Slow Cooker Red Lentil Dal Soup

Absolutely. Lentil dal is perfect for gluten-free diets as lentils are naturally gluten-free. Although do use a gluten-free vegetable stock and check the ingredients for any curry powder and spices used, just to make sure that they do not have any wheat flour or gluten ingredients added.

This soup is tasty on its own or with a few additions such as chopped coriander [cilantro], mango chutney, crushed or halved peanuts [or your choice of nuts], and a few pieces of naan bread.

A few more ideas to serve with the soup:

1. Add to the soup bowl before ladling in the dal soup:

* cooked rice, such as brown, white basmati, Jasmine rice, long-grain rice, wholegrain rice, wild rice, black rice, etc

* mashed potatoes [white or sweet potatoes]

* mashed veggies [such as swede, rutabaga, turnip, celeriac, parsnip]

* steamed, fried, or stir-fry green veggies such as spring greens, collards, cabbage, kale, beet greens

2. Serve on the side:

* chapatis

* roti

* naan

* flatbreads [three ingredient quick flatbreads]

* vegan crackers

* veggie bhaji, pakoras, samosas

* vegetable spring rolls

* Chana Chaat [spicy chickpeas]

* Crispy Tofu Bites [with a nice dip or sauce, or dunk them in the dal soup]

3. Garnish the dal soup:

* plain or roasted peanuts, cashews, flaked almonds, etc [can roast these in a dry non-stick pan for a few minutes, shaking or stirring frequently to avoid burning]

* plain or roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds

* vegan pouring cream, thick coconut milk, dollop of vegan creme fraiche, sour cream, plain yogurt, or mayonnaise

* mango chutney, mint chutney, lime pickle, onion chutney

* chickpea croutons [find an easy recipe over on our Curried Cauliflower Soup recipe]

* sliced spring onions [green onions]

* sliced chives

* fresh coriander [cilantro]

* chilli flakes or paprika flakes

* sliced fresh chilli

Of course not. Coconut oil fits the flavour profile of lentil dal so it is a good match to saute the onions and spices in. However, any oil can be used such as vegetable, rapeseed, or olive oil, or use your usual oil. Alternatively a vegan butter or margarine that is suitable for cooking can be used.

Many spices need to be cooked with a fat in order for them to release the flavours, and also our bodies absorb the antioxidants and vitamins within the spices so much easier if they are consumed with a fat source.

But of course, these much needed healthy fats could be gained a different way, such as having a few nuts or seeds with the dal.

So if preferred omit the oil and use extra veggie stock [broth] instead, start with ½ a cup and add extra spoonfuls as required to prevent the onions sticking to the pan. Alternatively, simply add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and omit the sauteing stage.

Yes of course. The sauteing of the spices, onions, garlic, and ginger can be omitted and all the ingredients simply added to the slow cooker. Whether or not you include the coconut oil is personal preference.

Yes. Simply follow the directions in the recipe card below and add extra vegetable stock if necessary during cooking, as slow cookers require less liquid as it doesn't get a chance to evaporate during cooking in a slow cooker.

No. These ingredients can be replaced with their fresh or frozen counterparts. To replace the garlic paste use 4-6 fresh garlic cloves and to replace the ginger paste use about 1-2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger or about 1 teaspoon of ginger powder.

I understand the frustration! Its happened to us so many times! Slow cookers can sometimes be unpredictable, especially when it comes to cooking certain types of vegetables like carrots. Here are a few solutions and tips for the issue of carrots not cooking properly in your slow cooker soup:

1. Chop them smaller: If your carrot pieces are too large, they might not cook through in the time provided by the recipe so cutting them into smaller, uniform sizes can help them cook more evenly and faster.
2.Pre-cook the carrots: If you find that your slow cooker consistently does not soften up your carrots to the texture that you prefer then consider par-boiling or blanching your carrots before adding to the slow cooker. To blanch the carrots just add them to boiling water for a few minutes, then either run them under cold water or place them into a bowl with icy water so that they can stop cooking.
Alternatively, place the carrots into a microwave-safe bowl with a bit of water, cover, and microwave on high for a few minutes to soften.
3. Check the slow cookers temperature: If you frequently encounter this issue, your slow cooker might not be getting hot enough. Try cooking on a higher setting or perhaps consider replacing the slow cooker if it's old and not functioning properly, especially if this is a new problem and your carrots used to soften up fine.
4. Layering matters: When adding ingredients to the slow cooker, place the carrots at the bottom since this is usually the hottest area and it will give the carrots the best chance to soften up.
5. Extend the cooking time: Sometimes, all it takes is a little more time than is stated in a particular recipe, as slow cookers can have differences in cooking times so if you find the carrots aren't as soft as you'd like, continue cooking and check every 30 minutes until they reach the desired softness.
6. Avoid overcrowding: If the slow cooker is too full, it may not cook evenly so make sure there's enough space for the heat to move around the ingredients. This may be an issue if you use a smaller slow cooker than the one recommended in your recipe, for example if you use a 1.5 litre slow cooker for a recipe that was developed for a 3.5 litre slow cooker. If this is the case consider halving the recipe quantities.
7. Did you add tomatoes? The acid in tomatoes can sometimes hinder the ability of the carrots to soften up their cell walls! So for some recipes its best to soften the carrots before adding to a recipe which also includes carrots, or settle for a longer cooking time!
8. Check for potential faults: Ensure that the slow cooker lid fits snugly, and there's no gap. Any gap can let the steam escape, which might affect the cooking process. Some slow cookers especially the models that have 3 smaller slow cookers joined together in one machine tend to have a space for a spoon to sit under the lid, but this gap could potentially lead to too much heat escaping and so your carrots or other veggies may not soften up as expected.

Do keep in mind, that cooking times can vary between different slow cooker brands and models, so it might require some trial and error to get the perfect texture for your ingredients. The more you use your slow cooker the more you will gain valuable experience and will be able to predict its unique behaviour!