Creamy Coconut Lentil Stew with Chewy Spelt Berries

Spelt Creamy Coconut Lentil Stew is a one-pot dinner built on pearled spelt, red lentils, and full-fat coconut milk. The spelt keeps a slight chew even after 30 minutes of simmering, so the texture stays thick instead of mushy. Ginger, turmeric, and curry powder give the broth its color and warmth.

I’ve made this stew with the lentils and spelt going in at the same time, and the lentils turned to mush long before the spelt softened. Now I add the spelt first and the lentils about 15 minutes later, so both finish tender at the same point.

This version leans vegan, using vegetable stock and coconut milk instead of cream. It’s a budget-friendly dinner that stretches a small amount of pantry staples into four solid bowls.

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The stew holds up well in the fridge and reheats without losing its texture, which makes it a solid option for meal prep.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pot and one Dutch oven, minimal cleanup after dinner
• Spelt keeps its chew, so the stew never turns mushy
• Vegan and dairy-free, built entirely on coconut milk
• Reheats well for a few days of weekday lunches

Ingredient Notes

• Pearled spelt: Gives the stew its chew and body. Pearl barley or farro work as a swap with a similar cook time.
• Red lentils: Break down as they simmer and thicken the broth naturally. No soaking needed, just a rinse.
• Full-fat coconut milk: Makes the broth thick and rich. Light coconut milk works but the stew turns noticeably thinner.
• Curry powder: Sets the base flavor and color. Garam masala or a mild curry paste can stand in.
• Vegetable stock: Keeps the dish vegan. Chicken stock is fine if you don’t need it plant-based.
• Baby spinach: Wilts fast at the end for color and iron. Chopped kale works too, just add it a few minutes earlier.

Print Recipe

Comfort Food

Creamy Coconut Lentil Stew with Chewy Spelt Berries

Author: Valentina Cooking Method: Stovetop Cuisine: Other Courses: Soup Recipe Keys: B budget-friendly Dairy Free H healthy dinner H hearty soup M meal prep O One-Pot S spelt recipe

Difficulty: Easy Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 40 mins Total Time 55 mins

Cooking Temp: 95  C Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 1.80

Best Season: Fall, Winter

Dietary:

C Contains gluten (spelt) D Dairy-Free H High Fiber V Vegan V Vegetarian

Description

This stew builds its body from pearled spelt and red lentils simmered together in coconut milk, so the broth thickens on its own without any cream or flour.

Ingredients

Cook Mode Cooking Mode Disabled

Servings

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced (medium)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ¹⁄₂ tsp chili flakes (optional)
• 100 g pearled spelt, rinsed
• 200 g dried red lentils, rinsed
• 400 ml full-fat coconut milk ((1 can))
• 600 ml vegetable stock
• 400 g diced tomatoes ((1 can))
• 60 g baby spinach ((about 2 cups))
• 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
• ¹⁄₂ tsp black pepper

For Serving

• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• fresh cilantro, chopped (to taste)
• coconut yogurt (for swirling; optional)

Instructions

Note

Additional Notes

• Rinse spelt and lentils separately before adding to remove excess starch.
• Add lentils after the spelt has simmered 15 minutes so both finish tender together.
• Use full-fat coconut milk for a thicker, richer broth.
• Season with salt only after the stock reduces, since stock can already be salty.

Keywords: spelt lentil stew, coconut lentil stew, vegan spelt stew, one-pot lentil stew, creamy coconut stew