Instant Pot Somali Lentil Stew

Healthy, delicious and hearty Somali inspired lentil stew made in an instant pot. This lentil stew is generously flavoured with ginger, cumin, and curry powder, a hint of cinnamon and fresh lemon juice. The fresh veggies in this stew are onions, garlic, bell peppers, sweet potato, carrots and jalapeno peppers.

Everything in this Somali lentil stew is healthy. For creaminess and richness, this Somali dish also includes coconut milk. I can’t tell you how delicious this vegan lentil stew is! This is one of the most flavourful lentil dishes I have made.

What I love about this naturally gluten-free lentil stew is that it takes only 15 minutes to cook. By cooking this ethnic dish in the instant pot, the ingredients retain most of the nutrients—more than other cooking methods.

And, you can walk away once you set the pot to cook function. The veggies and lentils are cooked to perfection, and the plant-based recipe couldn’t be easier.

the details,

There are very few steps to make this stunning Somali lentil stew. The list of ingredients may look overwhelming, but it is mostly spices, which is what makes this lentil dish so incredibly tasty.

To start, saute the onions, then add all the other ingredients except coconut milk, cilantro and lemon juice. The stew is cooked under high pressure for 10 minutes and then finished with the last three ingredients. You don’t even have to soak the lentils before cooking. Done!

lentil stew stovetop version,

If you don’t have an instant pot, you can make this lentil dish on the stovetop. To cook the stew on the stovetop, follow steps as per recipe except increase the cooking time by about 20 minutes. The stew should be cooked over medium-low heat until the brown lentils are tender.

health benefits of lentils,

Lentils come in various colours. Brown, green, black, orange, gold and coral. All the lentils have different textures and flavours. However, nutritionally they are pretty much the same, except for black lentils. They are the healthiest.

I like to use brown lentils because they are smaller than green lentils, and in my opinion, they have a better texture, and I prefer the flavour.

Lentils grow in pods like beans and peas, so they are considered legumes. This tiny legume is low in calories and rich in dietary fiber, about 15.6 grams per cup of cooked lentils. This immune boosting lentil salad is especially delicious!

I am super excited to share this Somali inspired lentil stew recipe, because it is naturally gluten-free, delicious, packed with healthy nutrients and quick and easy to make. Serve with rice or  gluten-free naan bread. Enjoy

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