Vegan white cabbage curry with coconut

Vegan white cabbage curry with coconut: a spicy, creamy one-pot recipe with white cabbage, red lentils, coconut milk and garam masala for every day.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 25 min
• Total time: 40 min
• Calories: 340 kcal per serving
• Protein: 12 g
• Fat: 18 g
• Carbs: 32 g

Ingredients

• ½ white cabbage (medium, tightly packed)
• Vegetable stock as needed
• 100 g dried red lentils
• 1 onion
• 200 ml coconut milk
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp black mustard seeds
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 red chilli
• 1 tsp garam masala

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · chopping board · knife · sieve · wooden spoon · ladle

1. Rinse the red lentils thoroughly in a sieve. Cut the white cabbage into thin strips, dice the onion and finely chop the chilli.
2. Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan and toast the black mustard seeds in it until they start to pop. Add the onion and chilli and cook until soft and translucent.
3. Stir in the turmeric and garam masala and toast briefly until the spices are fragrant. Then add the white cabbage and stir it in until it wilts slightly.
4. Stir in the red lentils and coconut milk. If needed, add a little vegetable stock so everything braises juicily but doesn't turn into soup.
5. Cook the curry covered over a low heat until the white cabbage and lentils are soft. Stir from time to time and add a little more stock if needed.
6. Serve hot and season to taste once more if you like.

Good to know

The kind of dish that quietly simmers away and fills the kitchen with a warm smell. Hearty, creamy and just right when you want something straightforward.

Swaps

Red lentils → yellow lentils (similar protein content, a little milder). Coconut milk → full-fat coconut milk (richer and creamier). White cabbage → sweetheart cabbage (often a little more tender). Coconut oil → olive oil.

Allergens

The recipe is vegan and usually gluten-free if you choose a suitable vegetable stock. Mustard is one of the allergens that must be labelled; go easy on the chilli for children, and during pregnancy make sure the lentils are well cooked and the heat agrees with you.

Frequently asked questions

What's in white cabbage, nutritionally?

White cabbage mainly provides vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and fibre. It also contains sulphur-containing plant compounds from the glucosinolate group, which are typical of brassicas.

Do red lentils agree with everyone?

Often, yes, because red lentils are hulled and therefore usually milder than unhulled pulses. Even so, they can cause wind in some people, especially if pulses aren't usually on the menu.

How does coconut milk fit in nutritionally?

Coconut milk mainly provides fat, including a lot of saturated fat. It contains a little manganese and copper, but only a little protein.

Does turmeric add anything special nutritionally to the curry?

Turmeric contains the yellow plant pigment curcumin and other secondary plant compounds. In kitchen amounts, its contribution is mainly flavour and colour.

Why can cabbage and chilli irritate the stomach?

Cabbage contains fermentable carbohydrates and fibre, which are broken down in the gut and can produce gas in the process. Chilli contains capsaicin, which can irritate the mouth, stomach or gut in sensitive people.

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