Parippu (Sri Lankan Red Lentil Curry)
Local name: පරිප්පු
In short: Red lentils simmered with turmeric, curry leaves and green chili, enriched with coconut milk and finished with a sizzling onion and mustard seed tempering. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Parippu is the dhal that appears at almost every Sri Lankan meal, from a quick weekday lunch to a wedding table. Red lentils cook down with turmeric, onion, green chili and curry leaves, then coconut milk makes the dhal creamy without making it heavy. A final tempering of mustard seeds, dried chilies and onion fried in hot oil goes over the top. It is mild enough for children and lovely with rice, sambol and a crisp papadum.
Instructions
- Put the lentils, water, sliced onion, green chilies, garlic, curry leaves, pandan leaf and turmeric in a pot. Bring to a boil and skim off the foam.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the lentils are soft and starting to break down.
- Stir in the coconut milk and salt. Simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes until creamy. Do not boil hard, or the coconut milk may split.
- For the tempering, heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and cook until they pop, then add the cumin and dried chilies for 10 seconds.
- Add the sliced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until golden, then add the curry leaves for 10 seconds, until crisp.
- Pour the tempering over the dhal and stir lightly. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve with rice.
Tips
- Stir in a handful of chopped spinach or gotu kola during the last 2 minutes for a green, slightly bitter note.
- The dhal thickens as it cools. Loosen it with a splash of hot water when reheating.
Questions and answers
Do I need to soak red lentils?
No. Red lentils cook in 15 to 20 minutes without soaking. Rinse them until the water runs clear to remove dust and excess starch.
Can I make parippu in a pressure cooker?
Yes. Cook the lentils with the water and aromatics for 5 minutes at high pressure, release naturally, then add the coconut milk and salt and simmer for a few minutes.
What do you serve with parippu?
Steamed rice, pol sambol, mallung and a papadum are the usual partners. It is also eaten with roti, hoppers or bread.
How long does it take to make Parippu (Sri Lankan Red Lentil Curry)?
About 40 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Parippu (Sri Lankan Red Lentil Curry)?
About 420 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 42 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 420 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 10 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
