blessings!
Hi there Cee Kay 🙂
Yaaaay!!! We are so thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. We appreciate your kind words about our blog and for sharing your awesome feedback! Thank you so much for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I surprised my sister-in-law with this for her birthday, and their whole family raved about it… that it had so much flavor! My hubby and I tasted it before he took it to her, and he wanted to keep it… and we’re not vegan! lol So delish, looking forward to making this again for us!
Hi there Karen 🙂
Yaaaay!!! We are so thrilled that you and your husband enjoyed this recipe and plan to make it again. We appreciate you sharing your awesome feedback and for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Omg I made this and It came out so Perfect!! ? I LOVE this dish. The flavors are different for me & I’m just so happy I tried something totally different. WoooHoo and my hubby LOVED it too. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe ?
Hi there Jasmine 🙂
Yaaaay!!! We are so thrilled you and your hubby loved this stew. We appreciate you sharing your awesome feedback and for taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I made this and it was so delicious! I 1.5x the recipe so I’d have enough for lunches this week, but instead of adding more water or stock I added a can of coconut milk. So tasty! Also added raisins
Hi there Carmen 🙂
Woot Woot!!! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing your adjustments and wonderful feedback with us! We truly appreciate you taking the time to write.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Hi! This sounds amazing! My question is, can I use unsplit brown lentils? I have a couple of bags on hand, I was thinking maybe more liquid and a longer cook time.
Hi there Diane 🙂
Yes, you can make this with unsplit brown lentils. It will take longer to cook, and you, more than likely, will need more broth. We haven’t tested this recipe using brown lentils so we do not have exact times or measurements.
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
Made this for the first time tonight. It’s an instant favourite. I wanted to eat the whole pot!
Hi there Pam 🙂
Yippee!!! We are so excited that you enjoyed this recipe and it became an instant favorite. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome feedback with us. We appreciate you taking the time to write!
-Ameera and Robin 🙂
I can’t wait to make this!! It looks phenomenal!!
Hi there Kelly,
Awesome! We hope you give it a try and enjoy it as much as we do! Thank you.
-Ameera and Robin