Egg, Lentil and Coconut Curry

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Sometimes referred to as continental lentils, 'green' and 'brown' lentils have a distinctive disc shape that they retain when cooked. Here they are simmered in a coconut-curry sauce and served with a poached egg.

Serves 1

50 g/2 oz creamed coconut
600 ml/1 pint/2½ cups very hot (not boiling) vegetable stock
1 small onion, chopped, or 30 ml/2 tbsp frozen diced onion
1 garlic clove, crushed, or 2.5 ml/½ tsp garlic purée (paste)
15 ml/1 tbsp korma curry paste
75 g/3 oz green or brown lentils
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 egg


  1. Roughly chop the creamed coconut and put in the ceramic cooking pot. Pour the stock over and stir until the coconut has dissolved. Add the onion, garlic and curry paste. Switch on the slow cooker to Low.
  2. Put the lentils in a sieve and rinse under cold running water. Allow to drain well, then add to the pot. Season with freshly ground black pepper (don't add any salt at this stage), stir, then cover with the lid and cook for 1¼ hours or until the lentils are just tender and have absorbed most of the liquid.
  3. Season the lentils with a little salt, then make a small hollow in the middle. Break the egg on to a saucer, then gently tip into the hollow. Re-cover with the lid and cook for a further 15 minutes or until the egg white is set and the yolk is still soft, or a little longer if you prefer the egg firmer.
  4. Carefully spoon half the curry mixture and the egg on to a warm serving plate. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve at once with some warmed naan bread.


Second serving
Transfer the remaining curry to a bowl and leave to cool, then cover and chill in the fridge for the following day, or spoon into a freezer container and freeze for up to a month. If frozen, allow to defrost in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a saucepan with an extra tablespoonful of stock until hot and bubbling. Serve topped with thick natural yoghurt.


Cook's tip
Don't add salt to lentils or pulses while cooking as it toughens them and they will take longer to cook.