Main Course · Dinner · Asian · Sri Lankan ·

Fragrant Sri Lankan Parippu with Red Lentils and Coconut Milk

Name: Fragrant Sri Lankan Parippu with Red Lentils and Coconut Milk
Prep time: 23 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 93 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained; 3 cups water; 1 cup coconut milk; 1 tsp turmeric powder; 1 tbsp salt; 2 tbsp coconut oil; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 inch ginger, grated; 1 tsp red chili flakes; 1 tbsp curry powder; 1 tsp fenugreek seeds; 2 dried red chilies; A handful of fresh cilantro, chopped; A squeeze of lime juice

Enjoy the tropical flavors of Sri Lanka with this creamy parippu, made rich with coconut milk and aromatic spices.

4.8(0 reviews)

·By Troy·October 9, 2025

Fragrant Sri Lankan Parippu with Red Lentils and Coconut Milk

Prep

23 min

Cook

1 h 10 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Lentil Base

For the Aromatic Tadka

For the Spice Mix

For Garnishing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 262 kcal
Protein: 6.8 g
Carbs: 18 g
Fat: 19.7 g
Fiber: 6.3 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1046 kcal
Protein: 27.1 g
Carbs: 71.8 g
Fat: 78.7 g
Fiber: 25.2 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup red lentils rinsed and drained	230	18	40	1	15
3 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 cup coconut milk	445	4	6	48	2
1 tsp turmeric powder	9	0.3	1.4	0.1	0.9
1 tbsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tbsp coconut oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 tsp mustard seeds	5	0.3	0.7	0.3	0.4
1 tsp cumin seeds	8	0.4	0.9	0.5	0.6
1 medium onion finely chopped	44	1	10	0.1	1.5
3 cloves garlic minced	13	0.6	3	0	0.2
1 inch ginger grated	6	0.2	1.4	0.1	0.2
1 tsp red chili flakes	5	0.2	1	0.2	0.7
1 tbsp curry powder	20	1	3	1	2
1 tsp fenugreek seeds	12	0.9	2.2	0.2	0.9
2 dried red chilies	6	0.3	1.2	0.2	0.4
A handful of fresh cilantro chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
A squeeze of lime juice	2	0	0.7	0	0.1

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Lentil Base

1
Combine Ingredients
In a large pot, combine the red lentils, water, turmeric, and salt.
2
Boil and Simmer
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
3
Add Coconut Milk
Stir in the coconut milk and continue to simmer until thick and creamy.

Making the Aromatic Tadka

1
Heat Oil
Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium heat.
2
Spatter Seeds
Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds; let them splutter.
3
Sauté Aromatics
Add onion, garlic, and ginger; sauté until golden brown.
Tip: Do not overcook the garlic as it can turn bitter. Use fresh ginger for a more intense flavor.

How to Make Fragrant Sri Lankan Parippu with Red Lentils and Coconut Milk

Total time: 1 h 33 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Simmering the Lentils
Simmer until lentils become soft and creamy.
2
Infusing Flavors
Stir in the aromatic tadka and mix well.
3
Spicing it Up
Add the spice mix; cook for another 10 minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

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Preparation

Preparing the Lentil Base

Combine Ingredients

Boil and Simmer

Add Coconut Milk

Making the Aromatic Tadka

Heat Oil

Spatter Seeds

Sauté Aromatics

How to Make Fragrant Sri Lankan Parippu with Red Lentils and Coconut Milk

Simmering the Lentils

Infusing Flavors

Spicing it Up

Chef's Tips

Frequently asked questions

Explore more from TastyFood