Baby-friendly Delicious Coconut Dhal
This baby-friendly coconut dhal is a gentle, creamy main course made with split lentils, tinned coconut milk and fresh baby spinach. The Thermomix cooks the lentils until velvety soft, blends everything to a smooth texture ideal for little ones, and keeps stirring hands-free so nothing sticks. One base easily adapts for the whole family.
About this recipe
Coconut dhal Thermomix TM7 style is one of those recipes every parent of a small baby wants on standby: a mild, creamy lentil stew that doubles as a baby purée and a family dinner. Made with split lentils, tinned coconut milk, ripe tomato and fresh baby spinach, this all-in-one kitchen machine recipe cooks the lentils until they collapse into a naturally silky sauce without any added cream or salt. The TM7 chops the onion and garlic finely, sautés them with turmeric and cumin, then simmers everything hands-free while you play with your little one or prep the rest of dinner. Because the lentils cook directly in the aromatic coconut stock, every spoonful carries the gentle spice of the homemade vegetable stock paste. Blend a portion smooth for babies just starting solids, or leave it slightly textured for toddlers and adults. Families searching for quick weeknight dinner ideas or batch-cooking for the freezer will find this dhal reheats beautifully, making it a practical, nourishing addition to any weekly menu.
Preparation tips
- Rinse the split lentils thoroughly before adding them to the mixing bowl; this removes surface starch and helps the coconut dhal achieve a cleaner, silkier consistency rather than turning gluey during cooking.
- For babies under one year, leave out the chilli flakes entirely and blend a portion until completely smooth; adults can stir extra chilli and a pinch of salt into their own bowls after serving the little ones.
- This dhal freezes wonderfully in small portions; freeze baby-size amounts in ice cube trays or small containers so you always have a gentle, home-cooked meal ready to defrost for busy weekdays.
Recipe variations
- Toddler-friendly variation: keep the chilli flakes out and serve the dhal with soft, mild flatbread fingers for dipping; slightly chunkier blending gives older babies and toddlers a pleasant texture to explore with their hands.
- Festive family variation: stir in roasted cubed pumpkin or sweet potato during the final minutes and top adult portions with fresh coriander, toasted coconut flakes and a squeeze of lime for an Indian-inspired dinner table.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Chopping onion and garlic in seconds, the Thermomix creates a fine, even base for the dhal without any tears or a cutting board.
- Thanks to precise heating control, the TM7 simmers the split lentils gently in coconut milk until they are completely soft with no sticking or scorching.
- Blending the baby spinach straight into the cooked lentils, the Thermomix mixes everything into a velvety purée suitable for first spoonfuls.
- Add the lentils directly into the mixing bowl and the integrated weighing function measures the exact quantity needed, saving separate scales and dishes.
- Grating fresh turmeric or ginger root with the TM7 gives the coconut dhal a brighter, more aromatic depth than ground spices alone.
Ingredients
- onion
- garlic clove
- ripe tomato
- red split lentils
- tinned coconut milk
- dried chilli flakes
- vegetable stock paste, homemade
- ground turmeric
- ground cumin
- ground ginger